Siheyuan: Five mouths waiting for food at the beginning

"Second Aunt, please eat something, or your health will collapse before we even get to Shandong." Qin Jingru advised.

"Yes, eat something," Zhao Shanhe also said

"Shanhe, Jingru, I can't eat. You don't know, I have been living with the old lady since I was 20 years old. We have lived together for more than 30 years.

The old lady treated me like her own daughter. I feel very sad that she passed away suddenly."

"Second Aunt, we know you feel bad, and everyone feels bad when the old man passes away, but the old man died of old age, it's a happy funeral, and the living have to continue living, right?

You will ruin your health if you do this, eat something, we will have to travel overnight, you can’t go without food.”

After dinner, Qin Jingru went to help clean up. Zhao Shanhe told Qin Jingru, "Look after the house these few days, especially pay more attention to the children."

"Yes, I will. Don't worry about the family matters. Brother, you must take good care of yourself in the next few days."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Zhao Shanhe got into his second uncle's jeep and walked towards the courtyard.

"What? Grandma passed away. Why so suddenly? Didn't they say that she was much more cheerful and in better health there?" Shanhu said.

"Have you eaten yet? If you have, pack up and go. We'll rush over overnight. Remember to prepare a few more barrels of oil. It's not easy to get gas in the middle of the night."

My second uncle came over and said, "Drive my car. The army's cars are sturdier. Some of the roads along the way are difficult to drive on. Your car will definitely fall apart by then."

I heard that the roads are not safe either, so if you drive a military vehicle, no one will dare to stop you, and there will be fewer problems.”

"Uncle, is it bad to drive a military vehicle? Don't you hate using military vehicles for personal purposes?"

"Okay, I know that. I've already submitted a report when I came out, and it's approved by the higher-ups."

"Okay." Zhao Shanhe was not pretentious. The army's car was indeed more suitable than a private car.

Zhao Shanhe came to the place where the portrait was placed and burned some incense for his father. "Dad, you must want to go back to your hometown. This time, your son will take you home to have a look. It's a good time to reunite with your grandparents."

Aunt Chen brought a cloth to wrap the portrait, Zhao Shanhe held it in his arms, and then told Zhao Shanhai, "Take good care of the family these days. I'll leave the company's affairs to you."

"Don't worry, brother. Leave the home and the company to me."

It was already getting dark, and the five of them drove towards Shandong.

Second uncle, second aunt, Zhao Shanhe and Zhao Shanhu, aren't there four people? Why are there five? Of course, there is also Second uncle's guard. Second uncle is the chief of staff of the division headquarters, so it is reasonable for the guard to follow him.

In fact, a national treasure like Zhao Shanhe is usually protected when he goes out.

The group of five set off for Shandong. Second Aunt sat in the front passenger seat, and the three men, Zhao Shanhe, Zhao Shanhu and Second Uncle, sat in the back seat.

It was really a bit of a pain for three 1.9-meter-tall men to sit in the back row, but there was nothing they could do about it; Zhao Shanhe fell asleep during the rocking.

Zhao Shanhe was already tired during this period and soon felt sleepy. In the second half of the night, Zhao Shanhu replaced the guard and drove the car.

The total distance is about 700 kilometers. In the future, it would only take seven or eight hours to travel on the highway. But now the road is not very easy to travel on, so it takes more than ten hours to drive.

The journey was quite safe and we didn't encounter any road bullies blocking the way.

When it was almost dawn, Zhao Shanhe woke up. His second uncle asked, "I don't know how you fell asleep in such a mess."

"I was too tired recently, so I fell asleep while rocking. Uncle, are you guys awake?"

"It's so chaotic that I can't sleep at all."

"Second brother, stop ahead and take a rest. I'll drive the last section of the way."

Zhao Shanhu stopped the car, Zhao Shanhe went down to drain the water, and smoked a cigarette to make himself completely sober. Zhao Shanhe drove the rest of the way.

It was almost noon when they arrived at the hometown county. Zhao Shanhe and his friends found a restaurant and had a hot meal.

After dinner, we drove for another half an hour and finally arrived at my hometown.

The car stopped at a random place on the roadside. People were gathered near the house that Uncle San had built for the Shandong brothers.

Seeing the military vehicle, someone had already gone to inform the third uncle, "Second brother and second sister-in-law, Shanhe Shanhu, you guys came so quickly, I thought you would arrive tonight or tomorrow."

"I drove here overnight, fearing that things would be delayed."

"The custom here is usually three days. The funeral will be held tomorrow. If you can't make it, it will be postponed to seven days. You haven't eaten yet, come in and have something to eat first."

"We just ate in the county town, Uncle San, what should we do now?"

"Go burn some paper for the old lady and take a rest first. You must be exhausted from driving all night. When the funeral band arrives in the afternoon, the relatives will come to pay their respects and there will be a lot of things to do,"

"That must be Uncle Shanhe, I remember he came here a few years ago, and he hasn't changed much after so many years.

The tall guy should be Uncle Shanhe's brother. They look a bit alike.

That woman should be the ancestor’s daughter-in-law. She lived with the ancestor for a period of time a few years ago.

I just don’t know if that old man is Uncle Shanhe’s father or uncle.”

"It should be Uncle Zhao Yin, the old ancestor's second son. He joined the army a few years ago. When Uncle Shanhe entered the family tree last time, it said that Uncle Zhao Jin had died."

The villagers were guessing the identities of the people, and Zhao Shanhe spoke directly, "My dear uncles and brothers, do you still recognize me? I am Zhao Shanhe. I came here once a few years ago.

This is my second uncle, second aunt, and this is my brother Zhao Shanhu."

A young man said, "I know you, Uncle Shanhe. You haven't changed at all over the years. I'm Xiao Liuzi. You gave me loaches and candies back then. I've always remembered them."

"So it's you. You've grown up so much that I can't recognize you anymore."

"I was still young then, but now I am married."

"Uncles and brothers, I'm Zhao Yin. I've been away from home for a few years. I hope you're all right."

"Uncle, now the land is contracted to each household. Thanks to you, there are still many people working outside with Shandong and his team. Everyone is living well."

After a round of greetings, Zhao Shanhe held Zhao Jin's portrait and burned paper for the old lady first.

"Brother, our family is very senior. People my age call me uncle, and many children call me great uncle. I have been promoted all of a sudden."

"Since ancient times, the youngest generation has always been the eldest. Grandpa's generation was the youngest. Dad, second uncle, and third uncle were the youngest in their generation. We are also the youngest. We are the youngest in the Shan generation.

Many of the elder brothers of the Shan generation are in their fifties or sixties, and some are older than the second and third uncles. The eldest brothers of our generation seem to be in their seventies.”

"It's a little strange to be called uncle by people of the same age, but everyone is very enthusiastic."

"After all, everyone in the same village is of the same clan. There is also an ancestral hall in the village. I'll take you to see it later."