Chapter 54: Paying Respects to Her Biological Parents

Whew!

Jiang An’an stood on the mountainside, panting.

The distant mountain peaks stretched out in a continuous line, the sea of clouds surging like waves, the magnificent view broadened one’s chest.

“Come on, we’re almost there.” Jiang Degui climbed up with a burst of energy, branches constantly hitting the grass beside him, the rustling sound could scare away some timid wild animals.

Jiang An’an took a deep breath and followed behind, her curiosity growing about what kind of people her biological parents were and why they were buried in the deep mountains and forests.

To avoid attracting attention, the father and daughter started climbing the mountain from sunrise, until the sun rose high above the branches, after nearly three hours of climbing, they finally reached their destination, her legs were trembling with exhaustion.

In the dead of winter, the withered grass and trees revealed the hidden path. Unless one was experienced, it was easy to lose one’s way. Getting lost in the deep mountains was tantamount to waiting to die.

Jiang Degui had walked this path for sixteen years, he could find the grave with his eyes closed.

After another half an hour, they finally arrived.

Jiang An’an sat down on the grass, gasping for breath.

In contrast, Jiang Degui, apart from a little sweat on his forehead, had much more stamina than her, making her extremely envious.

The grave had not been tended to for a long time, and weeds grew all around it.

Jiang Degui took out a sickle from the bamboo basket and started to clear the weeds. When he reached the area around the tombstone, he asked Jiang An’an to do it herself.

Jiang An’an picked up the sickle and imitated Jiang Degui’s movements, cutting the grass. The technique wasn’t difficult, but the sickle kept going towards her legs.

Fortunately, she was wearing thick clothes in the winter, otherwise, she would have been injured.

Jiang Degui’s heart was in his throat, his little daughter had never done farm work before, and the first time she cut grass on her parents’ grave, she almost cut her leg.

Finally, Jiang An’an finished cutting the grass, she was sweating profusely, as if she had just been pulled out of the water.

“Father, what’s wrong with you?” Jiang An’an was surprised, thinking that it wasn’t hot.

Your father is going to be scared to death by you!

Jiang Degui swallowed, continuing to direct, “I’m fine, put all the offerings in front of the tombstone, then take out the incense and candles and light them, kowtow three times.”

Jiang An’an did as she was told.

Beside her, Jiang Degui took out the newspaper where his daughter’s article was published and burned it, silently praying, “An’an has grown up and become successful, you can rest in peace in the underworld. In a few years, when the wind dies down, I’ll dig up the rest of the small yellow croakers and give them to An’an as a dowry.”

Finally, he also kowtowed three times respectfully.

A gust of wind blew, sending the ashes swirling and flying straight up.

These offerings were left behind, if they could be eaten by the creatures of the deep mountains, it would be a good deed, and ultimately, it would be rewarded to Jiang An’an in the deep mountains.

It was not safe to stay in the mountains for too long, the father and daughter had come for this, and after they were done, they hurried home. If they encountered any winter mushrooms on the way, they would pick them up and put them in the basket.

Silence all the way.

When they were almost at the foot of the mountain, the father and daughter were carrying a large bundle of firewood to cover their tracks.

Many people went up the mountain to chop firewood in winter, so it was not unusual. When the villagers saw them, they would at most make a joke, “An’an always has a way to turn her lazy father into a diligent one.”

In the past, the second branch of the Jiang family never lacked charcoal for the winter, they just waited for their eldest son-in-law to “show filial piety.” This year, the old Jiang family had to chop firewood themselves, suddenly bringing them closer to the other villagers.

“It’s only right that they have to chop firewood in the middle of winter.” The elder brother’s wife spat towards the yard.

Jiang Dezhu put on his coat and sneered, “You stupid woman, you don’t know anything!”

Jiang Degui was his main target for investigation, during the famine, the whole family didn’t starve to death, where did the food come from? Maybe it had something to do with the small yellow croakers!

He suddenly went into the mountains with his burden, maybe he was going to dig for treasure.

The elder brother’s wife put her hands on her hips, her eyebrows raised, “It’s freezing cold, where are you going?”

“Up the mountain, to chop firewood.” Jiang Dezhu said concisely, picked up his axe and rushed towards the mountain, he didn’t even bring a thermos.

When the elder brother’s wife chased after him with a thermos, he was already gone, she wondered, “He’s never been so enthusiastic before?”

Zhu Po happened to pass by, she heard this and teased mischievously, “Maybe he’s going to see some widow.”

“Go to hell, I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

Zhu Po took a step back and fled in disgrace, “I’m not fighting with you.” The brigade leader said that next time there are outsourcing opportunities, they will be given to women with good character first, she’s not stupid.

The elder brother’s wife stomped her feet in anger, she cursed at the door for half an hour, until her mouth was dry before she stopped.

At this time, her eldest son, Jiang Yongzu, came out of the room and said impatiently, “Mother, our family’s reputation is already bad, can you stop being a shrew, learn to get along with the villagers. Look at the second branch, now everyone in the village is giving them a thumbs up.”

The elder brother’s wife felt very wronged, she was doing all this for whom? But in the end, she didn’t get anything good. If it were anyone else, she would have been sprayed to death, but her eldest son and grandson, she and the old man would have to live with the eldest son in the future, so she reluctantly went back into the house.

–

Late at night.

A deafening scream suddenly erupted from the village. Then, candles were lit in every household, and people came out to investigate.

Jiang An’an, wearing a padded jacket, walked out sleepily. Seeing Jiang Degui heading out, she asked, “What happened?”

Jiang Degui shook his head, “It seems like it came from the pigsty, it’s cold, go back to sleep.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone pounded on the Jiang family’s door.

Someone outside shouted, “An’an, something happened to the big fat pig, come and take a look.”

Jiang An’an: ?

What do they want me for? I’m not a veterinarian.

The whole brigade had worked hard all year just to get two fat pigs at the end of the year, Jiang An’an, with a puzzled expression, put on her clothes and followed the aunties to the pigsty.

The pigsty was already surrounded by three layers of people, the commune members were chattering non-stop.

Someone shouted, “Make way, Jiang An’an is here,” and everyone made way for her. In an instant, all eyes were on her, Jiang An’an’s lips tightened.

Lin Meiru whispered to her husband, “When did An’an become so powerful?”

For the commune members, Jiang An’an was a cadre from the county, a county official was bigger than a village official. When something big happened in the village, they naturally called her to judge.

The north wind howled, blowing away Jiang An’an’s sleepiness. As she walked closer, she saw Wang Laosan lying on the ground, his lower body covered in blood, howling loudly. His wife was huddled in a corner, holding a pair of scissors in her hand.

Not far away, there was a big fat pig, breathing more out than in.

Jiang Degui and the men present subconsciously clamped their legs: …

In the middle of winter, Wang Sanshen was only wearing a thin shirt patched with holes, her exposed skin was not a single piece of good flesh.

When Jiang An’an took off her scarf and put it on her, she found that she was burning hot, and she had already lost consciousness.

“She’s unconscious with a high fever, we need to send them to the health center as soon as possible, we’ll talk about other things when they wake up.”

Luo Jiawang didn’t dare to delay, he quickly called his son to get the ox cart.

Just then, someone in the crowd asked, “What about the big fat pig?”