So we got in the car together, and Anthony was chatting with Xiaoman along the way. Xiaoman also liked Anthony very much and kept telling him some things in China.
Anthony has always wanted to go to China, so he was particularly interested in the things Xiao Man said.
However, Anthony never said anything about Min Nolan's death. I know that he must also know that Xiao Man can't accept it.
Chatting along the way, it didn't take long before we arrived at the place Su Qing was looking for. It was quite prosperous and there was a business district nearby.
After Anthony pulled over the car, he said to Su Qing: "This is it. The building you are looking for is the red house in front. Are you sure it is here?"
Su Qing took out her phone again, opened a photo to compare, nodded and said, "Well, this is it, thank you."
"You're welcome."
After dropping Su Qing off the car, we headed to Min Nolan's residence.
Anthony also suddenly became a little taciturn, and the atmosphere was obviously different from just now.
Then I asked Anthony: "How is it? Has it been buried?"
"Well, I will be buried this afternoon. I originally wanted to wait for you and Xiaoman to arrive, but the scheduled time cannot be changed."
"Where's An Lan? How is she doing now?"
"Fortunately, my sister is still relatively strong inside."
I was relieved. Xiaoman didn't understand what we were talking about, so he just asked Anthony: "Uncle, does grandma know that I came to see her? Is she waiting for me at home?"
"Xiaoman, grandma..." Anthony suddenly fell silent, and then looked at me again.
I glanced at Anthony, indicating that he could tell me, because I couldn't hide it, and I didn't want to hide it from her. I originally brought her to see her grandmother on her last journey.
Anthony then said in a deep voice: "Xiao Man, you may...not be able to see grandma."
"Why? Is grandma sleeping?"
"Well, grandma is asleep."
"That's okay. Just wait until grandma wakes up tomorrow."
"Xiaoman, uncle knows that you miss your grandma very much, but... you really can't see your grandma anymore."
"What? Uncle, why can't I see grandma?"
I, who had been silent for a long time, finally said, "Grandma passed away."
"Dead? Why did grandma pass away?" Xiao Man's expression suddenly became sad.
Xiao Man knows what it means to be dead. I have explained it to her before, but seeing her like this she still doesn’t believe it.
"Well, your father is right, grandma passed away, so you can't see grandma anymore."
"No, you are lying. How could it be possible for grandma to die when she was well?" Xiaoman said loudly.
Anthony and I looked at each other, and neither of us spoke anymore.
Xiaoman was anxious, "Uncle, please speak! Did you and dad lie to me? You can't lie to me."
"Xiao Man, uncle didn't lie to you. Grandma really passed away. This time dad brought you here just to see grandma off on her last journey."
After hearing what I said, Xiaoman suddenly fell silent, and his originally happy face suddenly turned sad.
The next moment, she burst into tears.
Anthony and I were both at a loss. I also thought that Xiaoman would be sad, but she burst into tears suddenly, which really surprised me.
I had no choice but to hold her tightly in my arms and comfort her.
She cried heartbreakingly, crying for grandma at the same time. This was the first time in a long time that I saw Xiaoman cry so hard.
It was the kind of crying that I couldn't control at all, and the more I cried, the harder I cried, and my voice became hoarse.
It wasn't until they arrived at Min Nolan's residence that Xiao Man finally stopped crying, but he hurried into the house as soon as he got off the car.
As she ran inside, she shouted loudly: "Grandma, Grandma, I'm here to see you. Are you playing hide-and-seek with me? Grandma, come out! Grandma, I'm back..."
Listening to Xiaoman's hoarse shouting, I felt a little helpless. Anthony was still sitting in the car, holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands, sighing heavily.
When Xiao Man ran in, I saw An Lan walking out and she hugged Xiao Man.
Xiaoman was still struggling, shouting for grandma.
I just got out of the car and walked over. When An Lan saw me, he didn't give me the sweet smile like before.
Her face was full of sadness and she looked very tired. Even her hair was casually clipped with clips, she had no makeup on, and her lips were a little white.
I can understand the pain of losing a loved one. When my mother passed away, I didn't react for a whole month.
She hugged Xiao Man tightly and said comfortingly: "Xiao Man, don't cry. Grandma is gone, but you have to be strong! Have you forgotten what grandma told you?"
"Mom, why did grandma die? She was fine! Why didn't she want Xiaoman to die?"
An Lan also couldn't explain it, but she kept comforting Xiao Man in her own way.
After Xiao Man's emotions were completely calmed down, An Lan took Xiao Man to Min Nolan's portrait and offered her incense.
Although this is abroad and there is no such thing, we are all Chinese.
An Lan asked Xiao Man to kneel in front of Min Nolan's portrait and kowtow three times.
I also went in and knelt down and kowtowed. Looking at Min Nolan's portrait, I was still in a daze.
She is really still young!
It’s not that he looks young, but he is indeed not old at all in his fifties.
But he left so quietly, no one expected.
Yangyang is also there. He is now two years old, can walk on his own, and can also clearly call out his parents.
It was not until midnight that An Lan went to put Xiaoman to sleep, then came to the yard downstairs and sat next to me.
"Why don't you get some sleep? You must have not had a good rest after coming so far." She said to me in a very tired voice.
I took a puff of cigarette, exhaled it slowly and said, "You are the one who should rest now. Look, your voice is hoarse."
"I'm okay."
"Stop saying you're okay, go to sleep quickly, and take me to Mom's grave tomorrow to lay incense sticks."
An Lan nodded, but didn't want to leave yet. She gently rested her head on my shoulder and just sat there quietly.
I gently held her shoulders, and we just sat there silently.
The moon in foreign countries is not that round. Today happens to be the fifteenth day of the Chinese lunar calendar, but here the moon is not the roundest.
Unknowingly, An Lan leaned on my shoulder and fell asleep. Her breathing was steady, and the whole world became quiet.
I kept this position, just letting her lean on me, without trying to wake her up.
Because I know that she needs my shoulder more than ever at this time.