Chen Lan had walked for less than half an hour with her two daughters when they arrived at the family's ancestral graves. Auntie Song was right; the graveyard was exceptionally clean. The grass on the mounds hadn't even begun to sprout, and the soil on the graves was freshly added! This place had clearly been meticulously tidied.
To be honest, this was Chen Lan's first time here. Seeing Er Hu and Xiao Shuan kowtowing and adding soil to the ancestors' graves, Chen Lan quickly called for Jia Hui and Shi Mei to join in the ritual.
After finishing their kowtows to each grave, Er Hu and Xiao Shuan sat down by the last mound. They sat on the ground, adding soil to the grave while chatting with it.
Er Hu spoke with a choked voice, "Big brother, how are you doing over there? Mother said you haven't sent her any dreams in a long time! Mother worries you're not doing well there and sent us brothers to check on you. Mother wonders if you've been reborn yet? If not, please send her a dream! It would put her mind at ease."
At this point, Xiao Shuan, also choking back tears, said, "Big brother, don't worry! Sister-in-law, Little Stone, and Mother are all living well! Little Stone even got into college in Harbin this year! Big brother, how are you over there?"
As Xiao Shuan spoke, he couldn't help but start crying, sobbing uncontrollably.
Er Hu lowered his head and wiped away tears. Chen Lan and her two daughters also felt their eyes welling up.
Just then, a group of people ran towards them from a distance. Leading the pack was a robust man in his late forties or early fifties, his face tanned a ruddy red. Behind him followed a crowd, including an elderly man being supported by two young men.
The robust man's hair was somewhat dishevelled, piled on his head like a bird's nest. A row of large white teeth gleamed on his ruddy face. He looked at Er Hu and Xiao Shuan with a smiling expression for a long moment before shouting loudly, "Er Hu, Xiao Shuan, is that really you? You're really back! I thought Auntie Song was mistaken!"
Er Hu and Xiao Shuan wiped away their tears and immediately stood up, walking forward to embrace the robust man.
They shouted loudly, "Brother Qiang Zi, Brother Qiang Zi, how are you?"
By then, the people behind had also arrived, panting. Upon seeing the elderly man, Er Hu and Xiao Shuan immediately called out, "Uncle Chun Wang, Uncle Chun Wang, please take it easy!"
The elderly man, addressed as Uncle Chun Wang, took a breath and asked, "Is it really the Hu boys and Shuan boys, you two are back! Have your parents and the master's wife returned?"
Xiao Shuan smiled and replied, "No, they are all older now and didn't accompany us this time. However, they sent Sister Xiao Lan back with us!"
After speaking, Xiao Shuan looked at Chen Lan. Chen Lan immediately smiled and greeted him, "Uncle Chun Wang, so many years have passed! You are still so hale and hearty."
Then, she turned to her daughters, Jia Hui and Jia Yu, and said, "Jia Hui, Jia Yu, quickly greet Grandpa Chun Wang!"
Jia Hui and Jia Yu obediently greeted him before stepping back behind Chen Lan. Chen Lan then smiled and said, "Uncle Chun Wang, let's talk more at my place. We shouldn't disturb the ancestors' peace."
Uncle Chun Wang nodded and said, "Yes, we shouldn't disturb their peace. Come, Xiao Lan, Er Hu, Xiao Shuan, all of you come to my house."
With that, he turned and, taking Er Hu's hand, started walking back. Qiang Zi called out from behind, "Dad, take it easy! Da Shan, Xiao Shan, support your Grandpa and walk slowly."
The two young men replied in unison, "Dad, we know!"
The group following behind also called out softly, "Let's all go to Uncle Village Chief's house!"
Chen Lan asked Xiao Shuan to go back first and drive the car parked at home to the old village chief's doorstep.
Then, she led Jia Hui and Shi Mei, following behind the group, walking towards the old village chief's house.
The village chief's house was also a mud-brick house with a courtyard. However, the house was built a bit higher and more spacious than ordinary homes, so there was no feeling of oppression upon entering.
The old village chief was chatting with a group of men in the courtyard. The village chief's wife invited Chen Lan and her daughters inside to chat.
Chen Lan and her daughters followed the village chief's wife inside. The village chief's wife warmly invited them to sit on the heated brick bed and busied herself bringing out peanuts and fruit that she usually kept for special occasions for Jia Hui and Jia Yu to eat.
Chen Lan gently pulled the village chief's wife and said, "Auntie, please sit down, don't bother yourself! They are both grown up, not little children. Please don't worry about them!"
The village chief's wife sat down and asked with a smile, "Xiao Lan, I remember your mother-in-law saying that you were going to the frontier to visit relatives. So many years have passed! How have you been over there? Now that you've returned, are you planning to move back, or just visiting?"
Chen Lan, worried about the village chief's wife misunderstanding, quickly explained, "Auntie, we've returned this time to take the two children to study in the capital. We're just visiting home while we're here. My mother-in-law misses home; she's worried about the old house and about my father-in-law and the ancestors being unattended. She sent us back to visit and burn some money for the ancestors. But now they don't allow it... sigh!"
The village chief's wife patted Chen Lan's hand and smiled, "Xiao Lan, don't worry. Your father-in-law and the old patriarchs are not lacking. Every year, your Uncle Village Chief quietly burns a lot of money for them to use, so you can rest assured!"
Hearing the village chief's wife's words firsthand, Chen Lan was deeply moved. Indeed, treating others kindly would eventually be rewarded! There were still far more good people in the world than bad ones. Sudan Novel Network
At this moment, Xiao Shuan lifted the curtain and entered. After greeting the village chief's wife, he asked, "Sister Xiao Lan, I've brought the car over! What's our next step?"
Chen Lan nodded, then looked at the village chief's wife and asked, "Auntie, how many households live in our village now?"
The village chief's wife found Chen Lan's question a bit strange, but she still answered, "There are sixty-three households now. If you include the educated youths, there are seventy-two households. Xiao Lan, what is it?"
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Auntie, it's nothing. My mother-in-law asked us to bring some things back for the villagers, as a small token of our appreciation for everyone's care and concern for my father-in-law and the ancestors over the years."