Chapter 2, Funeral

Repeatedly recalling the words written by Man Zhen in her diary after a fleeting glance: "Yao Yao, I always believe that when we reach our seventies or eighties, we can still put on makeup and go out for afternoon tea together"

Grandma, with sleepy eyes, looked at me and said, "Yao Yao, are you still not asleep?"

Opening a book, I read only two lines, and everything before my eyes became blurred

Ding Zhuo nodded

Ding Zhuodun paused for a moment, placed the luggage bag on the ground, and said, "Aunt Chen, could I trouble you to take care of it a bit more? The department is busy, and I really can't take any more leave."

Where is Xiao Meng? I haven't seen her

Su Manzhen's father, Su Qinde, is the deputy director of the Zoucheng Rehabilitation Hospital, which makes the Su family quite prominent in Zoucheng. The town is small, and usually, if a family loses a dog, it can make it to the local evening newspaper. Now that there has been a major news story about a drowning, it has naturally become a topic of conversation that everyone is discussing at their dinner tables.

The paper lantern shattered at once, revealing the bamboo frame inside

Chen Suyue let out a sob, resting her head on her husband's shoulder

Teacher Feng sighed, "How could I not come to see Man Zhen for the last time? Not long ago, she mentioned that she was engaged to Xiao Ding and would invite me to dinner later, and now..."

Meng Yao shook her head and said, "You should sleep. I will go to bed once my hair is dry."

"Meng Yao." A deep male voice suddenly came from ahead.

Chen Suyue, on the verge of tears and shock, was held in her husband's arms, her slender fingers clutching the collar of his shirt, crying out in despair: "Manzhen..."

I heard my mother say that you are coming back to take the civil service examination

She cannot go out, nor will anyone be able to come in

Sent off in the morning

The visitor is Su Man's true mentor, surnamed Feng, who teaches in the oil painting department of the Dan City Academy of Fine Arts. Despite his mobility issues, he rushed over immediately upon hearing the news of his beloved student's passing

In the past, during hot summers, we would cool off by the river. Man Zhen suddenly dove into the water, swimming all the way to the end of my sight and back again. Seeing her still sitting hesitantly on the shore, I couldn't help but tease her: "Yao Yao, there are no crocodiles in the water!"

He slightly bent at the waist, resting his elbows on the railing, a cigarette held in his mouth, his gaze fixed on the river surface below the bank

Man Zhen, what you say, I will honor; you too shall not breach your promise

That night, Meng Yao and Wang Limei did not return to their home until they were busy until 1:00 AM.

tired, yet not a bit sleepy

After a while, Meng Yu came over to call Meng Yao for help. Meng Yao nodded slightly to Su Qinde and followed Meng Yu to the back.

Meng Yao's eyes brimmed with tears as she stared blankly at her dear friend, who had already crossed the boundary between life and death in the coffin. She wanted to cry but dared not do so, fearing that once she shed a tear, this matter would truly become a settled fact

Chen Suyue remained silent, her scarf covering her lips, as she gently twisted her arm to evade.

Meng Yao gazed at the photograph, and a hidden pain surged within her like a tide.

I am with my mother

Ding Zhuo supported Teacher Feng and placed a bouquet of white chrysanthemums in front of Man Zhen's coffin

She turned her head and cast her gaze upon the quietly flowing river, suddenly feeling a sense of bewilderment and uncertainty within her.

Ding Zhuo walked to the door, took two umbrellas, and went out into the light rain

By noon, Meng Yao was helping to compile the list of condolences when Ding Zhuo walked over

At dawn, Su Man's classmates and teachers from middle school, high school, and university came one after another to pay their respects

Chen Suyue leaned against the coffin, weeping in a choked voice, while the sounds of mourning rose and fell around her

Meng Yao sat in the car, her eyes pained by the bright light reflected from the puddles on the ground. Her heart felt as if it had been carved out, leaving only an echoing, hollow chest.

Good

At five o'clock, it is still dark, with only the streetlights illuminated. The lingering darkness is accompanied by a light drizzle, and along the way, pomegranate flowers have fallen, leaving a ground scattered with remnants of red.

Meng Yao nodded

Meng Yao's hand awkwardly hovered in mid-air

Meng Yao did not move forward, but stood in place, "Are you leaving?"

Ding Zhuo put away the umbrella, assisted Teacher Feng, and stepped up the stairs

Teacher Feng patted her hand, sighed deeply, "Madam Su, please accept my condolences..."

Meng Yao lowered her head and glanced at the lantern in her hand, "I might as well keep it."

Let us make a promise; you must honor it, and I too shall not breach it

Teacher Feng mentioned that preparations are underway for a painting exhibition for Man Zhen, and it is ready. If you have time, you can go and take a look

Chen Suyue held a handkerchief that was already soaked; upon witnessing this scene, she could not help but wipe her tears, occasionally covering her mouth to cough

After Grandma finished using the restroom, Meng Yao sat down sulkily on the sofa in the living room

After dinner, the Su family relatives discussed and finalized the arrangements for the funeral. By late at night, the mourning hall was set up.

This was the first time Meng Yao saw her body after the incident involving Man Zhen

Meng Yao stood still, the lantern in his hand swaying slightly in the gentle breeze, the tattered white oil paper rustling noisily.

He maintained his position, motionless, as if there were a wall separating him from the world

I do not know why I am so blindly certain, perhaps it is because I believe in you as well as in myself

Meng Yao nodded slightly

Meng Yao lowered her gaze and said, "It should be."

Someone set up a ladder to pick the lantern hanging under the eaves, while Meng Yao stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up.

The person took down the lantern and threw it directly onto the ground

Su Qinde also came up to shake hands with Teacher Feng, saying, "The weather is not good, you have gone to great trouble to come here"

The wind blows, causing the white shirt to billow out at the back, then it clings back again.

Aunt Chen's health has never been good, and now she has to listen to these arrangements. The Su family only has this one child, Man Zhen, who is gone, and now there is not even a pillar of support..." Wang Limei said, wiping away a tear, "Tell me, have these people's consciences been eaten by dogs..."

It felt as if a cold bullet had been fired at her heart, and Meng Yao was in tears.

After walking approximately 500 meters, I suddenly saw Ding Zhuo standing by the railing on the riverbank

Meng Yao cast her gaze forward

The Su family's mourning hall has been dismantled and cleaned thoroughly

The convoy will transport the remains to the funeral home, and after the farewell, they will be sent for cremation

I will step out for a moment," Ding Zhuo said in a low voice, "If classmate Man Zhen arrives, please take care of her.

The river water flows gently beneath the bridge, reflecting the sunlight and shimmering with ripples.

It is no longer useful, just throw it away

On the window behind, raindrops patter, creating a monotonous rhythm

The funeral will be held in two days, and the sky has finally cleared up.

Grandmother sighed

As Meng Yao stepped inside, he saw Ding Zhuo standing under the light

On the side, Man Zhen's mother, Chen Su Yue, saw this and hurriedly went up to greet them

However, a skilled rider may fall from a horse, and a proficient swimmer may drown in water

She feels that there is also a wall built around her.

The rain falls intermittently, and the sky has not shown any signs of clearing.

It is grandmother who gets up at night

Footsteps sounded outside the door

In the center of the mourning hall stood a large photograph of Suman, in which she still wore a charming smile.

She clutched a handkerchief in her hand, her eyes swollen and red. At this moment, she approached and held Teacher Feng's hand, managing to utter just two words before she began to choke up again

Teacher Feng leaned heavily on his cane, gazing at Man Zhen's photograph, remaining silent for a long time

Meng Yao carried the broken lantern home and paused on the bridge while passing over the three bridges

He seems to still be wearing the same clothes as yesterday, with one hand in his pocket and his back held straight.

Meng Yao remained silent, holding a bunch of chives in her hand, which was about to be torn apart by her grip.

Manzhen's swimming ability is excellent, and Mengyao's swimming is still taught by Manzhen

This road was often taken by Meng Yao and Man Zhen in the past

After a long time, Meng Yao gently opened the drawer and took out three hard-covered notebooks. Back in high school, Man Zhen suggested that the two of them keep a diary exchange, and this continued for three large volumes.

Meng Yao looked up at him

Has Professor Feng left

Meng Yao looked up, and at the other end of the bridge stood Ding Zhuo. He was dressed in a white shirt and black pants, holding a luggage bag in his hand

After standing for a while, with the sun dazzling and blinding, Meng Yao crossed the bridge and headed home

The coffin lid is closed

Ding Zhuo cast a glance at the lantern she was holding in her hand

Su Qinde smiled faintly at her and said, "You have also worked hard these past few days"

The time has come, close the coffin

After a while, she withdrew her hand

Meng Yao stood for a moment, then stepped forward to pick up the lantern

The Su family's residence is brightly lit, and there are already people keeping vigil in the mourning hall

After only three hours of sleep, Meng Yao got up, quickly washed up with Wang Limei, and hurried to the Su family.

The day after the ashes were interred, under the blazing sun, the rain from a few days ago seemed like a dream

Meng Yao quickly put down the notebook, rubbed the water stains on the paper vigorously a couple of times, and then got up to open the door.

Ding Zhuo walked along the riverbank, while Meng Yao withdrew her gaze, still looking at the area beneath the bridge

Meng Yao took a shower, sat on a chair, and sat there in a daze, not knowing what she was looking at or what thoughts were occupying her mind

That is a piece of art, hanging in Man Zhen's bedroom, and it was also her favorite photo during her lifetime. Given Man Zhen's personality, she probably would not want the last image for people to admire after her death to be a stiff and expressionless identification photo

Meng Yao nodded

Although there is a connection through Man Zhen, the two did not have much of a friendship. After standing for a while, with nothing more to say, Ding Zhuo picked up his luggage and said, "I have to catch the train, I will leave first"

Pedestrians come and go, and someone rides a bicycle past him from behind, leaving behind a series of crisp "dingling" sounds

Aunt," Meng Yao stepped forward, reaching out to gently support Chen Suyue's arm, "If you are tired, you should go in and rest for a while.

Teacher Feng exerted effort as he leaned on his cane, taking a step forward while slowly dragging his other leg, which lacked strength

The continuous rain has significantly lowered the temperature, and the wind blowing in carries a chill.

Approximately half an hour later, Ding Zhuo returned with another person

Then it fell silent again

Meng Yu will take the college entrance examination next year, and her grandmother's health is poor, requiring constant care

Only grandmother was at home, and Meng Yu returned after having dinner. Meng Yao and Wang Limei arrived home at two o'clock in the morning.

The hair is still dripping with water, and the clothes are soaked in large patches both in front and behind.

The small reporters attempted to block the entrance several times, but were all driven away by the usually gentle and humble Su Qinde. After being turned away, these reporters went straight to the newspapers to embellish the story, turning an ordinary accidental drowning incident into a sensationalized tale akin to a Rashomon.