Chapter 001: The Soul Returns Home

Alright, old Su, who could have predicted such an accident? This is all fate!

The early spring, with its sudden warmth and lingering chill, always carries with it a certain capriciousness of emotions

Wu and Guang said apologetically: "Qingye, there is an urgent matter at the company, and Lao Su and I must hurry back to Pengcheng. I have already spoken to Old Li about this, and there will be someone coming every day to deliver meals. You must take care of your health, and you need to pull yourself together"

Qingye, please accept my condolences. Wu He Guang patted him on the shoulder and continued, "Zhonghua in the heavens would not want to see you in despair."

Mr. Wu is being too modest. I am the seventh uncle of Zhonghua. What a twist of fate! Alas..." The elderly man, holding a cane, glanced at the pale-faced Li Qingye and let out a slight sigh

Soon, the guests who had arrived by bus left in groups of three or five, as Mercedes and BMW cars drove away into the rain.

The weather is still drizzly.

The small mountain village appears even more somber.

As the funeral came to a close, the small villa also became desolate and quiet

The suona sounds long and mournful, reminiscent of the blood-curdling cry of the cuckoo

Several villagers from Gaoshan Temple Village in Qingshanqiao Town, under the leadership of two clan elders, have been waiting for a long time at the village entrance, holding black umbrellas

Uncle Qi let out a sigh and replied wearily: "As one grows old, I can only trouble you all. Fortunately, Zhonghua has friends like you. General Wu and General Su, you should also rest early!"

The highway is bustling with traffic, and the bus driver is intently focused on the signs on both sides, his expression appearing cautious and meticulous

I will spend a little more time with Qingye" Wu and Guang said with a sighing tone

The gazes of the two seemed to penetrate through the rain and mist, with everything left unspoken.

The short, round-faced young man, Du Jianxin, nodded.

The light rain comes and goes, and the roads remain bumpy and uneven, causing unexpected jolts that can be somewhat uncomfortable for people

Li Qingye's eyes were filled with a look of deep emotion, and she hurriedly knelt down and bowed her head to Wu and Guang

Solar System, the third planet - Blue Planet

Then I will escort Uncle Li! Another elderly man with a square face, Su Ruoyu, opened an umbrella and assisted Uncle Qi as they walked away into the distance

A bow... A second bow... A third bow!

Li Qingye awakened from her overwhelming sorrow and looked at the elderly man before her, whose hair had turned gray at the temples. Her lips trembled slightly as she replied, "I understand, Uncle Wu"

Having spoken, he then placed the will into Li Qingye's hand

The two people walking away from each other, no one knows what they are thinking in their hearts

The white chrysanthemum, drifting with the current, drifts further and further away towards an unknown destination

In the front row seat, a pallid young man, with bloodshot eyes, gazed out of the car window, his expression vacant and bewildered, while tightly clutching two small jars labeled 'hetushucomcom' in his hands

In a moment

Uncle Qi comforted Li Qingye a few more times before leading a group of people to the small square in the village

Du Jianxin is holding a black umbrella together with the elderly person

With the assistance and escort of the two individuals, the group finally disembarked from the vehicle

Family's gratitude

Su Ruoyu continued to support Uncle Qi as they walked further away

Parallel universe number 106337

In the wind and rain, the white chrysanthemum fell among the wild grass by the roadside. The passing cars, whistling by, splashed a large puddle of water, sending the white chrysanthemum into the river not far away

This is a small villa that Li Qingye's father built upon returning to his hometown many years ago, located at the foot of Changshan Mountain

However, the young man leaning against the car window felt no inner turmoil, as if he were a still pond.

Su Ruoyu, standing to the side, slightly changed her expression

A man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes coldly tore off the black armband, throwing the white chrysanthemum and armband that were pinned to his chest out of the car window

The passengers in the vehicle seemed to be mourning the spring and lamenting the autumn, at least on the surface, with their uniformly black suits, black armbands, and white chrysanthemums

Another tall young man with glasses and a square face, Su Hong, also stood up quickly to assist Li Qingye, to prevent any accidents with the urn.

The gentle and magnetic voice resonated in his ear, emanating from a source that bore a look of sadness and concern.

Wu and Guang patted his shoulder: "Qingye, your uncle has no sons or daughters, so you only need to offer three sticks of incense for me during Qingming in the future"

In her eye sockets, Li Qingye's tears flowed like the Yellow River breaching its banks, dropping silently one by one down her cheeks and falling onto the floor.

Li Qingye remained dazed, staring at the spirit tablet, kneeling in silence.

On the vehicle

Wu He Guang extinguished the cigarette butt and turned around to enter the mourning hall

"This ... ... is not allowed ... ..." Li Qingye's face showed hesitation

Only Li Qingye remains, along with the gray-haired Wu and Guang, and the sorrowful Ruoyu.

Wu and Guang continued, saying: "Qingye, I will definitely leave your parents' shares for you. You must pull yourself together. I have no children either, so my share in the future will also be yours."

Su Ruoyu suddenly turned around to take a glance; under the dim streetlight, amidst the drizzling mist, the faces appeared blurred and indistinct

Li Qingye stood by the window, watching the convoy disappear at the foot of the small village's hill. In his eyes, there was confusion, contemplation, and more importantly, a tangle of thoughts that were difficult to unravel.

In the oppressive atmosphere, the bus driver saw the sign ahead, which prominently displayed the words "Hua Shi 10 kilometers"

Amidst the hills and mountains, mist and clouds swirl

After a short while, the driver gently turned the steering wheel, and the bus, with its flashing turn signal, exited the highway.

The elegant old man quickly stepped forward to greet: "I am Wu Heguang, a friend of Zhonghua. I appreciate all the villagers' assistance regarding this funeral matter."

The golden crow sets in the west

The third floor of the villa

Instead of entering Huashi Town, we turned onto the rural road heading southwest

Li Qingye's gaze was vacant as she mechanically repeated her return greeting

The dark clouds on the horizon seem to bear the ancient, unrelenting despair and oppression; the cold, icy rain beats against the glass, appearing so pale and powerless

"Old Li, you should go back and rest! Leave this to me and Old Su!" Wu He Guang said to Uncle Qi with concern as he pulled him along.

Suddenly, a series of faint vibrations emanated from Wu and Guang's pockets

In the small square, inside a tent that had already been set up, there were arrangements for a mourning hall, memorial tablets, and flower wreaths. Li Qingye silently placed her parents' urns on the table in front of the memorial tablets, and then knelt on a mat to one side.

At the village entrance

Accompanied by Uncle Qi, Wu Heguang, Su Ruoyu, and others, Li Qingye placed her parents' ashes in the old house

Uncle Wu, your great kindness and virtue, Qingye has no way to repay.

Green leaves, it has arrived

Wu He Guang and Su Ruoyu hurriedly left the small villa, getting into their own convoy, gradually moving away in the continuous rain.

March 19, 2017

The second day

"That's fine, thank you, Old Su." Watching the figures of Su Ruoyu and Uncle Qi depart, Wu Heguang's gaze was calm as he took out a cigarette and lit it

Outside the car window, a fine drizzle falls

The sound of gongs and drums fills the air, resembling a shower of falling stars

The elder turned his head and solemnly instructed, "Jianxin, Xiaohong, you two help Qingye."

... ...

Su Ruoyu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and sobbed, saying: "Qingye, it is I, Uncle Su, who am sorry for you and Zhonghua. If it were not for..."

He hurried out of the mourning hall and took out his phone to answer the call

The atmosphere of sorrow and joy has also become feeble, and the relatives and guests who came to bid farewell have nearly all arrived. In the flickering candlelight of the mourning hall, Li Qingye's complexion has grown even paler

Su Ruoyu, standing to the side, remained expressionless and said nothing in response to this

In the helpless gaze of Li Qingye

"Qingye, this is what an uncle should do." Wu He Guang wiped his tears and took a document from the assistant's hand: "This is the will that has been notarized by your uncle. If anything happens to me, you can take this will and inherit my share of the stocks."

As soon as one enters the rural roads, the potholes and small stones on the road cause the bus to jolt slightly

Smoke swirled around his face

Two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, escorted by four large Raptors, slowly departed from this small mountain village

Li Qingye, feeling despondent and lost, knelt before the memorial tablet. The sudden passing of his parents dealt him a tremendous blow, and for a time, he was unable to accept this reality

The sky continues to drizzle with fine rain

The wind and rain outside, the silence and oppression within the car, are nothing compared to his profound sorrow.