Annual Ceremony

Chapter 35 Great Heat (I)

The news of Wang Zhefu's death was sent back to Jinling by express horse by Old Lady Dong.

After receiving the news of the death, the family in Jinling did not dare to delay for even a moment. Wang Xirui and others dropped everything and set off in a hurry, traveling day and night without stopping, covering hundreds of miles a day.

Therefore, when Zhenyi saw her father and uncle, they all looked exhausted and tired.

The two brothers of the Wang family did not even bother to sit down and have a sip of tea. As soon as they entered the house and bowed to their old mother, they rushed into the hall where the king's ashes were placed and fell to the ground and cried bitterly: "...Father! I am too late!"

Zhenyi stood in the corridor outside the hall and saw her elder brother walking closely after her.

Juzi almost didn't recognize that the man was Wang Yuan.

Wang Yuan gained weight and his youthfulness was gone. He was also unable to take care of his appearance due to the long journey, so his messy stubble made him look even older.

"Second sister!" However, as soon as he opened his mouth, the familiar feeling immediately returned: "I haven't seen you for four years, and my second sister has grown so big..."

Wang Yuan, who was always regarded as the incarnation of a rough and careless person, was the only one who cared about comforting Zhenyi. He took a look at the overly simple courtyard and saw farm tools piled up in the corner. He felt sad and said to Zhenyi, "Don't be afraid, second sister... We can go home soon!"

This was originally an ordinary sentence, but when she met her elder brother's vaguely familiar eyes, Zhenyi felt a little aggrieved for no reason. It seemed that she had no way to explain this grievance. Perhaps it came from her longing for and dependence on her family, or perhaps it was due to the situation.

Zhenyi's eyes were slightly red and she nodded to her elder brother.

Wang Yuan then entered the hall and knelt down. With red eyes he stared at the urn for a moment, muttering to himself in a hoarse voice: "Grandfather..."

How could his tall, strong, knowledgeable and humorous father suddenly turn into this quiet little box?
Wang Yuan couldn't say the rest of the words and bowed his head with sobs.

The servants who followed them also cried and knelt down and could not get up.

Wang Jie had not come yet, and he had just returned to Jinling not long ago. Seeing that the autumn examination was just around the corner, it was not appropriate for him to travel back and forth again - this was what Old Lady Dong had specifically instructed him in the letter.

Wang Xipu was in office, and it would take time for the message to arrive. Wang Xichen and his eldest brother could not wait that long, so they went ahead and left a message for their third brother to go directly back to their home in Jinling to prepare for the funeral.

The crying in the hall lasted for a long time until the afternoon, when, at the signal of his grandmother, Wang Yuan reluctantly helped his father to get up.

Tao'er fetched two basins of water, and Wang Xirui washed away the dust and tears on his face. His emotions finally calmed down a little, and he apologized to his mother repeatedly, calling himself an unfilial person.

Seeing his niece standing by, Wang Xirui couldn't hide his shame: "Zhen'er is just a little girl, but she has been able to serve and accompany her grandparents in this desolate place for four years. This filial piety is far better than that of your father, uncles, and brothers..."

"If Zhen'er, mother, and father were not here..." Wang Xirui turned his head to look at the hall while speaking, his lips trembling slightly as he tried to hold back his tears: "I don't know what kind of sad, lonely life I would have to live..."

Wang Xichen held his trembling brother with tears in his eyes.

Although Wang Xirui's words were emotional, Orange agreed with them.

Zhenyi is to Old Wang and Old Lady, just like it is to Zhenyi. It is Zhenyi's cat, and Zhenyi is the cat of Old Lady and Old Wang, accompanying and protecting the old couple.

In other words, Zhenyi's companionship is equivalent to that of a cat, which is truly high-quality companionship. The always strict Orange rarely gives such a high evaluation.

In the eyes of Wang Xirui and others, Zhenyi suffered a lot during the four years in Jilin.

Zhenyi never thought that she was suffering. Those four years were warm and precious to her.

And the uncle was definitely not an unfilial person. He had been taking care of all the family affairs in Jinling over the years, which must have been very difficult. In comparison, Zhenyi felt that she might be the luckiest one.

Wang Xichen reached out and gently patted his daughter's thin shoulders twice. There was a hint of relief in his eyes with tears flashing. He was glad that he did not insist on taking Zhenyi with him when he left... Zhenyi was the one her grandfather loved most among the group of children.

Thinking that at least his daughter has been with the old man all these years, it has filled some of the regrets in Wang Xichen's heart.

At night, the servants brought some hay and spread it in the hall. Wang Xirui and his brother Wang Yuan lay down on the ground to help keep vigil for the king.

Two white candles were left in the hall, and the candlelight flickered silently.

Jilin during the Great Heat season is not as scorching as Nanjing. If the wind blows late at night, there is still a little coolness. Tao'er took a blanket and brought it to the eldest and second masters. When she tiptoed up to them, she found that the two brothers were curled up with their backs to each other and had not slept a wink.

Everyone is sad, but things have to be done and the road has to be walked.

Old Mrs. Dong had already sorted out all the follow-up matters. The Wang brothers only stayed in Jilin for two days before leaving.

On that day, Mrs. Dolan brought Baoyin to see off Mrs. Dong and Zhenyi. More than a dozen members of the Chen family also came, including Chen Ningtian, whose eyes were swollen from crying the night before.

Zhenyi, with one hand held by Baoyin and the other hand held by Chen Ningtian, repeatedly promised to write back to them.

Some villagers and military households also came to see them off. After the rain, everyone's restless mood seemed to slowly settle down along with the dry dust in the air. Some people who had received favors from the Wang family, after realizing it belatedly, could not help but feel a little ashamed for their radical words and deeds towards Wang Zhefu that day.

Suffering will magnify evil thoughts, and those with weak minds can easily become unrecognizable when faced with adversity.

Some villagers even wiped away tears as they watched the Wang family's carriage leave.

Zhenyi sat in the car, with Juzi in her arms, watching the small border village where she had lived for four years slowly move away from her sight.

Mrs. Dolan took Baoyin away on horseback, and Chen Ningtian was still watching them. Only after Zhenyi's carriage had completely disappeared did she dare to shed tears. She looked towards the closed door of the courtyard, and all she could see was the shadow of her and Zhenyi reading and playing together. Such days would never come again.

Chen Ningtian asked the old man beside him in a hoarse voice: "Grandfather, let's keep this small courtyard..."

Whenever she missed Zhenyi and Orange, she could come and see them and sit with them.

Zhenyi just said that the grapes in the yard would be distributed between her and Baoyin. This was a very important instruction.

And if possible, Chen Ningtian still hoped that she could go to Jinling to take a look soon... So far, the people she liked have all returned to Jinling.

Chen Ningtian silently prayed that the young man who accepted her jade pendant would be able to pass the imperial examination this autumn... Bodhisattva, please bless him.

Behind, Mrs. Dolan rode her horse a short distance away and saw Ertu sitting on horseback and looking quietly to the south on a small path.

Seeing his mother turning back, Ertu came to his senses, turned his horse around without saying a word, whipped the horse and rode away.

……

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(End of this chapter)