Chapter 1566

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

"What? Chunsheng... he's gone?"

Li Xiulan was also very shocked to hear this news.

At this time, she and Wang Dashan, Du Xiaojuan, Zhang Ruoshui, and Wang Dujin had already self-driven to Anhui.

Separated by half of China, flying back for a trip is not easy.

However, everyone still decided to go back and see Chunsheng off one last time.

Birth, aging, illness, and death are the four major events of life.

No one can avoid them; the Chinese people's deep-rooted emphasis on death is engraved in their genes.

"Mom, Uncle Chunsheng really passed away. I've already bought tickets for tonight's flight to Guangzhou; we'll head to the airport in a bit."

Wang Dashan said this.

Li Xiulan nodded.

Her heart was filled with myriad emotions.

Wang Zhanggen walked before her; she could more or less sense it coming.

Because in Wang Zhanggen's last few years, he not only underwent several surgeries but was also riddled with chronic illnesses — this hurt or that hurt; anyone with eyes could see he didn't have many days left.

But Chunsheng's passing was truly too sudden for Li Xiulan.

When Li Xiulan learned Chunsheng was ill, Chunsheng was already in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy, his whole body skin and bones.

By the time Li Xiulan heard news of Chunsheng again, it was actually Chunsheng's obituary.

In Li Xiulan's impression, Chunsheng was not only physically strong but also positive and optimistic, extremely serious and responsible toward his family, his work, and his friends.

How could such a fine person just pass away like this?

Actually, the last time she went to see Chunsheng, Li Xiulan had already started mentally preparing herself, yet upon hearing this news now, she still couldn't help but feel her heart tremble violently.

Life is unpredictable; nothing more so than this.

At this time, Wang Dashan said to Du Xiaojuan:

"My mom and I have to go back early tomorrow. If you don't want to go back, you can wait here, but please don't stop us. Uncle Chunsheng has a very deep debt of gratitude to us three brothers, and to my mom."

Du Xiaojuan naturally knew Chunsheng's status in their Wang family's hearts, so she said:

"Then you two go. Drive the car straight to the airport; drive it back when you return. Be careful on the road, don't drive too fast. Xiao Jin, Ruoshui, and I will just rest at the hotel for a few days."

Du Xiaojuan didn't say she would go back with them, because she knew that even if she went back, she couldn't help with much.

And the child is still so young; she didn't want her son to attend a funeral, after all, that kind of thing is actually quite bad for a little kid.

Wang Dashan nodded:

"Alright, then my mom and I will set off in a bit."

Wang Dashan packed his luggage slightly; actually there wasn't much to pack — just a change of clothes, then bringing his phone, ID card, and such, he and Li Xiulan went to the airport.

They flew back to Guangzhou Airport; the time was already 2 AM.

In order to go attend Chunsheng's farewell ceremony early tomorrow morning, Wang Dashan hailed a taxi at the airport and went straight back to the county town.

In the county town, he and Li Xiulan didn't go to Wang Erhai's house, because it was too late; Zhang Yueran was in postpartum confinement, and disturbing Zhang Yueran and the child's rest would be bad.

So they just found a guesthouse in the county town to stay one night.

Early the next morning, they went to Wang Erhai's house, met up with Wang Erhai, and then went together to Chunsheng's home.

As for Wang Xiaohua, he had already taken the earliest bus and was on his way rushing over.

Once he arrived in the county town, he went straight to Chunsheng's home.

When Wang Erhai, Wang Dashan, and Li Xiulan arrived at Chunsheng's home, no guests had come to Chunsheng's home yet.

Inside the house were only Lin Xiaofang, Niu Linxin, and the still-young Niu Zhigao.

No mourning hall was set up at home, and Chunsheng's body wasn't here either; Chunsheng breathed his last at a big hospital in Guangzhou.

After he passed, he was directly sent back to the funeral home on this county town side.

Now he's placed at the funeral home.

Lin Xiaofang paid the funeral home people to set up a mourning hall at the funeral home and hold a memorial service there.

As for the home side, she didn't go arrange anything.

After all, people still have to live here.

If it's made into a mourning hall, afraid there'll be bad influence later.

Besides, she can't handle it either.

She was never someone who could shoulder major affairs; after Chunsheng passed, she was completely at a loss.

If not for the hospital side, where quite a few people in the funeral business handed her cards saying they could provide one-stop service, she probably still wouldn't know what to do even now.

That obituary posted on Moments was also written by the funeral business people for her.

"Aunt Xiaofang, Linxin, you must take care of yourselves..."

As soon as Wang Erhai saw Lin Xiaofang and Niu Linxin, he hurriedly comforted them.

At this time, Niu Zhigao was still playing with building blocks on the tatami in the living room.

He has no concept of death yet; doesn't know he'll never see his dad again.

Lin Xiaofang and Niu Linxin, however, had long since been unable to hold back their tears.

Lin Xiaofang sobbed:

"Now that Chunsheng is gone, this family has lost its pillar; from now on we don't know what to do."

Li Xiulan hurriedly urged:

"Xiaofang, you must pull yourself together; my husband passed away too, but life goes on and things will get better."

Lin Xiaofang nodded noncommittally, then turned to look at Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai:

"Dashan, Erhai, guests will be arriving shortly, and Lin Xin and I don't know how to receive them — you help us greet them... By the way, where's Xiaohua? Why hasn't he come?"

"He's on his way right now..." Wang Dashan said hurriedly, "Aunt Xiaofang, please rest assured, we'll help you greet the guests; we know the procedures for this matter, we've been through it!"

Just then, the doorbell outside rang.

Niu Linxin went to open the door and discovered it was Wang Xiaohua arriving.

Seeing Wang Xiaohua come over, Niu Linxin cried even harder.

"Brother Xiaohua, I'll never have a father again, wuu wuu wuu..."

Niu Linxin threw herself onto Wang Xiaohua, hugging him and weeping.

Watching Niu Linxin like this, Wang Xiaohua couldn't help but feel heartache.

In a little over a month Niu Linxin would take the college entrance exam, yet she had to endure the grief of losing her father at this moment; who knew what kind of influence it would have on her life.

So he couldn't bring himself to push Niu Linxin away, but instead gently stroked her to comfort her:

"Lin Xin, you must be strong; your father's spirit in heaven will protect you..."

Niu Linxin wailed loudly.

Lin Xiaofang also couldn't help weeping.

Even Li Xiulan was moved by the sorrowful atmosphere and couldn't help wiping away tears.

Niu Zhigao, who had been playing with building blocks, saw the scene; he didn't understand what was happening, but a sudden, inexplicable sadness welled up in his heart, and then he burst out crying with a loud "Wah!"

Time flew to past eight in the morning; guests coming to see Niu Chunsheng off on his final journey gradually increased.

First came Zhang Sheng and his wife, then Liu Yong and his wife, as well as some people from Niu Chunsheng's company; Wang Erhai's father-in-law Zhang Dehou also came together with the company people later.

The three Wang brothers helped receive these guests; the white envelope gifts given by the guests were recorded one by one.

They also helped contact the shuttle fleet, arrange the venue for the banquet after the return, and so on.

By around ten o'clock in the morning, they escorted everyone together to the Funeral Home to hold the Farewell Ritual, bidding the final farewell.