The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 359
The day after Lao Tan and his son returned to Fifth Sister’s house was mother’s birthday. Five sisters, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, niece-in-law, nephew-in-law, grandson, granddaughter, relatives, friends, and neighbors all came to celebrate the old lady’s birthday , very lively.

After celebrating his mother's birthday, his son, Jiaheng, was going back to training, so he returned to the provincial capital first, and Lao Tan was in no hurry to stay at home.

After eating this morning, my mother said that the Chinese New Year was coming soon, people in the underworld celebrated the New Year, and people in the underworld also celebrated the New Year, and asked Lao Tan to go to the grave to burn paper and send money to his father.

Old Tan agreed and went out with the fifth brother-in-law.The two of them first went to a small shop to buy burning paper and ingot shells, filled a sack full, and then drove to the cemetery.

In the first two days, there was snow and the road was slippery. Fifth brother-in-law's car drove very slowly.

"Lin Yan hasn't come back for two years, right?" Fifth brother-in-law asked seemingly intentionally.

In fact, Lao Tan's five older sisters and brother-in-law have long wanted to ask about this matter, especially the elder sister, younger brother and daughter-in-law who haven't come back for two years to celebrate the old lady's birthday, and don't come back during the Chinese New Year. They are stupid enough to know what's going on-brother and daughter-in-law There is an emotional crisis.

"Well, it's been two years." Old Tan knew that such a question would come sooner or later, so he answered truthfully.

The fifth brother-in-law glanced at Lao Tan and pointed to the button.Lao Tan understood, took out a cigarette from the inside, lit two cigarettes, gave one to his brother-in-law first, and put one in his mouth.

"How are you two now?" Fifth brother-in-law asked.

"It's still the same—" Lao Tan said, and he pressed the window button casually, and a gust of cool fresh air floated in.

The fifth brother-in-law sighed, and said, "Don't worry about your divorce from Lin Yan because my mother is silent and not confused."

"Well, I know, I'm just afraid that she will get angry and stay together—" Old Tan said.

"Mom doesn't care about anyone, but you. The five girls are here, and they know everything, so don't worry about it. You are far away, and Lin Yan hasn't come back for two years. Can you not count?" said the fifth brother-in-law. .

Old Tan didn't say anything.

The fifth brother-in-law continued: "Mom is 84 years old. She has a pretty good physique. There is nothing wrong with her. After all, people don't have to bear heavy burdens. There are dark days and no bright days, so I'm afraid of getting angry. The old lady's life is not easy, but she has suffered a lot. , we have to ask her to live two years longer when she gets old, not to mention centenarians, it's about the same, I mean you understand?"

"Understood." Old Tan said.

"Just understand." The fifth brother-in-law said: "You can rest assured that my mother is here to take care of me. There is nothing wrong, so don't worry about it. Your fifth sister and I never make her angry, and we go along with everything. How happy is she, you This is what a son has to do.

We are happy that you and Lin Yan are having a good time, and so is my mother.We can't say what's going on when we're having a bad day, but Mom gets mad.

You are her own son, as the saying goes, old boy, grandson, grandma's lifeblood.You are an old boy, and Jiaheng is a grandson, you two have everything. "

Old Tan smiled.

"You are always running outside and doing management, and you understand some things better than me." The fifth brother-in-law said: "I will just say one thing to make my mother happy and live a few more years."

"Well, don't worry." Old Tan said.

"Don't promise not to do it when the time comes. I can get a general idea of ​​what you and Lin Yan don't say. Old brother, brother-in-law is cold-mouthed. If you say it, you may not want to."

"Oh, it's okay, you said brother-in-law."

"You haven't been doing well in the past two years. You have earned a lot of money, and your family business is doing well. What's the matter? There are a lot of people who go out from our family, and few of them can manage to your level." Fifth brother-in-law said.

"I'm also working for others." Old Tan said embarrassingly.

The fifth brother-in-law said: "There is no need to be modest, part-time jobs are also high-level part-time jobs. But after all, it is a good job, but the failure of the family is not admirable. Let me put it this way, no matter how capable and earning money, in the end Losing the whole family is also the end.

I don't know if you are not in front of my mother. Let me tell you the truth. If I know that you and Lin Yan are divorced, my mother will obviously live to be a hundred years old, and live to ninety days. "

Old Tan was silent.

The fifth brother-in-law told the truth.

"When you first left, your family was in a difficult situation, and you couldn't even mention a daughter-in-law. Lin Yan didn't think our family was poor, and didn't even ask for a bride price. She lived with you with all her heart and gave birth to an eldest son. She should be content.

What was life like back then?You can’t wait for a penny to break the flowers. You don’t stay at home all year round to work outside, leaving others to take care of the children at home and watch over you like a widow. What did they say?

Let me tell you that old brothers can't forget their roots, you can do it now, if you want money and money, you need people and people, it's very beautiful.To be honest, it's nothing, the main thing is that we can't learn from other people to change their wives as soon as they have money. Our family can't do this. "

The fifth brother-in-law's serious and serious words were very piercing, and Lao Tan didn't know what to say, and was speechless.

People are afraid of recalling the past, especially the past full of suffering and heartache.

The words of the fifth brother-in-law reminded Old Tan of the past, and the scene of marrying Lin Yan appeared in front of his eyes——
At that time, there was nothing, not even a new house, only a cloth curtain was hung in the middle of the big kang in the old house. There was a mother and sister outside, and a newly married couple inside.

Lin Yan didn't complain, so she married him like this, and lived a life where she couldn't take care of her back.

A year later, the son was born, and the romantic world of two became a warm family of three.

In order to make a living, Lao Tan ruthlessly left Binhai after his son's full moon, and he went there for four years.

For four years, he worked day and night, like an ascetic monk. Although his life was bitter, he was happy because he had something to do.Lin Yan takes care of the children at home and is still at work. She is determined to live a good life with all her heart and soul.

In the hard days, the couple lived a sweet life and were still in good spirits.The days are getting better, I'm living the way I want to live, but the sweetness is gone, and I'm losing energy, who can argue with——

Did you change yourself?Lao Tan asked himself, and then answered himself: It has changed, but it has not changed.

What has changed is family, age, and external affairs.My heart hasn't changed, it's still the same.

Hillside, wild grass, pine trees, an earthen grave.

The snow in front of the grave near the sun has melted, but the snow behind the grave is still there.

Lao Tan used a wooden stick to draw a circle around his father's grave, and then pressed the grave paper.The fifth brother-in-law poured the burnt paper and ingot shells out of the sack and put them aside, then took out a bundle and put it in front of the grave, knelt down and lit it.

Lao Tan knelt down next to his fifth brother-in-law, and pulled it with a wooden stick to make the paper money burn through.

When a bundle of paper is about to be burned, take another bundle and add the ingot shell.

The paper money was burning very vigorously, and the burnt ash fluttered and spun around, circling from left to right.

"Dad, it's almost Chinese New Year, I'm here to give you money, if there is a lot of money, spend it casually, buy more New Year's goods, and have a good New Year——" Old Tan muttered about going to the grave, half of the scene, half of the truth Son.

The fifth brother-in-law also muttered.

Bundles of paper money were burning, and the ignited fire melted the remaining snow on the ground——
Lao Tan looked at his father's grave through the firelight, the loess, withered grass, and the paper on the grave head that had just been pressed were slightly stirred by the wind——
"It's time to repair the old man's house." Old Tan said, as if talking to himself.

"After the new year's Qingming Festival, I will come with my eldest brother-in-law and second brother-in-law," said the fifth brother-in-law.

"I'll be back too." Old Tan said.

"It's best if you come back."

"Got to pull dirt from the mountain."

"Our family has a car, every family has one, one car is enough for one family."

"Um--"

(End of this chapter)