Chapter 68: A Glorious Funeral

The County Committee Office arrived with the county television station, and Huang Qishan also came, his head drooping.

Secretary Guan Peishan gave instructions to widely publicize Zhao Deliang's actions and establish him as a model of reform and opening up in Chunshan County. As soon as the reporters arrived, they pointed their cameras at Sister-in-law Yue Bai, asking many questions. Sister-in-law Yue Bai remained silent like a statue. The reporters had no choice but to take their cameras to the village, hoping to interview a few people to recall Zhao Deliang's glorious history.

Huang Qishan and I sat by the small stream in the distance. Having not slept all night, my eyes were as red as a rat's.

"Secretary Chen, you've worked hard," he said, picking up a small pebble by his feet and throwing it into the stream.

I smiled weakly and said, "I haven't worked hard. It's just that this happened too suddenly."

"Perhaps it's a bad thing turning into a good thing." Huang Qishan looked around and lowered his voice, "County Magistrate Liu told me before I came that the death of the Laoyingzui village head might be a glimmer of hope for Secretary Liu Quan."

I looked at him, completely bewildered. He smiled and said, "In politics, no one takes human life seriously. Originally, the road construction in Suxi Township was presided over by County Magistrate Liu, but now it has been changed to Secretary Guan. You must know that Suxi Township is the only township in Hengyue City without a road. If this is accomplished during one's tenure, how is it different from building a skyscraper? What is this? This is political achievement."

I smiled and said, "No wonder you wanted to organize a Youth Shock Brigade; now I understand."

Huang Qishan laughed in self-mockery, "I just thought it was a good thing; organizing a Youth Shock Brigade was also intended to take the lead."

I smiled noncommittally; you, Huang Qishan, didn't grow up eating vegetarian food either. If you were really that kind, Guo Wei wouldn't still be holding a nominal position in the Municipal Committee Policy Research Office. Huang Weiwei wouldn't be your girlfriend, and the current Secretary of the Chunshan County Youth League Committee wouldn't be surnamed Huang.

"I heard that the second batch of social education work group members is going to study at the Municipal Party School. You are on the list this time, really." He patted his chest and swore, "There are two paths to studying at the Party School: one is promotion, the other is retirement. You belong to the former, a young and promising cadre, a successor of the third echelon."

My heart fluttered. If there really were such a good thing, damn, did my ancestral grave really smoke?

"There will be a memorial meeting tonight. I want to read the eulogy on behalf of the County Committee and County Government. As the captain of the Youth Shock Brigade, I hope you will also say a few words."

I firmly refused. My reason for refusing was simple: I am not any captain of a shock brigade, and I do not acknowledge it! Especially now, when the wind direction is unclear, if I acknowledge it, it would be like locking myself in shackles.

Huang Qishan didn't understand my refusal, but seeing that I was very firm, he had to sigh and say, "Then let Township Head Zhu say a few words."

I didn't express an opinion. I knew that Zhu Shizhen must be unable to sit still at this time. A death is a huge matter; if he doesn't go to the county to explain clearly to Secretary Guan, he won't even know how he died.

The reporters finished filming and were going back, saying they had to make it onto tomorrow's county news. Huang Qishan and I sent the reporters off and returned to Zhao Deliang's mourning hall, where we saw Zhao Jinming writing a couplet.

Clear sky and distant earth, a heart of passion sprinkled on the blessed land.

High mountains and long waters, two sleeves of breeze covering the cave heaven.

Seeing us enter, Zhao Jinming rubbed his hands and said, "Just scribbled it. Anyway, we are brothers of the same clan, so don't blame me if it's written well or poorly."

Huang Qishan looked at it from left to right and said, "Your calligraphy has some foundation; the characters are written well."

Zhao Jinming smiled proudly and said, "When I was studying in school, the school slogans were all written by me."

Huang Qishan praised him a few times, walked around the coffin, and said, "Village Head Zhao's martyr title will probably be approved soon. The County Committee held an emergency meeting to discuss this."

Seeing Sister-in-law Yue Bai holding a child in each hand, looking lonely and helpless, my nose felt sour, and I almost shed tears. I went over to comfort her, "Although Village Head Zhao is gone, you must take care of yourself. The County Committee and County Government attach great importance to Village Head Zhao's sacrifice and sent me here. The Deputy Director of the County Committee Office and others will attend the memorial meeting tonight. Please restrain your grief!"

Sister-in-law Yue Bai hung her head, sobbing. In just two days, she had withered like an old woman, her hair disheveled, her eyes dull, and even her breasts and buttocks, which she was proud of, had lost their seductive luster.

Zhao Deliang's death was a fatal blow to her.

When Zhao Deliang proposed to her years ago, she deliberately said that she had an unclear relationship with Zhao Jinming, and later, following his uncle Zhao Banxian, it was rumored everywhere that she was a woman with a bad reputation.

Zhao Deliang patted his chest and said, "Marry me, Zhao Deliang, and you will be my treasure. No matter what you have done in the past, from now on, if anyone dares to gossip, I, Zhao Deliang, will fight with my life."

On their wedding night, he saw the blood on the bed and cried out loud while holding Yue Bai. From then on, even if Yue Bai wanted him to die, he wouldn't frown.

He knew his wife had never given up, and he actually knew the look Sister-in-law Yue Bai gave me. Therefore, he made excuses to stay at the construction site and not go home, wanting to give his wife space to fulfill her wish.

For such a man, I don't know whether to feel sad or regretful for him.

He didn't dare let his wife's shock brigade set off the explosives, so he filled and lit them himself, just to avoid accidents. After worrying and worrying, the tragedy still happened, and it came so fast that he didn't even have time to think.

At that time, the group of women had finished drilling the holes and called him to fill them. He had had diarrhea the night before, and his steps were still weak, but he still came, filled the explosives, and glanced at the group of chattering women hiding behind the stones. He knew his wife was among them, and he was very happy. He lit the fire and ran under the earthen ridge, waiting for a long time without movement; he knew it was a dud.

The women laughed at him, saying he was a man who misfired. He blushed, took a stone, and threw it from afar, but there was still no movement. He got up to check, but Yue Bai grabbed him and said to wait a little longer.

He pulled his wife's hand away without hesitation and walked step by step toward the blast hole like a martyr. Before he reached it, with a boom, his body flew into the sky.

Yue Bai's eyes went black. When she woke up, Zhao Deliang, with his limbs incomplete, was lying on a door panel, eyes open, looking at the sky.

Zhao Deliang's funeral was glorious and enthusiastic. The County Committee and County Government both sent wreaths. This was a treatment that even Township Head Hao had not enjoyed. Huang Qishan read the eulogy in the most sorrowful tone. As expected of someone with a formal education, he read it with great emotion and sincerity. We stood below, our blood flowing everywhere, infected by him.

With music playing, we sent Zhao Deliang up the mountain. His story ended here, and from now on, he would be just a cup of yellow earth. ===== CHAPTER 69 =====