Uncle Wang was nodding and greeting when all of a sudden, he noticed Ye He Ping’s pale face. Then, looking beyond that, he saw Old Mrs. Ye lying stiffly in the flatbed of the four-wheeler, with the Ye Family girl sitting indifferent beside her, he inwardly exclaid that sothing wasn’t right. Could it be that Old Mrs. Ye had passed away?
Otherwise, why was a lively person lying there without moving at all?
The words that were about to co out of his mouth were left unsaid, and the smile he had put on his face stiffened halfway, making Uncle Wang’s expression look as if he was trying really hard to hold in a bowel movent.
Ye He Ping, however, didn’t have the heart to pay much attention to these things. "If Uncle Wang needs to take care of business in town, go ahead. Let’s talk about anything else when we get back to the village."
The people on both sides had encountered each other halfway down the road, which was why they stopped to greet each other.
Uncle Wang finally found his voice, "I heard your mother was sick last night, and was just thinking about going to town today to see her. What’s happened to your mom?"
Si Jun was more tactful than Uncle Wang. "He Ping, you should try to be strong."
That statent was profound enough; whether a person was sick or deceased, it was fitting without being abrupt.
Ye He Ping’s eyes were red, though there were no tears. Combined with the scraggly beard he was growing out, he seed dispirited. "Uncle, my mom had a hard life."
With one sentence, there was no need for further explanation—it was clear the person was truly gone.
Uncle Wang wore a look of pity. "He Ping, now that your mom’s gone, we can’t just stay here and mourn. We can’t pause for too long, or else your mom won’t be able to find her way ho. Let’s hurry back to the village. Don’t worry, your mom’s funeral will be arranged by the team."
Si Jun also chid in, "That’s right, also have you sent a telegram to your wife in the city yet? It’s spring now, although it’s not sumr yet, people shouldn’t be delayed too long. She needs to hurry back."
The elder of the family is gone; as a daughter-in-law or granddaughter, how could they not rush back?
Ye He Ping recounted how he had already called in the morning, and Uncle Wang comforted him with a few more words. As they brought up the items needed for the funeral, Ye He Ping handed twenty bucks to Si Jun, who took Zhang Zhong’s horse carriage to town to purchase supplies, as Uncle Wang followed them back in the four-wheeler.
Old Mrs. Ye had been considered quite healthy in the village, and her sudden departure shocked the villagers. Although now everyone relied on earning work points, an elder in the village passing ant that no matter the circumstance, every household had to attend. The won were in the fields, and the n returned, allowing Uncle Wang to take charge and set up the mourning tent. As for the coffin, it was borrowed from a local villager who had it prepared in advance. The sudden passing didn’t allow for preparations, but borrowing the coffin from a neighbor was a significant favor.
The mourning clothes had been prepared earlier, and Ye Ling wouldn’t let anyone else assist. She used warm water to clean her grandmother’s body and combed her hair, then gently changed her clothes. Xu Lanxiang turned away and left the room.
She spoke to Ye He Ping who was standing at the door, "Lingzi has always been fond of her grandma. With auntie passing away, Lingzi must be taking it hard. You haven’t been around her much in recent years, you have to pay more attention to her. She hasn’t said a word since morning, the child is hurting inside."
Ye He Ping nodded, thinking back on how his daughter hadn’t looked his way since discovering her grandmother was gone that morning. In her eyes, there was only her grandmother, as if no one else existed. Hearing others talking like this now, Ye He Ping realized he’d have to pay more attention to this matter, or if anything happened, his conscience would be burdened for the rest of his life.
Si Jun returned from the town around midday, having bought the funeral supplies. Ye Ling was wearing mourning on her arm and had a mourning band around her waist, kneeling in front of the incense burner, burning paper. The courtyard was bustling with people coming and going, but she wasn’t affected at all.
Ye Ling could only recall the words her grandmother said before sleeping the previous night, "This lifeti, if I have any regret, it would be that I couldn’t see you get married and find out what kind of spouse Lingzi will find."
At that ti, she hadn’t taken those words to heart. After that marriage in her previous life, living through the New Year, she hadn’t considered this issue anymore, so she didn’t say much at the ti. However, she hadn’t expected this to be her grandmother’s final regret. If she had known her grandmother would pass like this, she would have comforted her, even if she had to lie, to ease her grandmother’s concerns and regrets as she departed.
Ye Ling didn’t even know when the sky turned dark, only that soone was shaking her. She looked over, dazed, to see it was Si Daochen, his mouth opening and closing, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Everywhere around, it was surprisingly quiet, until eventually everything went black in front of her, and she knew nothing more.
When she woke up, it was to her mother’s crying close by. Her mother’s face full of worry ca into view, making Ye Ling realize this wasn’t a dream, slightly curling her lips in sarcasm. Indeed, she could cry after all, acting like she was really hurt.
"Lingzi, tell where you feel unwell?" Bai Xue wiped her face with a handkerchief, reaching out to help her daughter who was trying to sit up, but Ye Ling avoided her. A trace of embarrassnt flashed across Bai Xue’s face, but she quickly masked it, casually grabbing a pillow to support behind her daughter, though she saw her about to get out of bed and quickly blocked her path. "You’re just waking after fainting all night, where are you trying to go? We’re sorting out your grandma’s funeral now, can’t you stop worrying us, please?"
People were scattered across the room and so on the floor. Ye Ling glanced around, seeing they’re all villagers. Mulching over her mother’s words, Ye Ling felt an increasing chill within herself, ignoring her mother’s pulling as she put on her shoes and finally spoke softly, "Mom, grandma is gone; if keeping vigil for her is sothing that worries you, then please forgive your daughter for troubling you one more ti. After all, grandma raised , and now that she’s gone, I must see her through her last journey."
Seeing her mother’s face frozen with a caring expression that soon turned into embarrassnt, Ye Ling only felt satisfaction. Kicking soone when they’re down: Grandma’s funeral was happening, yet her mother was worried about ruining her reputation. Was this really her own mother?
"You child, your mother is only worried about you," Dong Chunhong chid in, giving Bai Xue a break from the tension. "Since you have such a heart, then go ahead, but you should also take care of yourself, so your mother doesn’t have to worry anymore."
Ye Ling couldn’t be bothered to put on an act, not uttering a single word as she left the room. When she arrived in the courtyard, she saw Ye Qian kneeling where she previously was, currently burning paper, with Si Daochen also kneeling by her side. She didn’t know what he said, but it brought a smile to Ye Qian’s face.
A sudden fire flared in Ye Ling’s chest. They were burning paper for grandmother, how could she smile? Was she a beast? (To be continued. If you like this piece, you’re welco to vote for it on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.)
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