Chasing

After a night of fierce fighting, the news from the front was that the fire had been brought under control. The day was not clear, but it was dark but terribly gloomy. Some people said it would rain, but everyone responded that the weather forecast was not accurate. Unexpectedly, just after this discussion, it really started to drizzle in a short while, and cheers came from a distance. Although the people who stayed up midnight were exhausted, they were still excited about the timely rain.

The smell of soil and burnt smell from the rain-soaked land is mixed together. Although it is not so pleasant, it makes people feel comfortable and invigorated.

Everyone evacuated from the mountain one after another. Wei Yi saw Secretary Zhu when he went down the mountain, and he told Secretary Zhu the news of Han Jifei's mother's death.Secretary Zhu immediately called Li Yun and asked him to be responsible for notifying the matter and organizing everyone to go to the funeral home to mourn.Wei Yi said again: "Secretary Zhu, I'll go back and change my clothes. I'll go there first."

Secretary Zhu nodded: "You go, comfort him well."

"Yes."

"Speaking of which, I saw Han Jifei's father yesterday."

"Yes, Xiao Han said that his father couldn't get through on the phone, so he also came to the scene of the fire."

"Hey." Secretary Zhu sighed and got into the car first.

Wei Yi went back to the village and changed his clothes. He didn't even bother to eat, so he drove to the funeral home.

Wei Yi got off the car and saw Han Jifei wearing a white mourning dress, standing beside his father at the door looking very lonely, he walked over and patted Han Jifei's shoulder lightly, and only when he got closer did he see that Han Jifei's eyes were swollen , the whites of his eyes were red, Han Jifei squinted at him, and called him, "Brother Wei."

Wei Yi nodded at Han Yunqing, and said to their father and son, "My condolences."

"Ah."

Wei Yi saw Han Jifei's mother's photo in the mourning hall, and in front of the photo was an ever-burning lamp, tribute and incense burner. Wei Yi went to the mourning hall, bowed three times, and then came out.

There were also people who came to worship one after another. Han Jifei followed his father and kept entertaining people at the door. Han Jifei looked at him and seemed to want to say something, but he didn't say anything, probably because his father was around.

Wei Yi called Han Jifei aside, took out 500 yuan gift money from his pocket and stuffed it in Han Jifei's hand, Han Jifei refused and said no, Wei Yi said: "You take it, show some kindness, I won't pay it .”

Han Jifei couldn't twist him, so he folded the money neatly and held it in his hand.

Wei Yi said again: "Don't be too sad, your eyes are swollen from crying." It was fine if he didn't say this, but after he said that, Han Jifei's eye circles turned red again.

Wei Yi sighed and said, "I don't know what to say when you're like this." He patted Han Jifei on the shoulder and said, "People from our village will come over later."

"them……"

Wei Yi said: "This is all normal, you don't need to have psychological pressure. You have to be well, and when you have adjusted yourself, come back to work. I will wait for you in the village."

Han Jifei looked at Wei Yi, with tears in his eye sockets, Wei Yi was thinking, if there was no one around, Han Jifei might throw himself into his arms and cry.Han Jifei's current state made Wei Yi want to cry.

Coming out of the funeral parlor, Wei Yi let out a long breath, and finally stopped being so depressed and uncomfortable.

It was already a week after Wei Yi saw Han Jifei again.

The night before, Wei Yi received a call from Han Jifei. He said that he had to go to work tomorrow, and the May Day holiday would be coming soon. Wei Yi said, "Come back after May Day."

Han Jifei said: "No need, staying at home is really uncomfortable."

Wei Yi thought about it, so he agreed.

The next day, after Wei Yi sent Wei Wenxi to school, he went to pick up Han Jifei just like before. Han Jifei was carrying a bag and obediently stood by the side of the road waiting for him. Wei Yi parked the car in front of Han Jifei. He noticed that there was no blood on Han Jifei's face, he looked very pale, expressionless, and very numb.

"Is everything done?" Wei Yi drove out the car and asked casually.

"Yes."

"Is everything going well?"

"Ah."

"It's also good to go to work and meet people, it's better than being bored at home."

"Yes."

Han Jifei didn't talk as much as usual, Wei Yi asked, Han Jifei answered, when Wei Yi didn't speak, Han Jifei just looked out of the window in silence and didn't say a word.

When they arrived at the unit, everyone seemed to be considerate of Han Jifei, and greeted him cautiously. Han Jifei responded with a forced smile on his face.

Anyway, he locked himself in the office during the day, and when someone came, he called Wei Yi to let him down. If he was fine all day, he would not appear in front of Wei Yi as often as usual.

During this period of time, Wei Yi felt both relaxed and heavy. He always felt that Han Jifei seemed to be holding back something to say, but he didn't say anything.This person became very calm and lonely, as if he had closed himself in a strange circle and was unwilling to communicate with others. That sunny young man seemed to just disappear out of thin air.

After a few days like this, Wei Yi wanted to talk to Han Jifei several times, but he didn't know how to start or where to start.

It just so happened that it was Wei Yi and Han Jifei's turn to be on duty that day. Wei Yi picked him up in the morning and said to him, "If you don't want to be on duty, you can follow the commuter car home after get off work."

"No need." Han Jifei answered him in three words.

Wei Yi didn't know what to say for a moment, and the two of them walked all the way to the unit in silence.

He wasn't too busy during the day, and after Wei Yi had polished and handed in the materials that Secretary Zhu had asked him to write, he was fine.On his way back to the office, he happened to pass the office of the mayor Hu, and was called in by the mayor Hu.

Mayor Hu handed him a cigarette, Wei Yi lit it himself and took a puff, then Mayor Hu asked him a question: "Xiao Han is very depressed recently."

"Yes."

"He got close to you before, you can talk to him, it's nothing if it affects your work, don't be depressed anymore."

"Yes, I'm also quite worried. The main reason is that he is not willing to communicate with others now. When he usually rides in my car, he only answers a question, or he doesn't like to make noise along the way."

"Why did his mother's death affect him so much?"

"Hey." Wei Yi sighed and didn't say anything, only he knew why Han Jifei's mother's death hit Han Jifei so hard, but he couldn't tell outsiders about it.

Hu Xiangzhang said again: "I went to the district for a meeting a few days ago, but after hearing the news, I don't know if it will have any impact on Han Jifei."

"What news?" Wei Yi asked.

"There is going to be a personnel change in the city. Secretary Han, Han Jifei's father, will be transferred away. He may go to Lingquan to be the deputy secretary of the municipal party committee."

"...and this?" Wei Yi was also quite surprised.

"It is said that it has been in operation for a long time, but it has not been arranged because Xiao Han's mother is ill."

"I see."

"Hey, this kid." Mayor Hu sighed. "It's also pitiful."

After get off work in the evening, when everyone in the unit had left, Wei Yi went to Han Jifei's office to look for him, pushed the door in, and he stood at the window looking at the newly sprouted ginkgo tree in a daze, all alone, looking very lonely.

Wei Yi coughed, Han Jifei turned around and called him, "Brother Wei."

Wei Yi walked over, stood beside him, and said to him, "Go, brother will take you to dinner."

"Oh." Han Jifei responded, took his coat from the chair and put it on, followed Wei Yi out the door.

Wei Yi took Han Jifei to the Muslim restaurant where they ate for the first time. Han Jifei didn't eat much. He drank two small bowls of soup and put down his chopsticks after holding two pots.

Han Jifei has lost weight recently. He was already tall and thin, but he looked like a bamboo pole. Wei Yi said, "Eat more."

Han Jifei shook his head and said, "I can't eat it."

Wei Yi didn't force him, but he didn't eat much of the meal, and packed the rest.

After going back, Wei Yi called Han Jifei to his office, Han Jifei sat on his sofa, silent, Wei Yi said, "Don't you want to talk to me?"

Han Jifei looked at him, shook his head first, then nodded, but didn't speak for a long time.