"Sister-in-law, you are truly capable," Qiao Ying praised wholeheartedly after watching for a while.
Zhao Yulan just smiled, "Little sister, you really know how to compliment. Which rural child doesn’t know how to cook? You are the truly capable one; saving lives isn’t something just anyone can do."
"That’s just different strengths, but honestly, sister-in-law, if you studied medicine, you would definitely be skilled at it too, judging from how neat you are."
"Me, these rough hands skilled?" Zhao Yulan sat down, pulling the bellows and stretched out her hand for Qiao Ying to see, "Not like my sister-in-law’s, soft as scallion stalks, obviously more dexterous."
Qiao Ying then laughed, "Dexterous enough to start and put out the fire each time I try to cook, haha..." She hesitated before adding, "Sister-in-law, I’m close to you."
Zhao Yulan was taken aback, then quickly understood her meaning, Che Yali was Qiao Ying’s maternal aunt, and Qiao Ying was indirectly telling her that, although Che Yali was her relative, she would not side with her. She smiled gratefully and kept silent.
At six o’clock, everyone gradually got up, and Zhao Yulan had already set the breakfast on the table: plump white steamed buns, golden corn cakes, soft boiled red sweet potatoes, thick millet porridge... it all looked appetizing.
Seeing the two tables packed full of people, Grandpa Lin couldn’t help but feel nostalgic, "It’s been many years since we had such a lively breakfast."
Great Aunt nodded in agreement, "Yes, everyone is so busy; even during New Year’s, it’s hard to gather everyone."
Miaomiao smacked her lips and raised her hand to speak, "I really like having meals with a lot of people, it’s so delicious."
Qiao Ying pulled down her hand, laughing, "Try telling her to eat her breakfast properly on regular days, she has to be forced."
Zhao Yulan sighed helplessly, "Kids never like to eat when they are young. Chuxia was the same. Our home was so poor, yet she was picky and as thin as a bamboo pole, almost driving her dad and me to despair. It wasn’t until this past year that she learned to eat well."
Chuxia curled her lips to herself; that wasn’t her fault at all. Alas, this blame was set on her, and what’s more, there seemed to be quite a few of these undeserved blames...
Miaomiao’s eyes shone as she stared at her, "Sister Chuxia, no wonder I feel close to you, we have the same personality!"
Children’s minds are so simple; when they like someone, they think all of their similarities are beautiful. But what do these have to do with each other? What does "same personality" mean? Alas, a child who has not even graduated from elementary school talks so unreasonably, Chuxia felt a slight sadness...
Shortly after breakfast, the cart carrying paper horses, paper donkeys, and various other offerings for the grave arrived at the doorstep, arranged with the help of Chen Jianxin.
After some small talk, everyone loaded the ritual papers and offerings onto another ox cart, and soon, Dagang’s Grandpa, Chen Jianfeng, Luo Gangshun, Fat Auntie, and more than a dozen other close relatives had gathered, ready to head out to the cemetery in a grand procession.
By kinship, Great Aunt held the highest rank, and technically, she did not need to go. But she had always been bothered by this matter over the years and insisted on going to the grave to talk it over.
"Shengjun, Qinger, making you stay here all alone these years was my fault. I always harbored hope, wishing that one day you would appear before us, even though I knew it was just a dream, I still lied to myself. I am so sorry..." As Old Lady Lin spoke, she began to cry and collapsed to the ground. Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan quickly moved to her side to help her up and comfort her.
After much effort, they managed to calm Old Lady Lin down. Then Grandpa Lin and Granny Lin, leading the younger generations, solemnly offered their tributes to their siblings who had stayed away in a foreign land all those years, followed by Dagang’s Grandpa officiating the ceremony to open the grave.
The top soil was freshly added, making it easy to completely dig open the grave; part of the thin coffin had already rotted through, crumbling at a touch, revealing a pile of bones inside. Not only for Great Aunt, Grandpa Lin, and Granny Lin who had once lived together with them, but even for Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, who had never met them, the sight was enough to bring them to tears.
Standing aside, Dagang’s Grandpa heaved a heavy sigh; he had personally decided to spend their collective funds and added some of his own money to buy the thin coffin. Otherwise, they would have been looking at a pile of bones scattered in the dirt.
In this regard, Old Man Lin and Old Lady Lin were indeed heartless.
After all, this couple had died attempting to rescue their son, and furthermore, they had left behind quite some property in their care, but they were able to lie without burden, acting like bystanders uninvolved in the affair...