Chapter 1604: Decency

Li Xuewu couldn't coordinate a Red Star No. 1, but he did manage to buy plane tickets from Fengcheng to Yangcheng.

This was thanks to Hu Ke's help; plane tickets from Fengcheng to Yangcheng weren't easy to buy.

Or rather, in this era, plane tickets to anywhere were very hard to buy; plane tickets weren't sold to the public.

If the situation hadn't been special, he would never have put down his work in Steel City and used work connections to buy these three tickets.

That's right, there were only three tickets.

Early in the morning, he discussed it with his father, and the result was that his father wouldn't go to Yangcheng, and the news of Third Uncle's passing had to be kept secret from the old lady.

In this era, letters were the only convenient communication channel; telegrams or telephones weren't something everyone could use, at least the old lady wouldn't think of calling her son far away in Yangcheng to relieve her longing.

As for letters, Li Xuewu and his father had plenty of ways to solve that.

Over sixty years old could not be considered advanced age for later generations, but in this era, it wasn't easy.

The old lady was someone who had walked through that era, and her health was far from being very good.

When young, she could bear the pain of losing her husband, but when old, she might not be able to bear the pain of losing a son.

Moreover, standing from Li Xuewu's perspective, his father wasn't young anymore either, and it was hard to endure the pain of losing a sibling.

Therefore, Li Xuewu represented the eldest branch and went to Yangcheng with Second Uncle and Li Xue-li to attend the funeral.

First, they took a train to Fengcheng, then were sent to Fengcheng Airport by a machinery factory car that had been waiting there for a long time, and took a passenger plane at noon to fly to Yangcheng.

This flight only flew once a week. If it weren't for Hu Ke's help, he could have handled his own ticket, but he wouldn't have been able to get Second Uncle and his son on the plane.

Not only was he caught off guard, but Second Uncle also made several calls early in the morning, not only to ask for leave from his unit but also to explain things clearly to his family.

The plane landed in Yangcheng at 6:00 PM. The person who came to pick them up was the person in charge of the Red Steel Group's Yangcheng office, and he brought two cars.

Don't even think about taxis; it wasn't that they couldn't afford it, but they weren't allowed to use them.

He needed a car, so the office sent a second-generation Antelope. He didn't explain why he came to Yangcheng, and the person in charge didn't ask.

They were all people with clear minds; otherwise, they wouldn't have been arranged to work in Yangcheng. After simple communication, he handed the full-tank car over to him.

"Why didn't anyone come to pick us up?" Li Xue-li watched his second brother busy back and forth and couldn't help but complain with some dissatisfaction: "Don't we count as family?"

"What are you saying—" Li Gan frowned and glared at him.

"It's true, isn't it." Li Xue-li still said with some dissatisfaction: "I'm not complaining about Third Aunt; I'm saying Third Uncle's unit."

He looked at his father, then looked at his second brother sitting in the driver's seat, and said: "Xue-han must have told them the news of us heading south. They should have asked."

"Even if it's not convenient to arrange a plane or train, shouldn't they at least pick us up at the station?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Li Gan looked at his nephew, and seeing that he was also frowning, he patted his son's arm and said: "Remember, we are here for your Third Uncle."

Li Xue-li muttered a few more words, then focused his attention outside the window.

The Yangcheng in June was naturally more charming than the northern country, but none of the three had any interest in appreciating the southern scenery. They drove at high speed all the way, heading straight for Third Uncle's house.

To say that transportation was inconvenient and communication was inconvenient in this era, if Li Xuewu hadn't lived here for a period of time, he wouldn't necessarily have known where his relatives lived.

Li Gan and his son had never been here. They knew the mailing address but had never set foot on this land. Sometimes it wasn't just the distance of a train ticket, but also life and death.

On the way, all three were silent. It was Li Xue-li who was letting his imagination run wild and suddenly asked whether they should buy paper money, which broke the stuffiness in the car.

Second Uncle ultimately didn't understand the customs and situation here, so he looked at his nephew who was driving.

"Don't buy it, and don't mention this matter."

Li Xuewu reminded them: "Third Uncle sacrificed himself on duty. All funeral arrangements, whether simple or complex, are decided by the organization, Third Aunt, and Xue-han. It's not appropriate for us to talk too much."

He turned his head to look at Second Uncle and said: "We are here to send Third Uncle on his way, and at the same time, discuss whether his remains should be left here or returned to the ancestral grave."

"This—" Second Uncle frowned and asked: "Can't he be returned to the ancestral grave?"

"The organization will respect the family's wishes. Everyone understands the principle of falling leaves returning to their roots." Li Xuewu nodded slowly, looking ahead and explaining: "We still have to ask for Third Aunt and Xue-han's opinions."

Li Gan heard the deep meaning in his words, frowned slightly, and didn't speak again.

It was Li Xue-li who was young and didn't understand his meaning, still talking about the difference between returning to the ancestral grave and not returning, and whether it would affect the treatment enjoyed by the children.

Li Xue-han had just turned nineteen this year. Yu Li Xuewu's view, he was just a child. Although he had been in the army for two years, he couldn't hide the youth's naivety and confusion.

The family suffered a sudden change, and the one making decisions might be Third Aunt.

This involved the family relationship after the brothers separated. If Third Aunt needed their help, they were there to help. If Third Aunt didn't need it, they were just there to send Third Uncle on his final journey, representing close relatives, not the kind who could make decisions.

Does this kind of relationship sound familiar?

That's right, it's defined this way in law regarding property as well. Both husband and wife are each other's first heirs, followed by children.

Li Xuewu's words just now were to remind Second Uncle to act according to the situation and not make the problem complicated.

That is to say, whether they could do anything for Third Uncle after coming to Yangcheng depended on Third Aunt's wishes.

This kind of complex relationship is not uncommon in life. Some people say that after their father passed away, they never received care and support from their uncles, and it was all help from their maternal uncles.

Others say their maternal uncles were average to them, and after their father left, their mother didn't care about them, and it was ultimately their uncles who raised them to adulthood.

Actually, whether it's maternal uncles and aunts, or paternal uncles and aunts, there is closeness and distance in individual relationships, and your perception of good and bad.

This is looking at it from the perspective of the person involved. Changing positions, it's not hard to understand what choices uncles and brothers should make when facing such problems.

When a woman loses her husband, the first thing she thinks of is her own brothers, which also puts the uncles in an awkward position.

Taking a step forward is ungrateful, taking a step back is unrewarding; it's a dilemma.

It is precisely because of this contradictory psychology that they gradually drift apart in later life, and even become enemies.

Therefore, Li Gan could quickly understand his nephew's words and was also re-evaluating his purpose and behavior in coming to Yangcheng.

In middle age, what he lost was a brother, but what his sister-in-law lost was a family; these are two kinds of mindsets.

Speaking of which, he couldn't help but sigh that his nephew Xuewu being able to reach today was definitely not luck; he always thought calmly when facing problems.

Especially this trip south, he finally saw the gap between his son and his nephew.

"We're here." Li Xuewu parked the car at the entrance of the family courtyard and got out to communicate his identity with the security.

The other party heard they were relatives here for the funeral and already knew whose relatives they were. Seeing his work ID made him unable to help but widen his eyes.

After looking carefully and comparing, he returned the ID solemnly and saluted to let them in.

The car drove into the family courtyard. It was still the same as a few years ago, but there was no longer Third Uncle's figure coming downstairs to welcome him.

"Who are you—who are you looking for?"

Li Xuewu knocked on the door, but there was no response. Just as he was about to turn around and ask, he saw the door opposite open, and a middle-aged woman poked her head out to ask.

"Aunt Zhang, I am Li Xuewu."

He had lived here, so naturally, he knew the neighbors in this building, but after many years, the other party didn't recognize him.

And after reporting his name, the other party couldn't help but be surprised, sized him up a few times, and then sighed: "Little Li, you've changed too much. Your face..."

"Aunt Zhang, my Third Uncle's house..."

Li Xuewu looked at the time on his hand and asked anxiously: "Can you tell me where my Third Uncle is staying now?"

"Oh oh, I'm sorry." The middle-aged woman nodded apologetically and said: "Your Third Uncle was transferred to the funeral home this afternoon, and Third Aunt and Li Xue-han should be there too."

She explained with a look of sorrow: "Your Uncle Liu from our house also went over this afternoon. They should all be there tonight. They are all old comrades-in-arms. Please restrain your grief."

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang." Li Xuewu asked for the address of the funeral home and didn't say much more, taking Second Uncle and the others and walking downstairs quickly.

"He was in the hospital when the call came in the middle of the night, and now he's at the funeral home?"

Second Uncle didn't understand and asked before getting in the car. Li Xuewu was also frowning and didn't say anything.

He was still familiar with the roads here, but he had never been in the direction of the funeral home, especially at night, and it took a while to find the location.

Few vehicles come to the crematorium at this time, so on the road leading to the cremation workshop in the courtyard, there was not a single person under the cold and dim streetlights.

Turning a corner, without the cover of the pines and cypresses on both sides of the road, he saw a row of two-story buildings with lights on, people moving at the entrance, and several cars parked under the steps.

"Is that it?" Li Xue-li was young and a bit afraid of the gloomy atmosphere here, so he asked timidly: "Should we go down and ask?"

"There are only two buildings. One is the cremation workshop connected to the office area, and the other can only be the funeral home."

Li Xuewu explained in a tight voice: "Look at the cars at the entrance; they should be from Third Uncle's unit."

He parked the car close, but before getting out, he instructed his younger brother to take good care of his father.

"I'm fine." Li Gan replied with a hoarse voice. When getting out of the car, he staggered and almost fell. Fortunately, with Li Xuewu's reminder, Li Xue-li reached out to support him.

"Dad—" Li Xue-li was also startled. In his panic, his voice was a bit trembling.

"It's fine, let's go in." Li Gan grabbed his son's hand, stepped up the steps with difficulty, and followed behind his nephew into the hall.

Li Xuewu didn't need to ask around; he had already seen Third Aunt at the corner of the farewell hall on the right.

It was just that the scene before him made him furious. Second Uncle and the others who followed in were also stunned on the spot, seeing Third Aunt leaning in the arms of a man.

This person was definitely not Third Aunt's brother, because Li Xuewu knew Third Aunt was an only child, for which Third Uncle even took on the responsibility of supporting his parents-in-law.

"Ya—"

Perhaps it was because they appeared too suddenly, Hong Min didn't even react in the first moment, taking several seconds to break free from the other party's embrace.

"Second... Second Brother... Xuewu..."

Hong Min's trembling voice made her look so flustered, even too late to tidy up the hair scattered by her ears.

"You motherf—"

Li Xue-li didn't have a good temper. Don't look at him like a little sheep in front of Li Xuewu, but he was also a domineering master at home.

Think about it, a Northeastern child, his parents have some ability, growing up dealing with those rough guys in the forestry, it would be strange if he didn't turn red seeing this scene.

He instinctively wanted to rush forward, but was pulled by the arm by Li Xuewu and thrown back hard.

At this moment, Li Gan also pulled his son, which counted as stopping Li Xue-li.

But this roar completely broke the stalemate between them, and also made the faces of the two people at the corner turn red then white, white then red.

It didn't matter who the curse was aimed at; anyway, both had a guilty conscience and didn't dare to talk back.

Li Xuewu gritted his teeth, stared coldly at Third Aunt, and strode toward the farewell hall.

"Xuewu—Xuewu—" Hong Min was anxious, blocked him halfway, grabbed his arm and explained urgently: "It's not what you think!"

"Let go—" Li Xuewu swung his arm, not leaving any face, and threw her away, but it was that man who supported her from behind.

"F— you, just you wait."

Li Xue-li followed his father inside. Passing them, he even left harsh words, and was pushed by his father, but it didn't stop his angry eyes.

"Second Brother..." Hong Min's greeting didn't get a response from Li Gan. The gaze cast at her carried cold hatred, just like treating a beast in the forest.

There weren't many people in the farewell hall. Li Xuewu walked in and saw Li Xue-han squatting in the corner, like a little beast that had lost its final shelter, his eyes empty.

Third Uncle was lying in the ice coffin, wearing a brand-new uniform. He earned this honor with his life, but couldn't maintain his final decency.

"Xiaotong—Xiaotong—"

Li Gan, who walked in, couldn't help it anymore, staggered and threw himself onto the ice coffin, crying out in pain. The pain of losing a younger brother was evident in his words.

Li Xue-li had red eyes, mixed with hatred and sadness, supported his father and stood on one side of the ice coffin, gritting his teeth, as if he would explode at any time.

Li Xuewu turned and walked to the corner and called out a few times. Li Xue-han then reacted, looked at him numbly, and asked hesitantly after a while: "Second Brother?"

Li Xuewu didn't say anything, reached out and pulled him up, and hugged him.

"Second Brother... Second Brother—" Li Xue-han's voice became more shrill, and his shouting became more urgent, as if he were helpless from a nightmare, burying his head on his shoulder and crying loudly.

The grief of these few days could no longer be held back when he saw his brother, just like when he was bullied when he was young and hugged him to complain, crying so sadly and helplessly.

Li Xuewu hugged him tightly, patted his back gently, and his tears couldn't stop falling either.

"Second Brother—my dad is gone—"

Just like on the phone in the middle of the night, Li Xue-han's helpless words repeated the news that made him heartbroken. At this moment, he completely released it.

The cadre responsible for the pension work in Third Uncle's unit was left here. He was stunned when he saw the three people rushing in at the entrance, and was about to come over to ask when he saw the middle-aged man following in crying out in pain, so he stopped his steps, knowing this was someone from Li Tong's hometown, and knew they were brothers and nephews by their age.

Li Xue-han cried for a long time before his voice died down, not because he didn't want to cry, but because he had no strength and no heart left.

"Your brother hasn't eaten all day."

A man who looked like the person in charge walked over, sized up Li Xuewu, and asked: "You are Li Xuewu, right?"

"Uncle Zhao, it's me." Li Xuewu helped his brother to the wooden bench, sniffed and wiped his tears, and said: "Thank you for coming to take care of my brother."

"What are you saying—" The cadre surnamed Zhao said with feigned dissatisfaction, and then asked kindly: "So far, how did you come? I was asking Xue-han when you would arrive so I could pick you up."

"Came by plane." Li Xuewu nodded politely: "Thank you, Uncle Zhao. My unit has an office here, and they sent a car to the airport for me."

"Oh—" The cadre surnamed Zhao nodded slowly: "Look at how this was handled. Xue-han said he called you, but didn't say when you would arrive. I'm really sorry."

"No need." Li Xuewu took a deep breath, looked at him and asked: "Uncle Zhao, can you tell me how my Third Uncle died?"

"This—" The cadre surnamed Zhao looked at Li Xue-han, who was sprawled on the bench, and frowned, asking: "Didn't Xue-han tell you?"

"You can see what he looks like."

Li Xuewu also frowned and asked seriously: "If it's not inconvenient, can you tell me if my Third Uncle was murdered?"

"Xuewu—" Third Aunt's trembling voice came from behind. Li Xuewu turned his head, but saw her looking at him with pleading eyes.

But there was no family affection in his gaze, only the determination to pursue it to the end.

"Come, come here." The cadre surnamed Zhao was stunned when he saw the situation between their relatives, then reached out and patted Li Xuewu's arm, signaling toward the entrance.

Li Xuewu stared coldly at Third Aunt, and followed the other party to the entrance.

"I can clearly tell you that your Third Uncle sacrificed himself on duty."

The cadre surnamed Zhao was the person in charge of handling the funeral. It wasn't that he hadn't encountered this situation in his past work, but the person he had to face today was quite special.

The reason he took the initiative to talk to Li Xuewu was because his relationship with Li Tong was okay; otherwise, Li Xuewu wouldn't have known him.

Li Tong often praised his nephew, the naughty boy of the past, the big shot of today, so he knew Li Xuewu's identity very well.

Of course, his formal answer was also because he realized that having a nephew like Li Xuewu meant something when questioning the cause of Li Tong's sacrifice.

Once Li Xuewu formally raised a question, or even proposed an investigation to relevant departments, the one who would be embarrassed would be him.

He certainly wasn't afraid of inquiries from above; he was afraid of being blamed by his leaders for not doing a good job with the family and not explaining it clearly. This was his dereliction of duty.

"Then, can I apply for a higher-level investigation and autopsy?"

Li Xuewu's voice carried a chill that even this funeral home couldn't cover. The other party's face even showed embarrassment and confusion.

"You certainly have the right to do so."

The cadre surnamed Zhao asked hesitantly: "But can I ask why you want to do this?"

"Xuewu—" It was Hong Min again. She hadn't dared to get too close, but she heard every word Li Xuewu said.

This was a farewell hall, and no one was laughing or playing in the oppressive atmosphere. She could naturally hear clearly, and Li Xuewu wasn't afraid of her hearing.

"You need to give me an explanation..."

"Xuewu!" Before Li Xuewu could finish, Hong Min took a few steps forward, her eyes red, and looked at him with pleading eyes: "You have to let me speak."

The cadre surnamed Zhao looked at them. The atmosphere was deadlocked here, and it wasn't good for him to stand here, so he took the initiative: "I'll go in first. Call me if you have anything."

Watching him leave, Hong Min wiped away her tears, looked at Li Xuewu and explained: "That person is your Third Uncle's comrade-in-arms, our relationship is very good..."

"Good enough to hug in a corner?"

Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes and stared at her. Seeing she still wanted to explain, he reached out and pointed at her, asking: "I'll just ask you one thing: does Third Uncle's death have anything to do with you?"

"You can't do this—" Hong Min cried.

"I will find out about this matter."

Li Xuewu didn't believe her tears now, nor did he care whether the other party cheated or not; he just wanted to know if Third Uncle's death had anything to do with her.

"If I find out you are involved even a little bit."

He gritted his teeth, nodded at Hong Min, and walked around her into the farewell hall. Second Uncle was also loudly questioning the cause of Third Uncle's death.

"Li Xuewu, come." The cadre surnamed Zhao was exhausted. Seeing him come in, he beckoned: "All you family members come over. Hong Min?"

He walked to the entrance and called Hong Min, saying seriously: "This matter must be made clear, right in front of Li Tong."

When Hong Min came in crying, he frowned at the family members and said seriously: "Regarding the sacrifice of Comrade Li Tong, I have already conveyed and expressed condolences to the family, that is, Comrade Hong Min, on behalf of the organization. You are sure of this, right?"

He first pointed at Hong Min, then pointed at Li Xue-han, who was still sprawled on the bench, and introduced: "After communicating with Hong Min, I notified Li Xue-han according to the regulations. You are sure of this, right?"

After stating the notification process, he turned to look at Li Xuewu and his nephew, and said with unkind eyes: "As relatives, I clearly state that you have the right to know."

"However, you must reach a consensus with the relatives, and then we will do the work."

He said sharply: "If you have any doubts, requirements, or opinions about Li Tong's sacrifice, you can all put them forward together. Don't argue or make a scene."

"Now I ask you, what problems and opinions do you have?"

He knew the problem was with Li Xuewu. Calling the family and relatives together was to ask clearly in front of everyone what the problem was.

"You should know the seriousness of your Third Uncle's sacrifice, right?" The cadre surnamed Zhao emphasized his tone when mentioning the word "sacrifice," reminding Li Xuewu to pay attention.

Li Xuewu could naturally understand his meaning. No one dared to play tricks on such a problem, not even the murder he had just suspected.

"I know what you mean." Li Xuewu looked at him calmly and said: "But I represent the relatives, and I demand an investigation and inspection. Is there a problem?"

"No problem." The cadre surnamed Zhao's tone became a bit more serious: "How do you want to investigate and inspect? Do you really want an autopsy?"

Hong Min covered her mouth and cried again at this time. The cadre surnamed Zhao was even more impatient, looked at her, and asked Li Xuewu: "You can't reach a consensus, right?"

"Right, I represent the relatives." Li Xuewu didn't pay attention to Hong Min, just looked at the other party and emphasized: "Li Tong's mother, eldest brother, second brother, and all nephews and nieces."

"Second Brother?" Li Xue-han also heard that the situation was wrong at this time, looked at him blankly, not knowing what had happened.

"Xue-han, this is what Second Brother must do."

Li Xuewu turned to look at his younger brother and emphasized: "No matter how you resent or hate Second Brother in the future, even if we never see each other again, Second Uncle and I are here, so we must give the family an explanation."

"My dad he..." Li Xue-han looked at his mother first, seeing her covering her face and crying, then looked at Uncle Zhao, his face getting whiter and whiter, without a drop of blood.

"Well, how do you want to check?" The cadre surnamed Zhao already understood Li Xuewu's determination. If it were an ordinary person, he could have sent him away in a few words, but Li Xuewu couldn't.

"If you have no other procedures to go through." Li Xuewu looked at him. Seeing him frown, he nodded slowly and continued: "Then I'll do it according to my own thinking."

"I'll make a call to report first."

The cadre surnamed Zhao certainly didn't want contradictions and disputes to appear in this matter. In fact, as a friend, he didn't want to see the family turn against each other and torment Li Tong.

He looked at Li Xuewu deeply, sighed, and walked out.

Li Xuewu glanced at the figure of the other party leaving, explained a few words to Second Uncle, and patted Li Xue-li's shoulder, instructing him to take good care of Li Xue-han and Second Uncle.

"Second Brother..." Li Xue-han had been looking at him, and asked blankly at this time: "My dad he..."

"Listen to me. Before there is a result, don't say anything, don't do anything. Just stay here and accompany your dad well. Do you hear me?"

Li Xuewu pointed to his feet, looked into his eyes and emphasized: "Don't think about what I'm doing, and don't ask what I'm doing. If you're sleepy, just take a nap."

Patting his brother's shoulder, he turned and walked toward the office direction.

Li Gan had heard their conversation, thought for a while, followed, and intercepted Li Xuewu at the door.

"Not telling Xue-han about this?"

"Second Uncle." Li Xuewu raised his head to look at Second Uncle and said: "I asked. Third Uncle indeed sacrificed himself on duty, and it has nothing to do with Third Aunt."

"But—"

"And I've checked that man."

Li Xuewu knew what Second Uncle wanted to say, reached out and patted his arm, and said: "He indeed has a friendship with Third Uncle; they are comrades-in-arms who came out of the same squad."

"What kind of matter is this—" Second Uncle sighed helplessly and squatted on the steps.

"Third Uncle, he... suffered for a lifetime."

"If things were unclear while he was alive, why do you still care about things after he's gone?"

Li Xuewu walked down the steps, looked at Second Uncle and said: "You also know that I can't do anything to her. She has the right to make any decision after Third Uncle leaves."

"The only thing we can do is take Third Uncle home, and not let him suffer grievances here."

"I know." Second Uncle sighed long, but had an expression of powerlessness.

"If you don't tell Xue-han, he will resent you."

He was also doing it for Li Xuewu's sake. He had been busy for so long, but didn't get any good results in the end. Was it worth it?

Li Xuewu never thought about whether it was worth it or not. He just needed an answer, an answer for himself, and an answer for the old lady and his father in the future.

"Him resenting me is better than him hating his mother."

Li Xuewu also sighed long, looking at the hazy sky and said: "He is still young; he will understand later."

"I hope so—" Second Uncle stood up with some effort, feeling the fine rain suddenly falling from the sky, shook his head slightly and said: "It's all fate—"

Li Xuewu knew the pessimism and emotion in his words. Back then, the old lady didn't agree with Third Uncle and Third Aunt's matter.

It was very simple: Third Aunt was an art soldier, a singer, which didn't fit the right path in the old lady's ideological concepts.

Third Aunt, who grew up in the city, always had an inexplicable arrogance that couldn't be wiped away, even when facing Third Uncle. Li Xuewu felt this the most.

But to be honest, Li Xuewu had lived here for a period of time, and Third Uncle and his wife were still harmonious. Third Aunt had done her best for him and hadn't looked down on him.

He could only do so much for Third Uncle, and the rest was God's will, and it was all left to God's will.

Third Uncle's photo was easy to find. Third Aunt liked taking photos, so there were many black and white photos at home.

The cadre surnamed Zhao brought the urn, and the photo was pasted on it, simple in style, just like Third Uncle.

With the help of the other party, Li Xuewu and Second Uncle did the work of collecting the ashes.

Third Aunt Hong Min and Li Xue-han cried again. Finally, supported by Li Xue-li, Li Xue-han held his father's ashes and the enlarged portrait, and got into the car together.

There were two cars, one he drove here, and the other was sent by Third Uncle's unit.

Because Li Xuewu proposed to take Third Uncle's ashes back to his hometown, the unit skipped the step of burial in the martyr's cemetery. The cadre surnamed Zhao found him to explain the omitted procedures.

This involved some preferential treatment and pension issues. He was afraid of more repetition, so he had to make it clear.

"These treatments are all handed over to my younger brother to handle."

He settled everyone down, stood under the car and said to the other party in front of Third Aunt and Li Xue-han: "You've worked hard these days. I thank you on behalf of the family."

Very surprisingly to the other party, Li Xuewu gave him a salute, very standard.

Regarding the salute, in the other party's view, Li Xuewu no longer had the qualification, because he only knew Li Xuewu worked in an enterprise, and was still an executive, so he didn't need this form.

But he didn't raise any questions, not only because of the situation at the scene, but also because of Li Xuewu's complex relationships.

Now even he couldn't determine what Li Tong's nephew's identity was.

Being omnipotent was one thing, but he could make Hong Min obediently follow his arrangements in one sentence.

This wasn't the eldest son of the family, nor was he Li Tong's eldest brother; even his second uncle had to listen to him.

He was just a cadre in charge of pension work. At this moment, besides comfort and politeness, what else could he say? He could only make an appointment with Hong Min to explain the pension time.

Watching the two cars leave, the cadre surnamed Zhao shook his head and sighed, not knowing what to say.

"Old Zhao, have they all left?"

The older sister who came to work with the office walked over and asked, her gaze also looking at the entrance.

"Sister Yang, you guys go back too."

The cadre surnamed Zhao nodded, lit a cigarette for himself, and said: "This matter is finally over."

"Over?" The woman called Sister Yang curled her lips and signaled toward the entrance: "Just wait and see. It will be noisy again sooner or later."

"..." The hand of the cadre surnamed Zhao holding the cigarette froze, then he took a hard puff, shook the match in his hand, and said: "Then it's none of my business."

"Old Zhao, do you know what kind of background Li Tong's nephew has?"

Sister Yang was a gossip, stood beside him, raised her eyebrows and asked: "The background is so hard?"

"Hi, I'm confused too." Old Zhao shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Li Tong told me he was just an administrative staff member of an enterprise in the capital. I didn't expect it to be like this."

"Administrative staff of an enterprise? Pfft—"

Sister Yang sneered and said: "I don't know that an administrative staff member of an enterprise can have such great ability."

"Weren't you also questioned? Can you not know what the other party's identity is?"

She curled her lips and said: "As soon as people came, they hollowed out Hong Min and said whatever they wanted."

"What exactly happened?" Old Zhao was actually confused too, frowned and asked: "Why did they turn against each other?"

"Can they not turn against each other?" Sister Yang raised her eyebrows playfully and said: "As soon as the three of them entered the hall, they saw Hong Min and that someone hugging each other, and they started cursing."

"What?!" Old Zhao widened his eyes, frowned and asked: "Really? With whom?"

"Who do you think?" Sister Yang sneered and said: "Don't look at her usually being as reserved as a big girl; in the end, she's still a reincarnation of Pan Jinlian, very loose."

"Is this true?" Old Zhao still didn't believe it and asked: "Who did you hear it from?"

"Don't worry about who I heard it from. Just wait and see this matter. When the time comes, you'll know who she hugged."

Sister Yang hummed: "There will be excitement to watch this time. It's hard to say which step it will go to."

"Old Zhao, don't blame me for not reminding you."

She looked serious and said: "You must not be vague about what you need to explain to Li Tong's nephew."

"I can see it now. This kid's murderous heart is no less than Wu Er's. Something will happen sooner or later."

"How is that possible—" Old Zhao waved his hand and said: "Don't talk nonsense."

"I'm talking nonsense?" Sister Yang sneered: "You were there this morning, weren't you? Can't you understand the ambiguous words he said?"

The cadre surnamed Zhao naturally understood, but he just didn't think deeply about it.

Hearing Sister Yang mention it now, he couldn't help but frown and ask: "No, is there?"

"There is a kind of knife in this world that kills without seeing blood." Sister Yang nodded and sighed: "Everyone says men and women are equal, but everyone is desperate to have a boy."

She looked into the distance and said helplessly: "This boy is more useful than a girl, especially at this time."

"We won't take the portrait."

Li Xuewu tidied up some of Third Uncle's photos, looked at Third Aunt and Li Xue-han and said: "Just the urn."

"Second Brother." Li Xue-han stood up, looked at him and frowned: "We have to stop for three days anyway."

He looked at his mother and said: "Three days later, I will send my dad to the capital."

"Going back and forth will take another seven days. Is your leave enough?" Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Don't toss around. Third Uncle won't care about these."

"He misses you; he will come back to see you."

"But—" Li Xue-han wanted to say more, but saw his mother stand up, and the words were stuck in his throat.

"Second Brother, you guys eat before you go." Hong Min walked toward the kitchen and said: "I'll make it for you."

"Forget it, we're in a hurry." Li Gan looked at Li Xuewu and said faintly: "We'll set off back now."

Li Xue-li picked up Third Uncle's ashes, which were wrapped in thick cloth, heavy and very strenuous.

"Take care of yourself, take care of..."

Li Gan wanted to say one more sentence before leaving, but what remained was just a sigh, omitting the last sentence.

Li Xue-han stood there blankly, his face full of panic. He still couldn't figure out where the problem was.

How could Second Grandpa and Second Brother all have this expression, not even wanting to stay at home for a minute longer.

And his mother's abnormality made him want to speak but stop, and she didn't even come out to see Second Grandpa and the others off.

Downstairs, Li Xuewu put the ashes away, turned back to look at Li Xue-han standing by the car, and said: "If you can get leave, take the train to the capital yourself."

"Your dad won't be buried for a while."

He reached out and patted his brother's arm and said: "I will notify you when the specific time is set."

"Second Brother..." Li Xue-han grabbed his arm and asked with tears: "Are you and Second Uncle angry with my mom?"

"Do you still remember what I told you?"

Li Xuewu looked at him and reminded: "Don't think about what I've done, look forward, and live well."

"It's my mom who did something, right."

Li Xue-han stood there shedding tears, bit his lip and asked: "Is it that she did something... wrong, right?"

He tried hard to restrain his emotions, not to think about the changes he had experienced from yesterday to now, but he couldn't help it.

Now his brain was full of these questions. Connecting what Second Brother said, he had the answer.

But he couldn't bear to ask that question. He couldn't imagine his mother doing something to let his father down.

Therefore, he hesitated and asked about the wrong thing.

Li Xuewu didn't answer, just reached out and patted his shoulder, then got into the car and started it to leave.

In the rearview mirror, Li Xue-han stood there silently shedding tears, and the three people in the car were also silently shedding tears.

Family affection has a more complex explanation at this moment, and life also has a different interpretation.