Picking mulberries

Cui Dongxu and Shen Jinping hadn't reached the first aid room when they heard Shen Yiping crying loudly, and his heart tightened suddenly. Shen Jinping's feet were soft, but fortunately she was supported by Yi Meishu.

Cui Dongxu rushed to the corridor of the emergency room, and saw his uncle and aunt lying on his mother's hospital bed crying loudly, her mother's head was covered by the glaringly white sheets, and all the doctors and nurses were persuading one and the other anxiously.The second aunt, Shen Aiping, fell silent at this time, and sat on the chair by the corridor in a daze, unable to straighten her back. Cui Shicheng held his head in his hands, and squatted down beside the hospital bed.

"Big... big sister... what's the matter?" Shen Jinping who followed behind asked in a trembling voice.

"Eldest sister, she's gone." Shen He raised his tearful eyes and said.

"It's time to go..." Shen Jinping's tears suddenly burst into tears. She wanted to cry out loud but she couldn't make it out loud, making her whole body twitch. Yi Meishu turned pale with fright, and quickly gave her Helped to the side and sat down.

It was late autumn, the sweet-scented osmanthus had faded early, the fragrance of chrysanthemums had passed, and the rustling autumn wind blew yellow the sycamore trees all over the street.

In Cui’s house in Banyue Lake villa area, wind and horse flags are fluttering, white mantles are flying, mourning and music are whirling, and sandalwood is ethereal. Every once in a while, there will be a burst of chanting and wooden fish sounds, and occasionally a burst of firecrackers.This day was the day of Shen Xiuping's funeral, mourners came and went, wreaths were placed outside the gate of the courtyard, and cars formed a long queue.

As soon as Shen Xiuping left, Cui Shicheng felt unwell after returning from the hospital, and had no energy to deal with his wife's funeral, so he had to entrust Chang Huanming, the administrative director of the factory, to take care of all funeral matters.Fortunately, Cui Shicheng's second brother-in-law, Ying Chuanguo and third brother-in-law, Geng Weimin, was kind to Cui Shicheng at ordinary times, and offered to help him run errands to buy some funeral supplies.

Although the Qingyuan civil affairs department requires that the deceased be cremated, it is only required in the past two years, and it is not too strict.The Shen family wanted Shen Xiuping to be buried. After discussing with Cui Shicheng, Chang Huanming had no choice but to follow the Shen family, but the cemetery was too far away, so it was unrealistic to ask someone to carry the coffin, so they had to hire another modified bus.

All the acquaintances and friends in Cui Shicheng's shopping mall came to pay their respects, groups of people came one by one, and many friends who usually had close friends wanted to help out, but there were too many people coming and going, so Chang Huanming arranged a factory A few middle-level leaders in the village came to help, but they couldn't intervene, so they had to persuade Cui Shicheng to pay homage to Shen Xiuping, and then they all went back.

Except for the old lady Qiao Yuxin who did not come, all the relatives of the Shen family came. Some silently burned paper money, and some helped Chang Huanming run around. Shen He led Cui Dongxu to stand at the door of the coffin. Bow back to those who come to mourn.

Mr. Feng Shui set the time for the funeral at 03:30 pm. Except for the relatives and friends of the Cui family of Shen’s family and some middle-level leaders in Cui Shicheng’s factory, the other friends who came to mourn all paid their respects and left after paying their condolences. At noon The relatives and friends on both sides of Shen Cui who came to mourn have been here. Cui Dongxu, whose waist is bent, can finally take a rest.

After one o'clock in the afternoon, there were almost no mourners. Chang Huanming, Lang Chuanguo, Geng Weimin, and the others began to prepare for the funeral. The invited monks recited scriptures harder at this time, and the sound of wooden fishes rang out.

Just when Shen He was about to ask Cui Dongxu, who was dressed in sackcloth and filial piety, to go in and listen to how the mage arranged for the coffin worship, another mourner came outside the coffin. He looked 50 years old, wore large-frame glasses, and was a little bald in front of his forehead. He is thin, fair and tall, about as tall as Cui Dongxu.Cui Dongxu had never seen this person before. Although he looked like he was walking with him, there was no such colleague in the school. Looking back at his uncle, he saw Shen He's face was also a little confused, and he probably didn't know who this person was.

Shen He politely greeted the person who came, and then introduced Cui Dongxu to him. The person looked at Cui Dongxu and nodded a few times, then sighed again inadvertently.Shen He led the way, and people from the future led the coffin. Cui Dongxu saw that there were no other visitors at the gate of the courtyard, so he also followed into the coffin.

As soon as the man entered the coffin, Shen Aiping, Shen Jinping, and Shen Yiping stood up to say hello, saying, Brother He, you are here too.When Cui Dongxu saw all the aunts recognized him, he realized that it was an old friend from his mother's natal family who had come.

Seeing the doubts on Cui Dongxu's face, Shen Jinping said lightly beside him: "He is Professor He Liangfeng. He grew up with a family member of one of our faculty members. Like you, he is engaged in agricultural research and now lives in the United States. I have a very good relationship with your mother, and I care about your mother, I didn't expect him to hear the news, and I didn't expect him to come back from all the way."

"He Liangfeng?" Cui Dongxu had never heard of this name, and his mother had never mentioned it to him.

"Well," Shen Jinping continued, "His father and your grandfather are colleagues, and they have been together for a while. Although they are also clinking poor, they usually save some delicious food for your mother and us. He took care of us like a big brother. After your parents got married, they resumed the college entrance examination soon. He was admitted to study in Beijing and then went abroad. Will get in touch."

He Liangfeng solemnly lit incense in front of Shen Xiuping's coffin, bowed respectfully for a few times, looked at Shen Xiuping's portrait, He Liangfeng's face was a little moved, tears were in the corners of his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched. Hard to say.Shen Aiping pulled He Liangfeng's hand with snot and tears and talked about her sister's experience while recounting the old days. Seeing that her second sister was a little abrupt, Shen Yiping and her husband Bai Runsheng came over to entertain He Liangfeng and sat down beside them, chatting a little bit. polite words.

Cui Shicheng, who was arranging his wife's belongings, came from home and saw He Liangfeng sitting there. He was stunned, with a very surprised expression. After a moment of distraction, he took the initiative to say hello to He Liangfeng: "Oh, Professor He is here."

He Liangfeng snorted coldly and ignored Cui Shicheng, stood up and said to Bai Runsheng, Shen Yiping and Shen Aiping, "I won't send her off, I'll contact you if there is anything to do."

"I'm going back now?" Shen Aiping said very sadly, "It's the last journey, why don't you see me off?"

"Tonight's air ticket, there are still some things to deal with, and finally we can forget our wish when we meet," He Liangfeng said calmly, "In the end, we all go to one place, but sooner or later, it will always be there See you again."

"Brother He, don't say that," Shen Jinping walked over and said, "It's not easy outside, you have to take good care of yourself, you are half an old man now."

"Yes, yes," He Liangfeng smiled wryly, "Jin Ping's temperament is still stable and reserved, and Aunt Qiao is in good health, isn't she?"

"Okay." Shen Jinping nodded, "When you get older, you love to chatter."

"It's been so many years since we saw each other. I really miss the life in our courtyard." He Liangfeng said with some emotion.

"Overseas is not a paradise, come back early." Shen Jinping advised.

"It's time for the fallen leaves to return to their roots." He Liangfeng sighed and nodded goodbye to the Shen sisters.

Cui Dongxu saw his father standing aside expressionlessly, while He Liangfeng chatted with his aunts on his own, feeling that the professor surnamed He must be dissatisfied with his father.Seeing that He Liangfeng was going back, Cui Dongxu hurried to the entrance of the coffin with his uncle, and bowed to thank He Liangfeng who went out.He Liangfeng walked straight out of the courtyard without even looking at Cui Dongxu.

"Don't uncle know him?" Cui Dongxu saw that all the aunts had chatted with He Liangfeng very well just now, but his uncle was so familiar that he didn't even come forward to say hello.

"I know. Second Sister and the others, I remembered it as soon as they mentioned it. I've heard them talk about it before." Shen He shook his head, "It's just that I was too young at that time, so I can't remember too clearly."

"What is he doing?"

"Your third aunt explained just now that she is like you, a professor who engages in scientific research," Shen He thought carefully, "I heard that she is an expert in soybeans and teaches at a well-known university in the United States. My uncle said that he has made great achievements in soybean research and won some scientific and technological awards."

"Are you familiar with my mother?"

"Didn't I say it, they were raised by a family head, and they were young." Shen He said unnaturally.

"I know my dad too, right?" I only heard that men are called buddies when they are together. A man and a woman are said to be childhood sweethearts or something.

"Then I don't know. Wasn't I still young at that time?"

It was time for the funeral. The funeral home staff invited by Cui Shicheng moved Shen Xiuping from the ice coffin to the cypress coffin where she was buried. Shen Aiping and Shen Jinping helped her sister comb her hair, changed her shroud and shoes, and stuffed money into her mouth. Gold Line.After everything was ready, the mages began to build the coffin, chanting scriptures and burning amulets, and tossing about the filial son Cui Dongxu kneeling in front of the coffin and kneeling behind the coffin, worshiping the gods in the east and the evil spirits in the west. He worshiped the mountain god in the south, and worshiped the water monster in the north, worshiping a scholar Cui Dongxu so dizzy and fascinated.

After finally finishing the worship, the presiding mage asked Cui Dongxu to turn his back to the coffin and kneel in front of the coffin, holding a spiritual tablet in his hand. He could only get up after the coffin was nailed up and walked in the front of the funeral procession. Only the fucking soul will know the way home in the future.

Cui Dongxu, who was kneeling on the ground, heard the sound of nailing the coffin behind him. His heart felt as if he was being twisted by knives and scissors. Tears came down again uncontrollably. He thought bitterly that he would never see his mother again.

Seeing her sister being nailed into the black-painted coffin, Yin and Yang were separated, and she couldn't hear her anymore when she wanted to say something. Shen Aiping felt sad, and she lay on the coffin and wailed again. She cried, Shen Aiping He also couldn't help sobbing beside him.Shen Jinping thought that she couldn't bear to see this final parting scene, so she retreated into the villa dejectedly, and sat in the living room in a daze.

Following the voice of the presiding mage, "lift the coffin", eight strong and strong employees in the factory arranged by Chang Huanming lifted the dark coffin out of the coffin shed and sent it to the funeral car outside the courtyard.

Shen Aiping, who was following in the funeral procession, saw that the eldest sister was about to be carried into the car, she suddenly went crazy, grabbed Cui Shicheng by the collar, and cursed desperately: "Cui, you bastard, old turtle, You give back my sister's life..."

In front of everyone, Cui Shicheng was suddenly made a fuss by Shen Aiping, he was extremely embarrassed, he was at a loss for a while, and didn't know how to deal with it.Looking at Shen Aiping's posture, outsiders who don't know the inside story must have guessed that Cui Shicheng secretly murdered his wife.

Seeing that the second sister was playing tricks again, Shen Yiping quickly stepped forward and pulled her away, telling her to calm down and send the eldest sister on the road.Shen Aiping was not forgiving, pointing at Cui Shicheng and crying and cursing: "Cui Shicheng, you old rascal, how can you have a good life today without my sister, you nouveau riche, ungrateful thing, outside □□Sustained prostitutes are not counted, and they have mistresses and mistresses. You have to check your conscience to see if you are a person. Didn’t my sister become sick because of you, how could she leave so early,..."

Shen Aiping scolded more and more vigorously and louder, causing other mourners to turn their heads and couldn't bear to look at Cui Shicheng.Shen He, Shen Yiping, Meishu, Geng Ziyi, Geng Qitong, and others who were persuading that were chattering and making a mess.

The filial son Cui Dongxu who was walking in the front holding the scroll and holding the tablet of the spirit was really loud. Although he also had resentment towards his father, but when his mother was going to the funeral in the public, the chaos was really loud. I couldn't speak, so I couldn't hold it back any longer, and an unknown fire arose, and I turned around and shouted loudly: "Stop making noise, let my mother go quietly, please!"

Unexpectedly, Cui Dongxu, who is usually quiet and gentle, would go crazy. His aunts and uncles were overwhelmed by his loud voice, and they all fell silent.When Geng Weimin saw it, he thought that Shen Aiping would not be able to follow her any longer, and maybe something would happen when he was buried. He might as well stay at home like his wife, so he said to his nephew, Wenjun, "Wenjun! , you take your mother with your third aunt, don't go with you, stay at home and help take care of your cousin Zhixie."

Lang Wenjun said unhappily to his mother: "Why are you crying, his own son is not as sad as you, and his own son didn't have any opinions on his father, so why are you worrying about being wronged here?" After finishing speaking, he was angry He coaxed Shen Aiping, who was sobbing, half-armed and half-pulled to the motorcycle parked by himself in the yard.

"Yeah, you brat, where are you taking your mother?" Lang Chuanguo scolded his son.

"Go home." Lang Wenjun replied angrily to his father.

Seeing that the second brother-in-law was roaring like thunder again, Geng Weimin hurriedly persuaded him: "Second brother-in-law leave him alone and let them go back. Second sister is too sad, so it's not good to stay here."

The presiding mage was also distracted by Shen Aiping's fuss, and Lang Wenjun came out of the courtyard door with the beeping of his motorcycle before he came back to his senses, and continued to wave the spirit-calling flag, indicating that the coffin should continue and park the coffin securely.

When Cui Dongxu was about to get into the car, his father suddenly came over and took Shen Xiuping's tablet and asked him to carry it.Cui Dongxu didn't know about the funeral etiquette, and didn't know if it was a taboo to do so, so he looked back at Chang Huanming and Geng Weimin, who were in charge, and Geng Weimin waved to his nephew: "Just let your father hold the handle, and you put on the banner." that is."

Shen He and Shen Yiping saw her eldest brother-in-law personally holding the tablet, she couldn't help sighing softly a few times.