The sounds of sobbing and crying inside and outside the room gradually died down, and gradually only melodious singing with a hint of sobriety could be heard.
Xu Chen sat beside the bed, holding his mother's other big dry hand.
Over the years, the Ba people have always regarded Xu Chen as their backbone, but in fact, in Xu Chen's heart, mother Ba is the backbone of the Ba people.
As long as Mu Ba is around, the entire Ba tribe has a huge centripetal force, and everyone can be twisted into a rope.
Although Muba didn't understand everything Xu Chen had to do, she would silently arrange for the tribesmen to complete it meticulously.
Xu Chen said he wanted to go down the mountain to build a kiln, and his mother supported him without hesitation.
Xu Chen said he wanted to go down the mountain to build a house, so Muba took all the women to collect food every day.
Xu Chen said that he wanted to plow the land, and Muba led everyone to help him earnestly.
Building roads and digging canals, farming and raising livestock, building cars and ships, as long as it is something Xu Chen wants to do, no matter whether it is difficult or not, whether Xu Chen is there or not, she will arrange it carefully and complete it.
Even when Xu Chen wanted to bring foreign women into the tribe, which was completely contrary to tradition, she did not object or resist at all.
She is Xu Chen's strongest support, allowing Xu Chen to transform the Ba people according to his own ideas without any worries.
It was under her wisdom and strict management and leadership that the Ba tribe was able to make great changes step by step every year. In the end, in a few years, they developed from a primitive barbaric tribe that lived in caves, wore furs, raised hair and drank blood, to the current one.
A new tribe that is fully equipped with the atmosphere of farming civilization.
In Xu Chen's eyes, Muba is a simple and pure parent. Although she doesn't know much, she knows that she shoulders a great responsibility. She doesn't have a smart brain, but she has a far-sighted vision. Although she sometimes treats her tribe very well.
He is strict and scolds and scolds family members who do not do well, but he also cares, loves and treats everyone equally.
Even sometimes, in Xu Chen's eyes, she is like a child. She will feel sad and wronged because of some trivial things, but as long as she comforts her with a few words, she will immediately smile and be full of happiness.
Every woman and child of the Ba ethnic group has her blood and family affection flowing through her, and her whole life of hard work and love without regrets.
Eight years passed so quickly. Unknowingly, even Xu Chen didn't notice that Muba was actually old, very old. She was so old that she could no longer work hard for this tribe and her people.
Work hard.
Mu Ba's age now may be a little older than the great shaman of the Gonghuo tribe who passed away two years ago.
Right now, she was lying in this newly built compound and spacious house, but she could no longer enjoy a more peaceful and happy life.
The demolished Ba clan compound may be the final destination in her heart, but this new house has become the end of her hard work.
In these eight years, thanks to sufficient food, clothing and a stable life, no one from the Ba ethnic group died of hunger or disease.
Muba was the first.
As a clan leader, she has done what she should do to the best of her ability, shouldered everything she should shoulder, and dedicated her whole life.
Seeing the way Mu Ba described Ku Gao in front of him, Xu Chen still clearly remembered the scene when he saw Mu Ba after traveling through time.
Wearing furs, shirtless, with a few withered feathers in her dirty gray hair, and holding a dark wooden stick in her hand, she appeared in front of him like the legendary primitive savage witch, asking him to part ways.
Not sure if it's true or false.
Although Muba was already old at that time, she still had a natural and innocent wildness and was still very energetic.
When she first lived in the cave, Mother Ba arranged for hunters to go hunting every day, arranged for people to make tools, arranged for people to take care of children, and led women down the mountain to collect. Then, like a majestic parent, she commanded and managed everyone in the tribe to follow her instructions.
The intention is to search for food day after day so that the entire tribe can survive in this barbaric wilderness.
As the development progressed faster and faster, it seemed that Mu Ba's presence became weaker and weaker, but Xu Chen had always been full of respect for her and would still discuss everything with her, no matter how big or small.
It's just that with the construction and development of the royal city in the past two years, he has become increasingly unable to take into account the feelings of Muba and his tribe.
Although birth, old age, illness and death are normal in life, everyone can accept the fact before them.
But Xu Chen knew that Mu Ba's sudden serious illness might have something to do with his changing the marriage ceremony on Mother's Day, and even more to the fact that he built a royal city to stay away from the tribe.
Perhaps in Mu Ba's heart, she is the most important person in the entire Ba tribe, and she is becoming more and more alienated from the Ba tribe, which makes her feel unspeakable sadness and grievance.
Last year, clues were revealed due to the tile roofing of the compound.
The accumulation of sadness and grievance finally defeated the old man.
"Mother Ba Gaga, we are back. Zilong and Xue'er are also back. In a few days we will hold a lively witchcraft ceremony in the Ba tribe. The First Mother God will bless us all!"
Xu Chen held Muba's hand and whispered softly.
Perhaps it was the influence of the sound of the song, or perhaps the communication between Xu Chen and Ye had an effect. The sleeping mother's eyelids moved slightly for a few times and then slowly opened. Her turbid eyes stared at Xu Chen for a long time, and then slowly
There was a hint of spirit.
"Muba Xingga!" Ye cried with joy.
"Chen Ga!" After pondering for a while, Mother struggled to sit up.
Several witches who were holding a witch blessing ceremony also stopped their movements, and then gathered around in joy.
Grandmother and two older women quickly helped Mother Ba sit up. Mother Ba stretched out her big dry hands to wipe away Ye's tears, and shed tears herself at the same time.
"I dreamed about you..."
"Momba is not dreaming, we are back to see you!" Ye cried, covering her withered hands.
"I'm not dreaming, I'm not dreaming!" Momba exhaled a long breath, with a smile on her face.
Xu Chen turned around and took his daughter from a woman's arms, put it in her mother's arms and said, "Xue'er is back with her. By the way, Zilong and Zilong are all running away..."
Xu Chen said, beckoning to a woman outside the door to bring Zilong over, pick him up and put him on the edge of the bed.
"It's growing so fast, let me see..."
Mother Ba held Xue'er in her arms, touching Zilong's head with one hand, with a loving smile on her face. She looked down at Xue'er, who seemed to be still talking, and then gently lowered her head.
His hand also slipped off Zilong's head.
The slightly relaxed atmosphere in the room suddenly sank. Xu Chen's heart suddenly twitched. An uncontrollable sourness filled his eyes and nose. He stretched out his hand to slightly explore the mouth and nose of his mother's mouth, and then took his daughter out of the room.
Mother Ba hugged her and said in a low voice: "The First Mother God took Mother Ba away!"
"Momba quack..." Ye cried loudly.
"Muba..."
There were more cries inside and outside the room, and a group of shamans standing nearby had solemn faces and sorrowful eyes.
"Don't cry. I'm so happy to see you guys back!" Mom wiped her tears and ordered a few older women to put the mother's baby away and cover her with the quilt again.
A poor witch reminded her softly: "If you die, it's hot, so you need to bury him as soon as possible!"
Xu Chen nodded slightly, handed his daughter into Ye's arms, then picked up Zilong and handed it to the woman behind him. Then he looked at the little witch seriously and said, "I'll leave it to you to arrange Muba's funeral. I'll find someone else."
Build a coffin!”
"Okay!" The little witch nodded with a sad face, and soon directed everyone to get busy.
Originally walking back from the Royal City, Xu Chen had been very relaxed and happy watching the development of various tribes along the way. He took Ye and a group of people to enjoy the mountains and rivers all the way, and he was in a happy mood.
But he didn't know that there was a critically ill old man at home who had been waiting for their return with all his heart. He didn't finally swallow his breath until he saw them.
Since ancient times, sorrow has always been associated with separation and death.
Xu Chen never thought that Muba would die so early. He also planned to take Muba to the palace to stay for a while after the Mother's Day sacrifice, so as to enjoy the coolness of the palace in the hot summer.
But unfortunately this wish can no longer be realized.
When Mu Ba passed away, the entire Ba tribe was in mourning, including all the foreigners who came to participate in the sacrificial meeting. Everyone was in mourning.
Xu Chen summoned several carpenters from the tribe to build the coffin. Grandma led a group of older women to dress Mother and pack away the used clothes. The little witch led a group of witches to prepare the funeral ceremony arrangements.
According to the custom of the Ba people, cremation is held after death.
But Xu Chen decided to hold a burial for his mother.
After all, in the past, cremation was carried out due to restrictions to prevent the bones from being eaten by wild animals, and the Wu people also have a tradition of burial, but it is relatively simple.
Now that he has the conditions, Xu Chen still tries to make the funeral as grand as possible to express his respect and longing for his mother. After all, with the tomb and tombstone, there will be a place to pay homage in the future.
Due to the rush of time and the hot weather, the funeral could not be delayed for a long time.
A few hours later, after a simple coffin was built, the mother Ba put it into the coffin and parked it in the spacious courtyard. The little witch led a group of witches around the coffin and held a witch blessing ceremony. The Ba men and women
The young and old, as well as the tribal leaders and hunters who came to attend the meeting, all gathered around the coffin to pay homage to Mother Ba's last remains. Ye, Amu and a group of other men and women put the items Mother Ba used in daily life into the coffin. Some children also put
Xu Chen put a lot of his own pottery figurine toys inside, and then put a few gold, tin, and bronze items that he had handmade before. Finally, he sprinkled a large amount of lime into the coffin, and then he closed the coffin.
Before sunset, more than a dozen strong men of the Ba ethnic group carried the coffin up the mountain and buried it near a vine fruit tree not far from the temple of the late mother. The whole family, men, women, old and young, worked together to move many stones from the river beach and pile them up into a simple stone structure.
The tomb is finally covered with soil, and a simple but solemn funeral ends.