Mrs. Tan’s cemetery is on the side of the southern hillside, facing south and facing north. There is a small stream below. It can be regarded as a geomantic treasure. But after a few years, the neat and solemn cemetery that was originally neat and tidy has now been submerged by weeds and trees.
, when we arrived at the place, we almost couldn’t find the tombstone.
Tan Ruqing was anxious and angry. Originally, when she came to visit the grave during the winter solstice today, she was in a low mood. She was even more sad when she saw that the cemetery was deserted. All the other words fell on deaf ears.
Tan Xiuying was naturally very angry. She was not in good health and could not take care of her on weekdays. The third uncle who entrusted her to her lied and deceived. When asked, he said that he would take care of it, but it turned out that nothing was done. The grave of an old lady was covered with weeds and thorns.
It was occupied by miscellaneous trees.
"These are heartless people. When my aunt was alive, she took great care of everyone. She always brought money back during every festival. Who could benefit from talking about the distance between the houses? After she passed away, she didn't even help clean up the graves. It's so simple.
Extremely cold. These people really don’t deserve to be human.”
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "There's no need to scold. It's better to ask for help than to ask for yourself. Let's just clean it up. I think the bump over there should be the grave head. What's exposed seems to be the tombstone."
Everyone walked over and found a stone tablet among the weeds, with mottled handwriting engraved on it: the tomb of Yunxian, the late concubine of Tan family, and the granddaughter Tan Ruqing stood in tears.
"I found it, it's here. Let's get to work. First clear away the miscellaneous trees and thorns, and then pick up the soil and raise the tomb." Zhang Yanling said.
Everyone immediately started to cut down all the grass, thorns and trees with hatchets and shovels, and threw them all down the hillside. They trimmed the two pines and cypresses in front of the grave to make them taller and taller. Then they dug soil in the distance.
, surrounded the grave and piled it bigger.
Tan Ruqing also used the white paint he brought to trace the words on the stele more clearly. While tracing the paint, Tan Ruqing suddenly said: "Oh, we should erect a new stele and engrave your name on it.
of."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "The old lady may not be willing to let me erect a monument for him."
Tan Ruqing said: "She will definitely be willing. She loves me the most and she does it all for my sake."
Zhang Yanling said: "That's easy to do. Let's come back next winter solstice. Set up a big tombstone and build the tomb with blue bricks, so that weeds won't grow."
Tan Ruqing nodded in agreement. She was not well prepared, so it seemed that this was the only way to go. It was not that Zhang Yanling's name was required to be on the stone tablet, but that this was Tan Ruqing's expectation. She wanted to work with Zhang Yanling for the old lady.
Erecting a monument can also be regarded as telling the old lady that she and Zhang Yanling are married.
The young man Tan Changshun worked the hardest, chopping trees, mowing grass, and carrying mud. He did everything without making a sound or talking, and just kept busy with his work. He also did not complain about being tired. Zhang Yanling saw this and became more and more fond of this young man.
After everything was arranged, Tan Ruqing personally placed the fruit and wine on the grave, wiped the tombstone with a silk scarf, knelt down and kowtowed incense. Tears slowly filled her eyes.
"Grandma, Ruqing came to see you. I haven't come to see you in the past few years. Ruqing is really unfilial to leave you here alone. But although Ruqing is in the capital, he thinks about you all the time and often dreams about you.
. I hope grandma will forgive Ru Qing, but she is really too far away. I am the wife of the Zhang family, so I can’t do whatever I want. Please forgive me, grandma."
Tan Xiuying said from the side: "Ruqing, my old aunt will definitely forgive you. How can you come here so far away? Don't be sad."
Tan Ruqing nodded and continued softly: "Grandma, my husband and I are here together this time. Ruqing did not violate what you said before your death, but Ruqing knew your thoughts. You are just afraid of me.
I was bullied and wronged. But my husband was very kind to me and I was very happy.
.So, you, old man, I can rest assured. If you are really to blame, just give me a dream at night and just scold me. My grandmother will definitely be reluctant to beat and scold me, and she will definitely listen to me. In the past, you have
That's it. When I am willful...you are reluctant to scold me and hit me..."
As Tan Ruqing said these words, she burst into tears and choked with sobs. She couldn't speak anymore. Thinking of all the past scenes where Tan Yunxian loved her so much. The happy time spent in the old house of Baizhifang in the capital, it was really heartbreaking.
Generally speaking, the impermanence of yin and yang is the greatest tragedy and regret in the world, and no one can reverse it.
Xiaozhu's eyes were red from crying, and he knelt down and kowtowed, crying like rain.
Zhang Yanling advised softly: "Don't be too sad, you two. The old lady must be very happy to see you coming to see her. This cry, even if the old lady has a soul in heaven, she must be sad."
Tan Ruqing stopped sobbing and stood up with Xiaozhu's help. Xiaozhu took a straw futon and placed it in front of the monument. It was Zhang Yanling's turn to worship.
Zhang Yanling knelt in front of the tombstone and burned incense. He looked at the tombstone and said solemnly: "Old grandmother, you have a spirit in heaven. You should see how I treat Ruqing. It was Yanling who was naughty at first and gave you a bad impression. But
Yanling really likes and admires Ruqing. I dare not say that I want to make her happy all the time, but I will do my best.
Ruqing and I have been married for four years, and we have never had a quarrel or blushed. We respect each other as guests and raise eyebrows together. You should be able to rest assured. Today I came to pay homage to you, old man. Maybe I can make a promise here. I, Zhang Yanling, will never betray Ruqing in this life.
Qing will treat her well. If you break this oath, heaven and earth will hate you."
Although Tan Ruqing was happy in her heart, she didn't want Zhang Yanling to swear on the bet, so she hurriedly said: "Why are you swearing like this? Really."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Of course I want to make the old lady feel at ease. As soon as the old lady is happy, she will bless us."
Tan Ruqing pursed her lips and smiled softly.
Zhang Yanling kowtowed and stood up and said: "Ruqing, why didn't you tell the old lady about the new medicine just now? Maybe what the old lady is most happy about is that you have carried forward the Tan family's medical skills and developed new medicines."
Tan Ruqing was suddenly enlightened and hurriedly knelt down and said: "Grandma, I forgot to tell you unless my husband reminded me. We opened Jishitang, and the old house is now a pharmacy. We have developed two new medicines, one is called first aid
Powder, a kind of cleanser to prevent mosquitoes and motion sickness and heat stroke
Cool oil. They all sell very well. My Tan family’s reputation is even greater now. You should be very happy to hear this news. I will continue to study medical skills and strive to be like you, with superb medical skills and saving people.
Are you happy that you are loved by the people?"
It was quiet all around, except for the rustling of the wind, blowing the grass. Suddenly, a harsh cry sounded from the grass not far away. Everyone was startled, but a black crow rose into the sky and made a strange sound.
The sound of shouting.
"Oh, you scared me. I thought the old lady had a ghost." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Tan Ruqing couldn't help but smile and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Grandma's appearance will not be a crow. You are really good at talking."
The atmosphere was originally solemn, but everyone started to laugh at the fuss.
After a lot of busy work, it was already noon. Xiaozhu brought some food, so he found a clean place on the grass next to the cemetery, spread it with flower cloth and laid it out. Chang was good with his hands and chopped a few wooden stakes quietly.
Come as a bench.
While eating, Zhang Yanling asked: "Have your aunt and Changshun discussed it? We will go back to the city in the afternoon. Do you want to go out with me to explore the world?"
Tan Xiuying said: "Cousin, this kid is stubborn and refuses to listen no matter what. He says he is worried that I will be left alone in the village without anyone to take care of me. Please help me persuade him."
Zhang Yanling looked at Changshun and said, "Are you afraid that your mother will suffer?"
Tan Changshun nodded and said: "Cousin, thank you for your kindness. My mother is the most important."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Good boy, it's right to be filial to your mother. I won't advise you anymore. Everyone has his own way, and every choice is right."
Tan Ruqing said: "Aunt, you just come with us. You can go out this way. Not for anything else, but for his future. In this village, the only thing that worries me is my grandmother's grave. These people
It’s all very cold, so it doesn’t make sense for you to live here. Sir, can we take my aunt out?”
Before Zhang Yanling could speak, Tan Xiuying said hurriedly: "No, no, no, I won't trouble anyone. I'm a useless person, how can I let you take care of me. I am successful here, but after leaving Zhuangzi, I am a fool. I don't do anything.
I understand. I am Shun'er. I beg you to take him out. I don't want him to stay here guarding me, an old woman, for the rest of my life. I have figured it out and the only way out is to follow you."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Just let's go together. You don't have to do anything, why can't we support you? There are a lot of idle people in my house. If you can't stay idle, there are things you can do. It's just... you
She is Ruqing's aunt, so she can't let you do some cleaning things. Wouldn't that be disrespectful?"
Tan Xiuying said: "Is there anything I can do? Then I'll go. I don't want to eat for free. Only when I do something to wash my hands can I feel at ease. In this way, Changshun can also work with my cousin."
Zhang Yanling turned to look at Tan Ruqing, who said softly: "Just follow her. Otherwise, she won't agree. There's nothing disrespectful about working. I won't say anything, so you don't have to care."
Zhang Yanling nodded and smiled: "Okay, that's the case, then it's settled. When we return to the capital, we will send someone to pick you up. We have a few more months to stay in Nanjing, and we will pick up your mother and son to Nanjing during the Chinese New Year.
City play."
Tan Xiuying couldn't help being happy, and Tan Changshun was also very happy. In fact, in his heart, he hoped to leave Tanjiazhuang and venture into the outside world.
After eating, they built a wooden fence around the cemetery and dug several drainage ditches. Then everyone returned to the village.
Passing by the village, I saw Tan Ruqing's third uncle hunching his neck and looking at the roadside. When he saw Tan Ruqing and Zhang Yanling, the third uncle hurriedly came forward to apologize.
"Are you going to visit the grave? Haha, I just heard that I was going to help, and you guys came back. You had the intention, but you didn't help."
"Thank you very much." Tan Ruqing said coldly.
"Ruqing, you finally came back for a while, and I should have treated you to a meal. But you also know that our family is very poor. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, the children have no clothes to wear, and the rice jar at home is empty.
,This...life is very tight..." The third uncle said with an apologetic smile.
"His third brother, don't cry about being poor. He gambles and drinks every day and loses everything at the gambling table. Of course that's the case." Tan Xiuying sneered.
"Hey, what are you talking about? You woman, take care of yourself. You don't even care about who you are." The third uncle said angrily.
"What did you say?" Tan Changshun stepped forward with a dark face and clenched his fists and shouted.
The third uncle hurriedly backed away, pointed at the mother and son and said to Tan Ruqing: "Look, look, they are all so small now."
Tan Ruqing frowned and took out a piece of silver from his arms and handed it over: "Third uncle, take it. This is the last time. For the sake of the child, whether you spent it on gambling or drinking, don't think about it next time.
Got a penny. My grandmother was
You talk family members, her grave is overgrown with grass, and none of you have gone to sweep it or clean it up. She was so kind to you when she was alive, where is your conscience? Stop talking, get out of the way, and we will go back and clean it up.
Things are leaving."
The third uncle took the silver and hurriedly put it in his arms, nodding his head in agreement. When Tan Ruqing and the others passed by, he turned around and ran to a yard. Inside, a dozen men in ragged clothes were shouting and drinking, gambling.
.Everyone yelled with enthusiasm. The third uncle yelled and let me get out of the way to sit in the banker, and quickly immersed in the joy of gambling.
Everyone went home and were packing their things and packing the car to leave. When they were almost done packing, someone suddenly burst in, panting.
"Ruqing, Ruqing. It's amazing. Go and help." The person who came was a woman in her twenties.
"Qiu Ju? Why are you here?" Tan Ruqing asked in surprise.
Qiu Ju is a girl from Tanjiazhuang who married to Lijiazhuang a few miles away. She was Tan Ruqing's playmate here when she was a child.
"Don't tell me, I was originally going to see you, but my brother-in-law's wife gave birth to a baby. I delivered her. Everything went well, but the baby just couldn't come out and was lying inside. No, I remembered that you were back,
I hurriedly asked you to help me. Life is at stake, so you must help." Qiu Ju shouted.
Hearing this, Tan Ruqing repeatedly ordered Xiaozhu to get the medicine box and let Aniu set up the cart. Xiaozhu carried the medicine box and wanted to follow him out, but Tan Ruqing said: "Xiaozhu just stays to serve my uncle, and Aniu can follow."
I don’t know how long the birth of the baby will take, and we can’t leave today. In the evening, you can help me wash up and have dinner.”
Zhang Yanling said: "I'll go with you."
Tan Ruqing smiled bitterly and said: "What are you going to do about giving birth? Are you standing there? I can't leave tonight anyway. Stay one more night and leave tomorrow. Human life is at stake, let's not talk about it. I have to
Let's go. Qiu Ju gets in the car, Ah Niu, and hurry up."
While Tan Ruqing was talking, she and Qiu Ju got into the car and left in a hurry. Zhang Yanling and Xiaozhu were left standing outside the courtyard gate in a daze.