Early the next morning, everyone changed into black clothes.
After a hurried breakfast, everyone rushed to the cemetery.
Zheng Duoduo's face was pale, and the sunglasses on his eyes made his expression even worse.
Chen Xinzhi stood by his side, holding a large bouquet of chrysanthemums in his hand.
Little Tong was supported by his mother and younger brother, crying uncontrollably and staggering around.
Tongzi stood not far away, with his hands behind his back, a sullen face and remained silent.
Xue Ling held a white chrysanthemum in her hand and never spoke a word from the beginning to the end, quietly watching the child being buried.
Except for Xiao Tong's hysterical cry, no one else made a sound. They wept silently, presented flowers, and then turned around and left one by one.
After Wang Xiaoxiao walked away for a few steps, he couldn't hold back his tears.
Xue Yang kissed her hair with red eyes, hugged her and walked away step by step.
Xiao Huzi took off his sunglasses, wiped his tears, put them on again and followed their pace.
"Sister Ling!" Chen Lan hurriedly chased after her, shouting: "Wait! Sister Ling!"
Xue Ling stopped, turned around and saw Chen Lan, and immediately took off his sunglasses.
Chen Lan's hair is already gray, her forehead and the sides of her eyes are full of wrinkles, her skin has not been well maintained, and she looks much older than Xue Ling.
"Sister Ling... I have something I want to talk to you about."
Xue Ling nodded slightly.
Cheng Huanran on the side said hello warmly: "Hello, aunt. It's windy outside, please follow my mother into the car to chat."
After saying this, he politely opened the car door.
Chen Lan was a little cautious and smiled awkwardly.
"OK, thanks."
Xue Ling held Chen Lan's hand and found that her hand was very rough, with thick joints, and was also sick and cold.
"Alan, let's talk in the car."
The two of them got into the car one after another.
Xue Ling poured hot water from the thermos in the corner and handed Chen Lan a cup.
"Drink a few sips to warm yourself up."
Chen Lan thanked him and took it, blew on it, and quickly drank several sips.
She stayed up all night last night and came to the mountainside early in the morning. The cold wind blew for more than an hour but no water came in. She was already very thirsty.
There is a heater in the car, and no one else is present except the driver.
Seeing that no acquaintance was present, Chen Lan took the initiative to speak: "Sister Ling, I heard that you fell ill yesterday... We looked for you twice, but unfortunately you couldn't come out. I know you are usually very busy, I... I will simply say
Two sentences, please listen to me to the end."
"I'm sorry, I slept for a long time yesterday, but I'm just feeling better this morning." Xue Ling took a sip of water and said, "I'll listen, you speak slowly."
Chen Lan looked out the car window and let out a long sigh.
"Sister Ling, I - we never expected that something like this would happen. Damn it! The child was still so young and suddenly disappeared... Little Tong was crying so hard."
Xue Ling sighed softly.
Chen Lan had tears in her eyes and whispered: "It was an accident that the child died. Originally, Tongzi said... Xiaotong told him that it was not the case, so he did not dare to say anything nonsense. In fact, in my opinion, this child Duoduo
She's really good, and she treats little Tong well enough. The two of them had a bad temper and wanted to get divorced. They were both too impulsive. They had been in love for many years and been married for several years. How could they break up and divorce just as soon as they said they were divorced? Sister Ling
, you think so? I think we still have to persuade them to reconcile and continue to live a good life."
Xue Ling gave her an extra cup of hot water and asked, "Is this your idea or Xiao Tong's? In fact, it was Xiao Tong who wanted a divorce at the beginning, not Duoduo."
"This... I know." Chen Lan rubbed her hands in embarrassment and explained: "I told her not to act impulsively, but she didn't listen. This child... has always consulted her father about anything since she was a child.
She doesn’t like to talk to me. I don’t have much education, and I don’t know a lot of Chinese characters. Her father has always made the decision in the family, and she does whatever he says, and whatever he says is done.”
Xue Ling was not surprised at all.
I called twice last time, and both were answered by Tongzi. Tongzi said that Chen Lan was not here, and was at the new house looking after the decoration, and would only come back to buy groceries and cook at around noon.
Zheng Duoduo said before that his father-in-law was sick and his mother-in-law had to take care of him, so she couldn't come north to help them take care of the children.
At that time, Xue Ling asked out of concern for his old friend what kind of illness he had. Zheng Duoduo said that it seemed to be an occupational disease from the past, and it was not serious, but he had to rely on his mother-in-law to take care of him.
On weekdays, my mother-in-law takes care of all three meals a day, as well as tasks as small as wiping the table and washing socks.
Later, Xue Ling learned more about it and realized that Tongzi's occupational disease was just some discomfort in the throat and was not a serious illness.
Despite this, he couldn't cook for himself or even wash a dish, so Chen Lan didn't dare to leave him for fear that no one would take care of him.
Chen Lan was always busy in and out of all the household chores.
Tong Zi and his son are both very happy. One of them plays chess, reads books, and listens to music with his retirement salary. The other earns an official salary of several thousand a month. When he comes back from get off work, he crosses his legs and checks his mobile phone.
My mother has to wash my socks.
Chen Lan heard that her grandson was not in good health, and she also thought about going north to help a group of daughters. However, there was an old literary young man in the family who needed her care, and a young man of the new era also needed her care. They were inseparable at all.
Chen Min and Ahu both said that Tongzi married Chen Lan because of her virtuousness, hard work and ability. After more than thirty years of marriage, Chen Lan took care of all the work in the family, but Tongzi was still the same as before.
Chen Lan had to make a pot of tea for him.
Tongzi has the highest status in the family. His wife must obey him, and his sons and daughters must also obey him.
Chen Lan has never had any ideas, she is just a traditional rural housewife. The two children always come to their father for consultation no matter what they have to do, and they only listen to his father.
It can be said without hesitation that Chen Lan has the lowest status in the family and has the least say.
Chen Lan shook her head and sighed: "Sister Ling, although I don't understand the truth, I know that it is not easy for a couple to live together. Moreover, I know that Xiao Tong really likes Xiao Zheng. They are both in the north.
, a person in the south, so far apart, it must be a great fate to be husband and wife. We are already married, what else is there to worry about... we should live a good life."
Xue Ling looked at the dense water vapor in the cup with half-closed eyes, and whispered: "I think so too. But the key is that they don't think so. They can live a good life like this - it's really impressive
disappointment."
Chen Lan sniffed and explained anxiously: "This time when I came here, my uncle Xiao Zheng didn't pay attention to us at the beginning... He didn't even say hello. Tong Zi was very angry. He originally wanted to scold him... but I
Stopped him. The child suddenly died, and Xiao Zheng was really uncomfortable."
Not even saying hello?
Xue Ling was slightly stunned.
Based on her understanding of Zheng Duoduo, if he has reached this step, it proves that he has completely drawn a clear line between him and Xiao Tong's family in his heart.
Moreover, there is really no turning back between him and Xiao Tong.