Chapter 13: Crane the Monument ()

On the afternoon of the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, Xu Shaojie took Xu Yijie and waited for Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan at the entrance of the county town. The family had already been arranged, and the two were already family members, so they lived at home. Xu Lan and his mother lived in the same room, Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie lived in the same room, and Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan were in the same room. In Xu Shaojie's hometown, there was a very big taboo. At home, it was better to let people stop and not let people get together. It means that when outsiders come to the house, they must not live in the same room, otherwise the owner will be in trouble, but their sons are different. The difference is obvious. Generally speaking, daughters cannot go home. Judging from Han Qing'e's arrangement, Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan are already sons and daughters-in-law, so they naturally have to live together when they go home. Han Qing'e doesn't know the relationship between Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan, and Xu Shaojie won't say it either.

The car stopped beside Xu Shaojie. Zhang Shaocai quickly turned off the engine and got out of the car, hugged Xu Shaojie tightly, Yan Yuhuan got out of the car, and hugged Xu Shaojie too. At this time, Zhang Shaocai had nothing to say, and the relationship was different. Yan Yuhuan was Xu Shaojie's sister. It was natural for her to hug her younger brother.

"Brother Zhang, Sister Yan, let me introduce it. This is my brother Xu Yijie."

"Okay, okay, it's my younger brother. This is your sister Yan."

Xu Yijie's movements were a little stiff, obviously not too accustomed to this trick. After Zhang Shaocai shook hands with Xu Yijie, everyone got into the car.

"Shaojie, I've arrived in the provincial capital. Remember to learn how to drive. This driving is actually very simple. After you go, I'll teach you, just drive this car and learn how to drive."

"Brother, it's not OK. This is a new car. It's a pity to learn to drive."

"What do you say? What is the car? As long as you learn it, it will be a good thing."

Xu Yijie, who was sitting behind, was a little moved. He knew some things. In prison, I heard from prisoners about driving. If a new car is used to learn, it will easily damage the clutch and will also damage the engine. The loss is extraordinary. The life of the car will be greatly reduced. Look at this car, it is a complete new car.

When they arrived home soon, Zhang Shaocai opened the trunk of the car, Yan Yuhuan took out several packages of various sizes from it. Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie hurried forward to help get the things.

After Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan entered the door, Han Qing'e came with a smile. These two people, Xu Shaojie's best friend in the provincial capital, was still the big boss. This time, Han Qing'e was a little embarrassed to write their names into the tombstone. A scene that everyone unexpectedly happened. Zhang Shaocai pulled Yan Yuhuan and both knelt in front of Han Qing'e.

"Mom, I brought Yuhuan to greet you. I saw you for the first time and kowtowed you."

Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan both kowtowed to Han Qing'e, but no one expected it. Han Qing'e obviously didn't expect it. She stayed there for a while. I don't know what to do. Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie put down the package in their hands and prepared to pull Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan who were kneeling on the ground and had not yet gotten up.

"Shaojie, Yijie, don't pull us. This is the rule of our hometown. If my mother doesn't ask us to get up, we can't get up."

Han Qing'e hurried forward, and while talking, she pulled Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan up. Xu Shaojie remembered that there seemed to be such rules in the countryside. When he recognized his godmother, he had to do this. Next, Zhang Shaocai took out two red envelopes and gave them to Xu Yijie and Xu Lan. When they met for the first time, Zhang Shaocai was the eldest brother. Meeting gifts were indispensable. Among the red envelopes, there were 500 yuan, which was a lot of money.

During the meal, Xu Yijie served on the table. This time, Xu Yijie took the initiative to sit down. He picked up the bottle, poured wine for Zhang Shaocai and Xu Yijie, poured a little for Yan Yuhuan, and finally poured himself a glass.

"Brother, sister-in-law, brother, I can't speak. I'll give you a glass of wine and I'll drink it first."

Yan Yuhuan and Xu Lan finished their meal soon. Xu Lan took Yan Yuhuan around and saw that the county party committee's yard was still a bit big, and only Xu Shaojie, Zhang Shaocai and Xu Yijie were left on the dining table.

"Yijie, your brother, I am a rough man. I came from the countryside. I have no education. The family talks together and there is no particularity. I know your affairs. Shaojie is unwilling to say it. It was your sister Yan who forced him to tell him. I only knew that your affairs were nothing great. When I was in the village, I had done everything with an axe to chase people. I decided that if someone didn't mess with me, I wouldn't mess with him. I would do it. Now that I have come out, I will raise my head and do whatever I should do. You are my younger brother. As long as you look down on me, follow me to the provincial capital and help me manage the construction site. My brothers are all very interesting. What do you think?"

Xu Yijie's lips were trembling and he didn't say anything. He stood up silently, poured a glass of wine for Zhang Shaocai, and poured a full glass into his glass.

"Brother, as long as you don't dislike me, I'll follow you."

Zhang Shaocai picked up the wine glass, clinked the glass with Xu Yijie, and drank it all in one go.

"Brother, don't say such things, you don't want to say anything, but you still have some special considerations when doing things outside. I will say anything when doing things in the future. You'd better be familiar with the things on the construction site. Your salary. On the way here, I discussed with your sister Yan. According to the standard of 20 yuan a day, you don't need to worry about food and accommodation. Prepare to prepare. Shaojie is about to start school. After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we will go to the provincial capital together."

Xu Shaojie said nothing, picked up the wine glass and toasted Zhang Shaocai with a glass of wine.

In the evening, Xu Yijie took Zhang Shaocai to the county town. He was in a much better mood and immediately went to the provincial capital. If he had something to do, he could at least temporarily avoid this small county town. There were too many sad things here. Xu Yijie could tolerate the rolling eyes of everyone, but eating and living at home costs money. After his father passed away, the family's conditions were not very good, and it was of course a good thing to be able to support himself.

On the 14th day of the first lunar month, everyone got up early in the morning. Han Qing'e prepared breakfast. After everyone hurriedly ate breakfast, they went straight to the cemetery. Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan were preparing to go to the cemetery yesterday. Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie both dissuaded them. Today, they set up the tombstone and went to the cemetery. Zhang Shaocai bought a large number of firecrackers. With a small cart, it was much more convenient. He dragged the things he needed with a small cart.

The workers had arrived long ago. Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan kowtowed and burned incense first. Then, they sent each of the workers a pack of Ashima cigarettes, asking all the workers to be more grateful. Zhang Shaocai is a veteran and soon started chatting with the workers. The workers saw that Zhang Shaocai was very familiar with construction. At this moment, Xu Shaojie said that the eldest brother was the construction boss in the provincial capital, and the workers had a look of respect on their faces. The gentleman and the master who was holding the tombstone were both here.

The husband took the compass and carefully looked at the direction around the cemetery. The two masters who were making tombstones followed and exchanged opinions from time to time with the husband. In this regard, everyone was a layman and could only watch. After a while, the direction was cleared. The leading worker began to make ground according to the teacher's instructions. Xu Yijie lit a firecracker on the side. Xu Shaojie took the prepared red envelope and handed it to the husband. It was 40 yuan, which meant to make a fortune in all seasons. This was already a very high red envelope, mostly 12 yuan red envelopes. The husband thanked him for his gravestones and left. Before leaving, he kept reminding the master who was making tombstones to be careful and not to make any mistakes.

The cement, sand and stones were prepared the day before. Under the guidance of the tombstone master, the workers started to do it. Xu Yijie held a cigarette and filled everyone with cigarettes from time to time. Zhang Shaocai and Xu Shaojie kept watching, mainly to see if the tombstones were aligned up and down. This time, Xu Shaojie made up his mind to decorate the cemetery for his father and must be decorated with stones around him. Zhang Shaocai fully agreed.

The workers are very motivated and no one delays. Everyone thinks that this family is very good, so there is no need to make things difficult for them. There is such a custom in the local area. If the owner is very picky and the workers are procrastinating during the work process, it may take two or three days to finish what can be done in half a day. The owner can only stare at him and can't do it by himself. The money is also expensive, so he always has to take care of the food.

After half a day, the tombstone was built and when the tombstone was covered, Xu Yijie lit a firecracker again. Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan had long seen their names on the tombstone. Behind Xu Yijie, Xu Shaojie and Xu Lan, the signature was adopted son and adopted daughter. This is a very high affirmation in the local customs, which means godson and goddaughter. In front of the tombstone, there is a cement floor of about three square meters, with a small piece empty in the middle.

The sound of firecrackers sounded deafeningly. It was the worker's help to set it off. Zhang Shaocai, Xu Shaojie, Xu Yijie, Xu Lan, Yan Yuhuan knelt in front of the tombstone, burned paper and lit incense. After burning the paper, everyone kowtowed in a regular manner. The worker's master finally sorted out the cement floor in front of the tombstone. There was a worker's master's home living nearby. He was responsible for watching the cement floor at night to prevent footprints from being stepped on.

After everything was over, Xu Shaojie saw that his mother was very sad. His mother had lived with his father for decades, but suddenly encountered such a thing. It was impossible not to be sad. Xu Lan and Yan Yuhuan accompanied Han Qing'e slowly, Zhang Shaocai took Xu Yijie to the restaurant for decoration first, and Xu Shaojie took all the workers and masters to the restaurant.

This time, Han Qing'e respected Xu Shaojie's opinion and did not notify other relatives, but her family. Xu Shaojie saw through the warmth and coldness of human relationships. Besides, Xu Yijie was not used to such occasions. If he met many relatives, he would be embarrassed, so he would simply be his family.

Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Han Qing'e got up early in the morning. She was in good spirits and erected a monument for her husband. She completed a major event. Xu Yijie's work was also implemented. She followed Zhang Shaocai to the provincial capital. Her monthly salary was as high as 600 yuan. Working for one month was equivalent to working for half a year. The family's money was not short of money. Xu Lan had enough money for studying. In the evening, Han Qing'e and Xu Yijie talked for a long time. It was probably meant to ask Xu Yijie to do things well after he arrived in the provincial capital. Remember to take care of Shaojie and pay attention to solving personal problems. He is 23 years old and can be friends. If there is a suitable one, tell the family early.

Xu Yijie was also very energetic and kept nodding. After experiencing so much, Xu Yijie had long seemed very mature. Although his inner resentment was still there, it took time to slowly smooth out these things. In Xu Yijie's heart, family is the most important thing. As for his marriage, Xu Yijie did not consider it for the time being.

It is the rule to eat Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so breakfast is fermented glutinous rice dumplings.

Han Qing'e was also a little sad. Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie were about to leave on the 16th day of the first lunar month. The days of returning were too short. Xu Shaojie was about to start school. Xu Yijie was going to work in the provincial capital. There was no way. When his children grew up, he always had to leave. Xu Lan immediately went to high school. This time she took the exam well and went to the official admission score line of the county No. 1 Middle School. School also started on the 17th day of the first lunar month.

At night, the county town is very lively. There are many teams of lion dancers and lotus rowing boats. Everyone watches them on the street, and during the day, most of them go to the unit to pay New Year's greetings and ask for red envelopes. At night, these teams arrive at the stadium and perform on their own, which means competing with each other. The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the last day of the Chinese New Year, so many people come out to watch the performances.

When she was resting in the evening, Han Qing'e had not had a rest for a long time. She helped Xu Shaojie and Xu Yijie prepare their luggage, and she cried quietly from time to time. Her son was worried that Han Qing'e would never feel at ease.

Before going to bed, Xu Shaojie and his sister Xu Lan said something for a while, asking Xu Lan to study hard and come to Beijing to go to college. After that, Xu Shaojie had a more serious conversation with Xu Yijie. He told Xu Yijie about the details of Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan, and asked Xu Yijie to pay more attention. He left home and was unfamiliar with the place outside. Don’t show off and think of home at any time. Xu Yijie was very surprised when he learned that Shaojie had left home in early August and had worked as a laborer on a construction site. As for the relationship between Zhang Shaocai and Yan Yuhuan, Xu Yijie didn’t care much.

Early in the 16th day of the first lunar month, Han Qing'e was at home and did not send Xu Shaojie, Xu Yijie, Zhang Shaocai, Yan Yuhuan and others. She was unwilling to cry in front of everyone. Xu Lan helped to get the luggage. Han Qing'e prepared a lot of local snacks, which were made by herself, and asked everyone to bring them with her. She had a lot of luggage and the trunk was full. When the car started, Xu Shaojie saw her mother looking at her from the balcony, and she burst into tears.
Chapter completed!