Chapter 96: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 96

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

This month Li Xiulan stayed at home doing simple housework and farm work; she strictly followed what the Shenpo said, and did no more heavy labor.

Her waist got quite a bit better.

She didn't even feel a shred of pain anymore.

But she still abided by the Shenpo's admonition: before spring planting next year, she would not do heavy work.

Although life at home was hard, she felt the days would get better and better, because she strictly followed the immortal's instructions; as long as she devoutly worshipped the immortal, her days could not possibly turn worse.

This conviction of hers was unshakable; no one could change it.

This day Li Yunxia came to Li Xiulan's home and told Li Xiulan that a call had come from her maternal home.

Li Xiulan knew this call most likely concerned her mother.

But her mindset had already settled; she was no longer as sad and panicked as before.

The Shenpo had said her mother would soon go to Heaven to enjoy blessings, not descend to hell to suffer punishment — so what was there to be sad about? She ought to be happy.

Li Xiulan went to the Village Entrance Convenience Store and answered the phone.

Sure enough, just as she had guessed, the call was from her eldest brother Li Yaozu.

Li Yaozu said to Li Xiulan: "Little sister, Mother can't hold on much longer; she says she wants to see you one last time — can you come home now?"

Li Xiulan replied:

"All right, I'll go right away!"

Li Xiulan hung up the phone, immediately went home to feed the chickens, ducks, pigs, and dogs, and instructed Wang Xiaohua to stay put and behave at home, then hurried to the highway to catch a ride.

Today wasn't market day in the neighboring town, so not many vehicles passed by.

Li Xiulan waited half an hour without a single car.

She had to ask Zhu Rou Rong for help, to give her a lift.

At this time Zhu Rou Rong's daughter He Xiaoling had gone to school and wasn't home; Zhu Rou Rong agreed readily, and Li Xiulan didn't have to watch He Xiaoling's face.

Before long, Li Xiulan arrived at her maternal home.

This family that gave birth to and raised her had already gathered quite a few relatives.

Everyone was seeing her mother for the last time.

Making their final farewells.

As soon as Li Xiulan arrived, Li Yaozu hurriedly pulled her into the house.

"Hurry up — Mother said no matter what she has to see you one last time!"

Li Xiulan followed quickly inside.

Entering that dim, lightless bedroom.

Dilapidated, mottled wooden windows let fall a few strands of dust-flecked sunlight.

The vivid sunlight and the aging mother formed a stark contrast.

Li Xiulan hurried to the bedside and grasped her mother's withered hand:

"Mother, I'm here; whatever you want to say, just tell me..."

Watching her mother breathe with difficulty, her appearance skin-and-bones, Li Xiulan couldn't help but shed tears.

She kept telling herself in her heart that Mother was going to Heaven — why be sad?

But her heart still couldn't help feeling sorrow.

However, that sorrow held less pain, more reluctance.

She simply couldn't bear for her mother to leave the mortal world, nothing more.

"Xiulan, how are your three children?"

Mother spoke, her voice somewhat muddled.

Breathing with difficulty, exuding a thick air of passing.

"They're fine, they're fine, Mother, don't worry, I'll take good care of them..."

Li Xiulan held her mother's hand tightly.

Mother drew a long breath:

"Good... you and Changgen... doing alright..."

"Alright, we're alright..."

"Be more understanding, more tolerant, more communicative; husband and wife must be of one heart, don't quarrel, don't keep things bottled up inside; among you three siblings, you're the one I worry about most..."

"Mother, rest assured, I'm doing very well, I'll take good care of myself, I'll manage my family well..."

"Good, good..."

Mother breathed a relaxed breath.

Then slowly closed her mouth.

No more movement.

Li Xiulan held her mother's hand tight, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

"Mother! Have a safe journey!"

Li Xiulan bid her mother farewell.

Through tear-blurred eyes, she seemed to see a shadow, borrowing the light shining through the window, swiftly drifting out the window, drifting toward that beautiful Heaven.

The Shenpo said her mother was going to Heaven to enjoy blessings!

Li Xiulan believed this without a shred of doubt!

"Mother!"

Li Yaozu and Li Jiahao both ran into the room.

Kneeling before the bed, wailing.

"From now on I have no mother!"

"Mother, may you have a smooth journey!"

Other relatives also came over to mourn in silence and see her off.

Mother departed; next came the funeral arrangements.

According to custom, this matter was handed over to the two male family members of the household, Li Yaozu and Li Jiahao, to handle.

As for Li Xiulan, she was a married-out woman; taking charge of these matters would be improper.

If she meddled too much, it would instead make outsiders think her two brothers were incapable, that even such a major affair needed a woman's help.

Li Xiulan knew the custom, so she did not interfere further.

Her brother told her she only needed to keep vigil tonight, then she could go back.

When the burial comes after seven days, she could come back again to see Mother off.

Li Xiulan nodded agreement, saying everything would follow her two brothers' arrangements.

Li Xiulan had Pork Rong return to Shangou Village first, and entrusted him to help look after her three children; Pork Rong agreed readily, then went back.

That night, Li Xiulan and her two brothers together kept vigil by Mother's body for the entire night.

The next day after eating breakfast, she then went home.

Before leaving, eldest brother Li Yaozu asked Li Xiulan:

"Seven days from now when Mother is buried, can brother-in-law come along too?"

Li Xiulan could only smile bitterly and tell the truth:

"I can't reach him now; after he went to the city to work he went out of contact, he hasn't called home in a long time."

"This bastard!" Li Yaozu cursed hatefully, then said: "When he comes back for Spring Festival, I'll go to your place, let's see how I teach him a lesson!"

But Li Xiulan declined Li Yaozu's kind offer:

"Brother, I appreciate your sentiment, but forget it — what reason is there for an older brother to come to his younger sister's house at Spring Festival? If he comes back then, I'll bring him together to visit you; you don't teach him a lesson, just scold him a couple of sentences at most, so he doesn't resent me for controlling him too strictly."

Li Yaozu nodded, and said nothing more.

He knew that ever since his younger sister married, the relationship between them siblings was no longer as close as before.

Li Xiulan rode back to the village; passing Pork Rong's home, she was just thinking of going in to say thanks to Pork Rong.

Unexpectedly, before she even entered, she heard Pork Rong arguing with his daughter He Xiaoling.

Today was Saturday; He Xiaoling had come home on break yesterday afternoon. Learning that her old dad had again gotten involved with Li Xiulan, she was very unhappy.

"You go marry that slutty woman Li Xiulan! You go raise her three sons for her! You don't care about my life or death, I'm not your biological child, Li Xiulan's three sons are your real biological children!"

Turns out, last night Pork Rong had called Li Xiulan's three sons to the house to eat together, which made He Xiaoling very unhappy.

She didn't flare up on the spot, just kept a black face the whole time.

Today Pork Rong again wanted to call Li Xiulan's three sons to eat breakfast together; He Xiaoling really couldn't hold back, so she said those words.

Pork Rong listened, both angry and amused:

"Xiaoling, don't be so petty, okay? Xiulan's mother passed away, she's keeping vigil at her maternal home, can't come back for a while; me helping look after her three sons for a bit, isn't that perfectly reasonable? We're all fellow villagers, she asked me and I couldn't possibly refuse!"

He Xiaoling said coldly:

"Hehe, perfectly reasonable alright — you and Li Xiulan carrying on is perfectly reasonable too! Just wait till Wang Zhanggen comes back for Spring Festival, see if he doesn't bring a knife to hack you to death! I know my mother died and you're pent up! But I'd rather you go whore outside than bring Li Xiulan into the house!"

Hearing He Xiaoling say such excessive words,

Pork Rong truly couldn't bear it, immediately flew into a rage:

"What are you saying! Speaking without any measure, not a bit of upbringing — believe it or not I'll hit you!"

He Xiaoling didn't fear him in the slightest, stiffening her neck:

"Hit me then! Hit me in front of my mother's portrait — go on, hit me!"

Pork Rong raised his palm, but it froze in midair.

Looking at the portrait of his dead wife hanging in the living room, he truly couldn't bring himself to strike.

In the end he could only flick his sleeve coldly in anger, turn around, and go out.

He had just gone out the door when he saw Li Xiulan; his expression couldn't help but freeze in surprise:

"Xiulan, how come you're back?"