……

In the middle of the night, Lu Zhengan was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door. Opening his eyes and looking at the dark room, Lu Zhengan still regarded it as his hallucination, and just as he wanted to continue sleeping with Song Huaishu in his arms, the sound of slamming the door sounded again.

Lu Zhengan heard it really this time, and when he was about to get up lightly, Song Huaishu on the inside was also awakened. He sat up and asked, "Zheng'an, have you ever heard a knock on the door?" ”

"I heard it, don't get up, I'll go and see for myself." As he spoke, Lu Zhengan pressed Song Huaishu back into the quilt, and opened the door of the hall with his jacket.

"Who's out there?" Lu Zheng'an touched the axe standing on the wall with his right hand, and was about to walk towards the door, only to hear Lu Tiezhuan outside the door say anxiously: "Zheng'an, get up quickly, something happened to the fourth uncle's family, and Uncle Changgen asked me to ask you to go over with me." ”

Generally, no matter how urgent things are at home, there are not many knocks on the door in the middle of the night. At this time, Lu Tiezhuan came over at this time, thinking that something terrible had happened.

Lu Zhengan hurriedly put the axe in his hand back to the door, wrapped his jacket tightly and walked to the door and opened the door.

"Brother Tie, what happened to the fourth uncle's family?"

Lu Tiezhuan seemed to be running all the way up, holding on to the door frame of Lu Zheng'an's house and panting vigorously. "The fourth uncle is gone."

When Lu Zhengan heard that Lu Ming had passed away, he couldn't help but be shocked. "Hasn't the fourth uncle been in good health all the time, how can you say that it's gone?"

"When I heard the movement, Uncle Nagane had already passed. But he didn't let me into the house, and Masahei's kid was kneeling in the courtyard, and Uncle Nagane's face was very ugly. I estimate the death of the fourth uncle, and I am afraid that it will have nothing to do with Zhengping. ”

Lu Tiezhuan rested for a while, and the person had almost eased. Seeing that Lu Zhengan was only wearing a jacket when he came out, he hurriedly urged him to go back and get dressed.

"You hurry into the house and change your clothes, I'll wait for you at the door, and we'll go over together." As he spoke, Lu Tiezhuan sat down on the pier next to him.

Lu Ming was also the leader of the Lu family before, no matter how impatient Lu Zhengan was with this elder before his death, now that he is gone, Lu Zhengan naturally wants to pass.

By the time Lu Zhengan returned to the room, Song Huaishu had already dressed and got up. Seeing Lu Zhengan come in with a serious face, he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Why is your face so ugly?" Who's coming outside the door? ”

"It's Brother Tie, and it's said that the fourth uncle is gone." Lu Zhengan said as he took off his jacket and found a dark blue dress from the closet to put on his body.

When Song Huaishu heard Lu Zhengan say that Lu Ming was gone, he was stunned for a moment before he realized what he meant. When he wanted to ask why the good person was gone, Lu Zhengan had already dressed and was ready to go out.

However, Lu Zhengan was not worried that Song Huaishu was at home alone, so he hurriedly stopped and instructed: "After I leave, you lock the door from the inside and take the axe at the door." Don't open the door no matter who calls the door, do you hear that? ”

Knowing that it was useless to go by himself, Song Huaishu nodded obediently. After sending Lu Zhengan to the door, he said hello to Lu Tiezhuan, and then he closed the door under the watchful eyes of the two of them and entered the house with an axe.

After hearing the sound of Song Huaishu closing the door, Lu Zhengan was relieved to go down the mountain with Lu Tieshu. By the time the two of them came to the courtyard of Lu Ming's house, there were already many people standing inside and outside the courtyard.

The cries of Lu Anshi and Chen Cuihua came out of the house, and the cries were sad and sad, and the hearts of those who listened to them were furious.

When Lu Zhengan entered the house, he paid special attention to Lu Zhengping, who was kneeling in the courtyard, and saw that he was distracted, and his face was pale as if he had been greatly hit.

After entering the house, Lu Changgen was wiping Lu Ming's body, and a set of black burial clothes was neatly placed at the head of the bed.

Lu Zhengan didn't understand the rules of burial, so without Lu Changgen speaking, he and Lu Tiezhuan obediently stood aside and waited. However, just when Lu Changgen helped Lu Ming wipe it on his chest, Lu Ming's neck was twisted. Through the dim light, Lu Zhengan cleaned and saw that there was a blue-purple strangulation mark on Lu Ming's neck.

And Lu Tiezhuan on the side obviously saw it, frowned and turned his gaze to Lu Zhengan. Seeing that Lu Zhengan's expression had not changed, he didn't seem to notice anything abnormal, and then he turned his head back as well.

As soon as the people in the village reach the age of 60, their families will prepare longevity materials for them. Lu Ming is already in his prime, and the longevity has already been prepared.

When Lu Changgen received the news and arrived at Lu Ming's house, Lu Changgen had already asked Lu An's to open the warehouse where the longevity materials were kept, and asked a few juniors to carry out the excellent longevity materials preserved in the warehouse.

After Lu Changgen dressed Lu Ming in a funeral suit, Lu Changgen asked Lu Zhengan and a few people to help clean up Lu Ming's house. After moving Shoucai into the house, the four corners were each padded with three bricks, and then Lu Anshi was asked to find the coffin quilt and put the coffin in order, and then Lu Ming's feet were tied with fine hemp rope, and yellow paper was covered on his face.

Lu Anshi watched Lu Changgen do everything well, and did not call Lu Zhengping to come in and pretend to bury his father's corpse, and hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Changgen'er, Zhengping is also the son of the head of the family, and he must be allowed to do this burial." ”

Hearing this, Lu Changgen glanced gloomily at Lu Zhengping, who was kneeling at the door, and then said: "Such a beast is not worthy, and it is the same for the fourth brother to be replaced by other sons and nephews. ”

Since Lu Changgen took over the position of village head, the head of the Lu clan naturally fell on his head. At this time, Lu Changgen's remarks were tantamount to expelling Lu Zhengping from the Lu family in disguise, and no one present could hear what he meant.

Because Chen Cuihua is pregnant, it is not appropriate to be present at the funeral at home, for fear of smashing into the child in her belly. But although Chen Cuihua was not there, she had been listening to the movement outside.

Hearing that Lu Changgen didn't let Lu Zhengping bury her father-in-law, he immediately opened the curtain and walked out of the back room, regardless of any rules and regulations.

"Uncle Changgen's words are not right, why is he not worthy of my father-in-law's burial? How can Zhengping say that he is also my father-in-law's only son, if he is not worthy, is it possible that others are worthy? ”

Lu Changgen raised his eyes to look at Chen Cuihua, and after his eyes turned around her lower abdomen, he said, "As for why Lu Zhengping is not worthy, he knows it in his heart. Your father-in-law's last big event, I will save face for you, you had better be interesting and not make too much trouble. Otherwise, when I tell me about the good things you and your husband have done, I'm afraid that you won't be able to enter this Lujia Village in the future. ”

"Finally, I advise you, since you have a body, you still have to avoid it, otherwise if something really happens in the future, you won't be able to find the tone when you cry."

After Lu Changgen finished speaking, he didn't persuade him more, and greeted Lu Tieshui, Lu Zhengan, and Lu Tieniu, and placed him in the coffin with Lu Ming's body.

Chen Cuihua was choked by Lu Changgen, and she only felt that she couldn't get off the stage. Immediately covered his face with a handkerchief and cried, Lu Changgen glanced at her coldly, called out to Lu Yang's family and several daughters-in-law of the Lu family, and directly dragged the person to the back room.

That Chen Cuihua is a very eye-catching person, and she will no longer make trouble after being dragged into the house. Lu Yang and several daughters-in-law asked Lu An's family, and after taking the money, they went straight to the town and began to buy all the items for the funeral.

Lujia Village is not big, and no one needs to invite them after setting off firecrackers, and the surrounding neighbors have also arrived one after another. According to the previous regulations for the funeral, what should everyone do, they did not seem flustered at all.

It's just that in the process, although everyone was curious about what was going on, after seeing Lu Changgen's black face, no one dared to pay attention to Lu Zhengping, who was kneeling in the courtyard.

When it was time to talk until the morning, Lu Zheng'an was relieved that Song Huaishu was not at home alone, so he took a break and went home.

When he was approaching the door of his house, Lu Zhengan took off his filial piety clothes and hat and put them on the stone pier next to him. After Lu Zheng'an entered the door, Song Huaishu was sitting under the eaves with a dustpan peeling peanuts.

Seeing Lu Zhengan coming back, he hurriedly put aside the dustpan on his lap and got up to greet him. "Have you had breakfast? I'll also give you warm millet porridge and steamed buns in the pot. ”

"It's a mess down the mountain, how can I have time to eat, I'm hungry and burning at this moment. You bring it out for me, I'll wash my face pad for two bites, and I'll have to go over later. ”

As soon as he heard that Lu Zhengan was still hungry, Song Huaishu immediately walked to the stove house, washed his hands, and brought out the millet porridge and steamed buns, as well as the egg custard stewed for Lu Zhengan.

When Lu Zhengan washed up and came to the stove house, Song Huaishu was dripping sesame oil into the egg custard. Seeing Lu Zhengan coming in, he hurriedly brought the food to him on the board.

"Two buns are enough? Do you want me to mix you with another pickle? ”

"No, that's enough." Lu Zhengan moved a small bamboo chair and sat down in front of the board, and drank most of the bowl of millet porridge in one gulp, and then he felt a little more energetic.

Looking up at the blue and black under Song Huaishu's eyes, he knew that after he left, Song Huaishu didn't sleep well, and after thinking for a while, he instructed him: "It is estimated that it will be a few more days for the fourth uncle, and I estimate that I will not have much time at home these days." I don't feel at ease if you are alone at home, so you should go to live with your father and mother in the town for a few days, and then I will pick you up after I send the fourth uncle out. ”

Although it is not appropriate to let Song Huaishu go back to his parents' house at this time, Lu Ming did not want to see Song Huaishu before his death, so Lu Zhengan did not want Song Huaishu to pass. And as a junior, Song Huaishu helped in the past to wear filial piety and bow down.

Song Huaishu's body was thin and tight, and Lu Zhengan himself was reluctant to let him work, so Lu Zhengan was even more reluctant to cry for Lu Ming.

"What should I do when I go back to your meal?" Song Huaishu naturally didn't want to join in the excitement, but when he thought of separating from Lu Zhengan for several days, he felt a little reluctant.

Hearing Song Huaishu's concerns, Lu Zhengan couldn't help laughing.

"I help their family, and the main family doesn't care about a meal. Besides, there are still Uncle Changgen and Aunt Changgen in the village, you don't have to worry about me. ”

When Song Huaishu heard Lu Zhengan say this, he also relieved himself and nodded and stopped talking.

After scraping the egg custard in the bowl with a spoon, Lu Zhengan put down the chopsticks in his hand, looked sideways at Song Huaishu, who was wilting on the side, and stretched out his hand to pull the person onto his lap and sit down.

Sensing Song Huaishu's struggle, Lu Zhengan put his chin on his shoulder and whispered, "I won't see you for a few days when I go back, let me hold him for a while." ”

Lu Zhengan's voice fell, and Song Huaishu in his arms really quieted down. Seeing this, Lu Zhengan put his head sideways and pecked him on the cheek, and said uneasily: "After you go back, you must eat well and listen to your father and mother." I'll pick you up in four days, and you're running around at home, you know? ”

"I'm not a child, are you finally so worried?" Song Huaishu listened to Lu Zheng'an's instructions, and while he was moved in his heart, he felt even more amused in his heart.

"Since we made a contract, you haven't left me, so I'm naturally not at ease."

Chapter 63

Three days after Lu Ming's death, he was officially released from the coffin on the third day of the 11th lunar month.

The day before he came out of the coffin, Lu Changgen cut the thin hemp rope that had tied Lu Ming's legs before, and removed the yellow paper covering his face.

After leading the Lu family's nephews around Lu Ming's coffin, they wiped it around with a cloth towel, and then completely covered the coffin. When the coffin was released the next day, the lid and body of the coffin were nailed to death with rivets.

Lu Ming's posthumous affairs, Lu Changgen did not let Lu Zhengping participate. It was only when the spirit was about to come out of the coffin that he threw a clay pot. After that, the willow flags were resting on the coffin, and he was not allowed to touch his hands for half a minute.

When Lu Ming's coffin was carried out of the courtyard by the Lu family's nephews, the onlookers were a little surprised when they saw the willow banner covered by the coffin lid.

After looking around among the funeral entourage again, they did not find Lu Zhengping's figure, and the discussion became louder.

Lu Ming carried the banner himself, which means that there have been no heirs in this vein since his death. It is also a disguised explanation to everyone that Lu Zhengping is no longer a descendant of the Lu family from now on.

Although Lu Zhengping is a little arrogant on weekdays, he used to be filial to Lu Ming. However, after marrying Chen Cuihua and entering the door, although there were many quarrels in the family, I had never heard of the father and son making trouble to such a point. No matter what everyone guessed in their hearts, Lu Ming's coffin was still carried out step by step.

Lu Ming's cemetery was chosen northeast of the village, and when the funeral procession arrived at the cemetery, the cemetery had already dug up the grave, and laid lime, charcoal, and trees in front of the tombstone.

Lu Changgen held a straw mat and spread it on the bottom of the coffin, and then beckoned everyone to slowly and steadily put the coffin into the coffin with a rope. After placing Mingjing on the coffin, the men and women stood on the east and west sides, and then ordered people to bury them with earth.

A moment later, a tomb was built in front of everyone's eyes, and Lu Changgen beckoned everyone in the Lu family to bow to the new tomb before leaving.

After sending Lu Ming out of the coffin, Lu Zhengan wanted to go home immediately and pick up Song Huaishu from the town. However, he was stopped by Lu Changgen.

Lu Zhengan came to Lu Changgen, looked at his haggard appearance, and hurriedly asked, "Uncle Changgen, what else do you have to order?" ”

"I see you want to go back, but there's something going on at home?"

Lu Zhengan had nothing to hide in front of Lu Changgen, and after hearing his question, he replied truthfully: "Right now, the fourth uncle has been funeral, and Huaishu has lived in my father-in-law's house for a few days, and I should also take him back." If Uncle Changgen has something to do, even if he tells me, it's the same if I go later. ”

Hearing this, Lu Changgen looked at the few people who were passing by them, hesitated for a moment, and then didn't say anything more.

Lu Zheng'an took Song Huaishu back with great heart, and when he saw that Lu Changgen was like this, he didn't ask questions, and gave Lu Changgen a junior salute, and persuaded him to go back and have a good rest, and then strode home.

……

By the time Lu Zhengan packed up and came to town, it was just the middle of the day.

At this time, Song Xiren had not yet gone to the shop, and when he saw Lu Zhengan coming over, he hurriedly beckoned Song Huaishu, who was resting in the house, to come out.

"Why did Zheng'an come here at this time? You're already out of the coffin? ”

"Well, Chenshi is going out. I've been busy enough these days, so I went back to rest for a while before I came. Father, what about Huaishu? ”

Seeing that Lu Zheng'an finished saying three sentences, he began to ask Song Huaishu where he was, and Song Xiren couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't sleep well yesterday, so I let him go into the house and sleep for a while after lunch."

As he was talking, Song Huaishu pulled his shoes and walked out of the back room, and when he saw Lu Zheng'an talking to his father at the door, he only felt that his empty heart had been filled all at once.

"Why don't you get a good rest at home? I see that you have blue halos under your eyes, haven't you rested well? Song Huaishu walked to Lu Zheng'an, looked at him carefully for a while, and saw that he had lost a lot of weight in just a few days, and he couldn't help but feel distressed.

"Uncle Changgen's funeral, Uncle Changgen didn't let Lu Zhengping interfere, and all the trivial matters were done by us tall nephews and nephews, so it was harder. However, fortunately, there were a few of them, and if there was anything they didn't understand, they did it directly, so I stayed up for two days while I was on the wake, and then went home and rested for a day. ”

Song Huaishu knew Lu Zheng'an's character too well and knew that the process would certainly not be as simple as he said, but he could only give up if he did not want to say it. Hurriedly let Lu Zhengan enter the house to rest, Song Huaishu poured him a cup of hot water, and gave him the snack he had just bought in the morning.

"Didn't you have lunch when you came? Do you want me to make some more for you? ”

I haven't had a good rest in the past few days, and Lu Zhengan really doesn't have much appetite. Seeing that Song Huaishu came over with a snack, he didn't let him go to the kitchen to toss again.

"I had a meal before I came out of the coffin, and now I'm not hungry at all. Don't toss, I'll just eat two bites of dim sum to cushion my stomach. ”

As he spoke, Song Lan walked out of the house. After Lu Zhengan got up and greeted her, he watched the two elders leave the room, deliberately leaving space for the two of them, and Lu Zhengan immediately shifted his gaze to Song Huaishu.

"Have you eaten and slept well these days? What I told you before, did you listen well? After that, Lu Zhengan glanced sideways at the door, and after seeing that Song Xiren and Song Lanshi didn't come in, he asked in a low voice: "Also, have you missed me these days?" ”

Song Huaishu was very helpless about Lu Zheng'an's question, and when he was about to answer, when he heard Lu Zhengan ask if he missed him, Song Huaishu's face immediately turned red to his neck.

A pair of handsome eyes glared at Lu Zhengan fiercely, but seeing that the other party kept staring at him, he was silent for a long time, and finally squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "I thought." ”

Although Song Huaishu's answer was a little reluctant, Lu Zhengan was already satisfied with the fact that he could say it. After sweeping a few pieces of dim sum from the plate into his stomach, Lu Zhengan patted the crumbs of dim sum on his hand and stood up from his chair.