A good life starts with blind date

Chapter 279 It's all fate

It's very hot, and it's not even 10 o'clock yet.

It's already 30 degrees Celsius.

Blue skies are rarely seen in the south, but the sky in my hometown is a deep, clear blue.

The sun hung in the sky like a giant fireball.

My skin is sore from the sun.

Feng Yu and Feng Xue were both wearing short sleeves and long pants, plus a sun protection shirt.

She was wearing a hat and a scarf around her neck.

They were wrapped up tightly, afraid of getting a tan.

This was Feng Yu's second visit to the cemetery, while it was Feng Xue's first.

It was my daughter's first time visiting. The little one was dressed lightly and wearing a hat. She had a great time, chasing after her older brothers and sisters, running all over the cemetery. When she got to her great-grandfather's grave, she even tried to climb up it.

The adults were thoroughly enjoying it.

No one stopped them; what would a one-year-old know?

I imagine that even if I climbed up to my great-grandfather's grave, he wouldn't blame me.

It's too hot, the sheep aren't cooperating.

After half an hour of struggling, the sacrificial ceremony still couldn't be completed.

Everyone's knees were numb from kneeling.

Jiang Ning secretly cast a spell, and the sheep shivered.

He shook himself off the water that had been poured over him.

Everyone immediately kowtowed, for their ancestors had finally shown their power.

Then came the second one, the third one...

The sacrifice was completed in ten minutes, and the sheep was taken aside to be slaughtered.

We hired two sheep butchers, costing one or two hundred yuan each.

The sheepskin was to be given away as a gift...

The elders accompanied my uncle and aunt from Xijiang to visit the cemetery, and my four cousins ​​and my older brother helped slaughter a sheep.

Jiang Ning didn't want to work, so she led a group of children into the woods.

The women opened the food they had brought and placed it on the table.

Inviting relatives to eat and drink.

This forest is not large, but it contains over a thousand pine trees.

With trees, there is naturally an ecosystem.

Many birds from the mountains flew down and settled here.

Fortunately, the weeds had already been cleared, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get in.

Jiang Ning led a group of children around the cemetery.

I discovered that the wrought iron fence that was installed originally has rotted in many places due to wind, sun and rain. It looks rusty and used to look nice, but now it has a dilapidated feel to it.

I ran into an elder after wandering around.

Jiang Youli also asked him, "Jiang Ning, the fence is no longer usable, can it be replaced with stone?"

Jiang Ning nodded: "I'll arrange for someone to replace him later."

Instead of joining the elders in the fun, he led a group of children to the right.

Jiang Hongzhi said, "Having such a capable person in the family saves a lot of trouble."

Jiang Youli said, "It is indeed convenient. For a family to prosper, it needs a leader. If Jiang Ning hadn't been so capable, our cemetery wouldn't be in such a state. These pine trees need to be watered several times a month, which is not something an ordinary person can afford."

Jiang Hongyuan was quite puzzled: "These pine trees were only planted a few years ago, how could they grow so big?"

Jiang Youli said, "I don't understand. That kid Jiang Ning won't say."

The others wisely refrained from asking any more questions.

Jiang Ning is a man of action; once she says she'll do something, she does it.

After looking around, I called to arrange for a construction team.

They suggested replacing the cemetery fence with stone.

After wandering around in the woods, I found a hole.

The entrance to the cave was a mound of earth; it's unclear what it was made of.

Jiang Ning called out, and the elders came over to check.

Jiang Youren said, "It's a pig-running hole."

"A runaway pig?"

Jiang Ning had never heard of this name before, nor did she know what kind of animal it was.

Jiang Youren said, "They're just wild boars, with big heads, and there are plenty of them in the mountains."

Jiang Youli said, "It has to be cleaned up; there can't be this kind of thing in the cemetery."

"give it to me!"

Jiang Ning was in high spirits and immediately went to check around.

They even mobilized the children to search for any other openings in the hole.

Several more holes were soon discovered.

Jiang Ning took a shovel and first blocked the other holes.

Only two remain.

Then they gathered a pile of hay, preparing to smoke it.

Feng Yu and Feng Xue had nothing else to do, so they came to see what was happening.

Jiang Ning assigned tasks: "You two guard this entrance. If anything tries to escape, use your shovels to knock it down."

Feng Yu glanced at the cave entrance, a little scared: "What's inside? This cave is so big, it's quite frightening."

Jiang Ning said, "They say it's some kind of wild boar, with a head as big as a pig, but they won't let you catch it with your hands, you can just smash it with a shovel."

Feng Yu was still worried: "Won't it hurt the child?"

"will not."

Jiang Ning said, "It's not some ferocious wild beast, don't be afraid."

Feng Yu lacked confidence: "I'm not sure I can stop them!"

Jiang Ning agreed and then ran to ask for a lighter.

Stuff the hole with dry grass and light a fire.

Then he ran to another cave entrance and stood guard there.

After waiting for a while, there was movement inside the cave.

A grayish-brown animal poked its head out of the hole.

Seeing that there were two-legged creatures guarding it, it was so frightened that it shrank back.

Jiang Ning wasn't in a hurry, so she squatted down at the entrance of the cave and waited.

Soon, smoke began to rise from the cave entrance.

A gray figure rushed out, swift as lightning.

Jiang Ning was even faster, reaching out and grabbing it with lightning speed.

The rabbit bites people when it is anxious.

This animal, called the "runaway pig," is no pushover either.

He opened his mouth and bit.

However, Jiang Ning moved too quickly, grabbing and slapping the thing to the ground.

There was no time to feel the texture.

Because a second one rushed out.

It was too late to pull my hand back.

Jiang Ning reached out with her left hand and caught the second one that rushed out.

There's more to come...

Without thinking, he grabbed and slapped directly at the cave entrance.

They slapped the third one back into the hole.

All the other openings have been filled in, leaving only two openings.

On one side is fire, and on the other side are two-legged beasts.

The cave was filled with smoke; even animals couldn't withstand that!

The pig dared not rush into the fire, so it could only risk its life to break through from Jiang Ning's side.

Jiang Ning waited patiently for his prey to come to him, and he caught them every time.

Others heard the commotion and ran over to see what was going on.

Watching him catch a pig with his bare hands felt like watching martial arts masters spar.

Xijiang and his second brother, Jiang Cunwu, asked curiously, "Have you practiced martial arts?"

"I haven't practiced."

"Then how did you act so quickly?"

"I've been agile since I was a child, and I've never lost a fight."

"Uh……"

Jiang Cunwu's lips twitched; he really wanted to laugh.

Why does this kid seem so proud of himself?

Second Uncle Jiang Youzhi revealed Jiang Ning's dirty secrets: "This kid has been a bad student since he was a child. He was always getting into fights at school. He fought with classmates in elementary and middle school, and with thugs outside of school in high school. His parents were called in every few days and had to pay medical expenses for others."

The clansmen in western Xinjiang looked at each other in bewilderment; this was quite a legend.

Their understanding of Jiang Ning was limited; they only knew that Jiang Ning went to Africa after graduating from high school.

After five years of hard work, he returned and spent tens of millions to build a farm.

I don’t know anything else.

As everyone watched Jiang Ning catch the monster with his bare hands, they also examined the grayish-brown thing on the ground that he had knocked unconscious. It looked a lot like a rat, but it was a bit big, slightly larger than an adult's head.

It looks kind of cute, like a giant groundhog.

Jiang Hongyuan said, "Isn't that a badger?"

Jiang Youren said, "Beian people call them 'running pigs'."

Jiang Wei picked one up and examined it: "Can this thing be eaten?"

Jiang Youren said, "It's edible, you can try it in a bit."

"Is it delicious?"

"It's delicious?"

"Uncle is lying again. If you say it's delicious, it definitely won't taste good."

A few teenagers ran off and got a bunch of dry grass, which they continued to stuff into the hole.

The remaining badgers, unable to withstand the smoke any longer, rushed out in a swarm.

"Come out, come out."

"Arrest them quickly!"

"Ahhhhhh..."

A group of older children were shouting and yelling.

Even Jiang Mingyue, that shy little know-it-all, joined in the shouting.

Jiang Ning caught one in her left hand and one in her right hand.

They didn't have time to worry about the remaining three and finally managed to break out of the cave.

Jiang Wei and the others trampled on the ground repeatedly, but to no avail.

Aside from stepping on a patch of weeds, he didn't even step on a badger's fur.

There shouldn't be any creatures that can dig holes in the cemetery. Our ancestors rest here, and we can't let these things disturb them. So a group of people chased after them in the woods, but after a lot of effort, they still couldn't catch the three badgers that had escaped.

Jiang Ning took the opportunity to ask her uncle, "I heard that Second Grandfather is moving back?"

Jiang Youli nodded and said, "They have this plan, and they're still discussing it!"

Jiang Ning asked, puzzled, "You didn't come back back then, so why do you want to come back now?"

Jiang Youli said, "Your second grandfather has wanted to come back for a long time, but his family is all over there. After he passed away, everyone was busy with work and couldn't take care of such things. Now that your two uncles have retired, they have time and want to fulfill your second grandfather's last wish."

Jiang Ning was puzzled again: "If you want to come back, then just move. What's there to discuss?"

Jiang Youli said, "It's not that easy. The other side has actually been separated. For so many years, we have been paying for and maintaining the cemetery. They haven't contributed a single bit. Your third grandfather's side will not agree to this."

Jiang Ning responded with an "oh," indicating that she understood somewhat.

Different perspectives.

He doesn't care about this kind of thing, but some people do.

Or rather, the elders care a lot about it.

The affairs of one's ancestors are definitely the most troublesome thing in a family.

Jiang Ning didn't want to worry about these things, so she stopped asking and changed the subject: "I heard they're going to repair the tomb again?"

Jiang Youli said, "We're still discussing it; it's not decided yet."

Jiang Ning didn't ask any more questions.

Jiang Tiantian was having so much fun that she ran outside with her older brothers and sisters to gather hay.

He was covered in dirt, his face and body were covered in dust.

Feng Yu didn't mind her daughter's lively personality.

Let her play.

As a result, the older children took lighters and set the little guy's clothes on fire, burning several holes in them.

Feng Yu was quite frightened, but thankfully she was unharmed.

In the midst of the festivities, all seven sheep were slaughtered and placed in front of the grave.

The father and his seven brothers lined up in a row, each holding a stick of incense.

Jiang Youli, acting as a priest, mumbled incoherently, "Grandpa and Grandma, your two grandsons from the Western Frontier have come back to see you this year, along with Dad and Mom, and your nephew from the Western Frontier has come back to see you..."

The seven people held incense sticks and bowed three times before finally inserting them into the incense burner.

Jiang Youli then called out, "Come over here too, and offer incense to your great-grandparents and grandparents."

The younger generation has an even larger team.

The fourth and fifth generation males stood in two rows, under the guidance of their eldest uncle.

They each held three sticks of incense and bowed three times. Finally, they placed the incense sticks into the incense burner.

Jiang Hongzhi and Jiang Hongyuan led their children and grandchildren to introduce the four graves inside the cemetery.

The top two seats belong to my great-grandfather and great-grandmother, and the bottom two seats belong to my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother.

Jiang Mingyue secretly asked her mother, "Mom, why do I have to call that uncle's wife's older sister 'aunt' too?"

Her mother didn't know either, so she asked Sun Mei.

"This..."

Sun Mei whispered, "They are a family."

"family?"

Jiang Mingyue's mother didn't understand.

Sun Mei said, "Sister Feng Yu is living with them."

Jiang Mingyue's mother still didn't understand: "Is there a difference?"

Sun Mei scratched her head, not understanding at all, so she simply said, "Sister Feng Yu also wants to have a child with Jiang Ning."

"what……"

Jiang Mingyue and her mother were stunned: "You can do that?"

Sun Mei said, "Her family situation is quite special. Feng Yu's sister can't speak and doesn't plan to get married. We are all women. If a woman doesn't get married, how will she live alone when she gets old? So Feng Yu asked her sister to have a child with Jiang Ning so they can live together."

Jiang Mingyue was stunned, her perception completely overturned.

Her mother was much better. After the initial shock, she quickly understood: "That's true. A woman always needs someone to rely on. It's too cruel to never get married. This is fine too. But Feng Yu is really magnanimous."

Sun Mei added: "Her parents died in a car accident when she was young. Her sister earned money by playing games to support her through college. It is said that when she was dating Jiang Ning, she made one request: to take care of her sister for the rest of her life, and she didn't want anything else."

Jiang Mingyue's mother said, "Jiang Ning is so rich, what else does she need!"

Sun Mei laughed out loud: "You don't know, Jiang Ning had just come back then. He said he was working as a security guard in Africa. Everyone thought he wasn't doing well. He was rejected by all the potential partners they introduced him to. But Feng Yu took a liking to him. That's just fate."

"That's it!"

Jiang Mingyue's mother was surprised again, then sighed, "It's true what they say: what is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you can't force."

Sun Mei nodded and said, "Yes, what's meant to be yours will be yours, and what's not meant to be yours can't be forced."

Jiang Mingyue's mother asked curiously, "How much money does Jiang Ning have?"

Sun Mei said, "I don't know either. People don't tell me about these things. Anyway, he has a lot of money. Those two farms earn hundreds of millions a year, but he didn't take a single penny. He also has gold mines in Africa and has bought many farms in Europe, America, and Australia."

"I heard that Jiang Ning speaks several languages, is that true?"

"It's true, he speaks English, French, German, Italian, and Russian, as well as several African languages."

"awesome."

"I do support that..."

Sun Mei gave a thumbs up: "So going to university is not the only way out. How much a person can achieve has nothing to do with their education. Capable people can achieve success without going to school, while incapable people who go to university will just end up working for others."

Jiang Mingyue's mother nodded: "That's true. But for the vast majority of ordinary people, going to university can change their fate. If they don't go to university, they have no chance at all. So they still have to study hard."

Sun Mei nodded, agreeing with this reasoning.

After exchanging a few words, someone called out.

Sun Mei quickly went to work.

Jiang Mingyue then complained to her mother, "Mom, this is feudal dross."

Her mother glared at her: "What do you know? Don't talk nonsense."

Jiang Mingyue: "..."

Several of his cousins ​​were working, and Jiang Ning became the leader of the group.

He was leading a group of children, both big and small, in play.

He didn't really want to work, and nobody asked him to.

Several of her cousins ​​were also busy, and no one asked Feng Yu to do anything.

However, Feng Yu was quite self-aware and, along with Feng Xue, took the initiative to help, staying close to the group.

After the sacrificial ceremony, two sheep were cooked.

Dozens of people sat around a table, eating and drinking while chatting about family matters.

Grandpa and Grandma San couldn't sit still, so they were helped into the house to rest.

Jiang Tiantian got tired of playing and fell asleep in Jiang Ning's arms.

Feng Yu let her daughter sleep in the car.

Jiang Ning wouldn't listen; she just held on and didn't dare to move.

I waited until my daughter woke up; my arms were numb by then.

They ate and drank until 4:30 pm, then burned paper money and set off firecrackers.

Go home.

The people from western Xinjiang are going back tomorrow, and they need to have another meal tonight.

Jiang Ning had already made arrangements, setting up three tables at the Xincheng Hotel for everyone to gather once again.

There were more people this time than before; my second aunt's family and Zhou Aiguo all came.

The meal didn't end until after 8 PM, and everyone went home.

Back at the villa, I played with my daughter for a while.

After Feng Yu filled a bottle for her daughter, Jiang Ning and Feng Xue went downstairs to sleep.

I don't want to take a shower today.

Feng Xue filled a basin with water and washed his smelly feet.

Jiang Ning lay on the bed with her calves dangling down and her feet in a basin of water.

Feng Xue squatted on the ground, scrubbing his smelly feet.

After washing my feet, I washed my socks, and then took a shower.

Feng Xuecai came out wrapped in a bath towel and got into bed.

I was suddenly woken up by a phone call at three in the morning.

Jiang Ning yawned, picked up her phone, and saw that it was a call from her father.

He answered it casually: "Dad."

Jiang Youxin said, "Your third grandfather has passed away."

"..."

Jiang Ning was stunned for a moment before she realized, "Really?"

Jiang Youxin said irritably, "How could something like this be fake?"

Jiang Ning yawned again: "If it's gone, it's gone. I'll sleep a little longer?"

Jiang Youxin wanted to hit someone: "Get up now, you can sleep a little longer after your mother and I die?"

Jiang Ning: "..."

How can they be the same?

But I still got up, turned on the light, and got dressed.

Feng Xue had been woken up by the noise and looked at him groggily.

Jiang Ning said, "Third Grandfather is dead."

Feng Xue was wide awake and got up as well.

Jiang Ning kissed her forehead: "You go to sleep, don't worry about it, I'll go check on her."

Feng Xue gestured a couple of times.

Jiang Ning said, "It's alright, he's not my biological grandfather, I'll go."

Feng Xue lay down, but didn't rush to sleep.

I didn't go back to sleep until I watched him wash his face, turn off the light, and leave the room.

My third grandfather and third grandmother are sleeping at my second uncle Jiang Youyi's house tonight.

Jiang Ning was the furthest away and also the last to arrive.

When he arrived, his older brother and cousins ​​were already there.

The older generation was notified immediately and rushed over.

To be honest, Jiang Ning didn't have much affection for her third grandfather's side.

There's an old saying that the first generation is close, the second generation is distant, and by the third or fourth generation, it's over.

What feelings could there be?

They only came over to make up the numbers and stand at the back to listen to the elders' gossip.

People from western Xinjiang have also come; they originally planned to return to western Xinjiang tomorrow.

When something like this happens, there's no way to escape.

My uncle has passed away; it's one thing if he's not here anymore.

But the person is right here in Bei'an, how can they leave, unless they refuse to acknowledge their relatives in Bei'an in the future?

Grandma San was still crying, completely at a loss for what to do.

The older generation is discussing what will happen after they pass away.

The grandchildren have no say in these matters; they can only follow orders.

There's nothing you can do at night.

They stayed up until dawn before they started contacting funeral companies, booking funeral parlors, and so on.

We also need to ask a Taoist priest to arrange for a freezer, etc.

The body must be put in a freezer, otherwise it will start to decompose in two days.

My third grandfather has a young daughter, and both he and his wife work in western Xinjiang.

I've already made the call; apparently, they rushed to catch the train that very night.

I can't get back until tomorrow at the earliest.

Jiang Ning's three aunts came over and helped her get dressed.

They sent the person to the funeral home and put them in a freezer.

The Taoist priest consulted the auspicious calendar and set the funeral for five days later.

The body will be kept at the funeral home for four days.

Jiang Ning is fine, but can't go home yet, so she's just wandering around aimlessly.

The funeral company provided a one-stop service, and the mourning hall was quickly set up.

Jiang Ning's three aunts knelt before the coffin and wept.

In the older generation's mindset, the greatest benefit of having a daughter is that someone will mourn her when she dies.

Those who truly have no daughters have to pay someone to cry for them.

Everyone was busy, and Feng Yu wanted to help.

Zhang Yulan wouldn't allow them to come, believing that the funeral company was unlucky.

Too many wandering ghosts are considered unlucky.

In the afternoon, the mourning clothes were finished.

Everyone with the surname Jiang wore full white mourning clothes.

Grandsons like Zhou Aiguo were given a blue mourning cap to wear.

Wei Tao was also wearing mourning clothes.

Jiang Ning asked her father, "Wei Tao isn't a member of the Jiang family, so why is his grandson-in-law wearing mourning clothes?"

Jiang Youxin said, "They can make their own arrangements; don't meddle."

Jiang Ning decided not to ask anymore, since he wasn't his biological grandfather anyway.

Two rows of sponge mats were placed at the entrance.

All of Jiang's sons and grandsons knelt at the main gate, leaning on their mourning sticks.

The visitor would kowtow to the messenger, expressing a small token of filial piety.

Jiang Hongzhi, Jiang Hongyuan, and their children and grandchildren were all dressed in mourning clothes and knelt at the door.

Jiang Ming and Ming Kai were still a bit confused, they didn't expect to go back to their hometown with them.

I can't believe I've encountered something like this.

Jiang Wei knelt for a while, but his knees started to hurt and he couldn't keep kneeling any longer.

Even though there's a foam pad underneath, my legs are still tired.

Jiang Ze is too fat; even kneeling down is difficult for him.

He was almost lying on the ground, looking very devout.

The Jiang family were outsiders, and their lineage in Bei'an had only lasted for five generations.

Normally it's not a big deal, but when a funeral occurs, the family's shortcomings become apparent.

In large local families, when an elder passes away, a large group of family members help with the funeral arrangements.

Jiang Ning has few people and not many clansmen to help him.

I have to do everything myself.

After dinner, Jiang Ning was called outside by her uncle for questioning.

Jiang Youli said, "Your uncle wants to send invitations to the main family in Jicheng. What do you think?"

Jiang Ning said nonchalantly, "Sure, send it!"

Jiang Youli explained, "This is not a trivial matter. You need to take it seriously. This is not just a matter between one or two people, but an interaction between two families. If we want to invite the main family of Jicheng, someone has to go there in person. Do you think we should invite them?"

"Ok?"

Jiang Ning was a little confused: "You can decide for yourselves, why ask me?"

Jiang Youli explained it to him in detail: "We can make decisions about internal family matters, but we need to consult you on external matters. Your uncle and the others want to invite the main family in Jicheng, but they may not come."

Jiang Ning understood somewhat: "You want me to step in?"

Jiang Youli nodded and said, "That's what I mean. You are now the pillar of the family. The main family in Jicheng may not give them face, but if you invite them, the main family in Jicheng will definitely give you that face."

Jiang Ning asked, "What does Uncle mean?"

Jiang Youli said, "What I mean is that you should personally extend an invitation, since this is a major family event."

Jiang Ning nodded: "Okay, I'll make a call!"

Jiang Youli said, "This kind of thing can't be notified by phone; you have to go there in person."

Jiang Ning was taken aback: "I have to make this trip myself?"

Jiang Youli said earnestly, "The relationship between the two families is not as simple as the usual interactions between relatives. Our branch has been away from our ancestral home in Jicheng for too long, so we must be even more cautious on important matters. Making a phone call would be disrespectful..."

(End of this chapter)