Chapter 426: Mourning

Grandma Du is dead.

Cause of death: Sudden heart disease.

Maliu fought 120, but when the ambulance arrived, Grandma Du was already out of breath.

When Zhou Shangen was still alive, he was the pillar of the orphanage. When Zhou Shangen died, the pillar became Grandma Du. Now that Grandma Du is dead, Ma Liu becomes the pillar of the orphanage.

The crying sounded loudly, and everyone in the orphanage cried. There were a few half-year-old children crying so hard. Obviously, in the hearts of these children, Grandma Du was their god, and it supported them a home that was not rich but very happy. Grandma Du left, and for the children, the sky was gone and the future became a little slim.

According to local customs, Ma Liu bought a good coffin for Grandma Du, and then called Mayor Li Xianggang, hoping that Grandma Du could be more glorious.

Li Xianggang was indeed a good official. After he brought some people from the municipal party committee, he saw the children crying so hard that Li Xianggang cried. He was really crying, without any moisture.

On the morning of the funeral, there were gongs and drums, everyone from the TV station came, reporters from the newspaper, villagers from nearby came, and officials from the municipal party committee also came. The scene was spectacular, which made the nearby villagers secretly discuss that even if the municipal party committee members died, there would be such a big scene. The funeral procession took a few circles in the town, and along the way, the sound of firecrackers sounded, and the sound of cries and wails also sounded. More than a hundred children were like Ma Liu, each wearing white flowers on his chest and green gauze wrapped around his arms. Several children who were too young were carried by several half-aged children, or were held by three teachers Qi Qingqing.

When Zhou Shangen died, everything was simple and not many people knew, but Grandma Du left in a grand manner, and all the expenses of the funeral were paid out of his own pocket. Ma Liu knew that Grandma Du actually hoped that she could leave with a low profile, but Ma Liu could not do this. Even if Grandma Du wanted to blame him, he would be willing to be scolded.

Two heroes who once returned from the Korean battlefield have been unknown for decades. They can no longer be nameless when they leave. Even if they do not reveal their origin and identity, they must be glorious. There are more than ten people from the municipal party committee. Li Xianggang is the only one wearing mourning clothes. Some people say that Li Xianggang is doing a show, but Ma Liu thinks that Li Xianggang should not be such a person, so he did not reject Li Xianggang's simple wish.

Grandma Du and her husband were buried next to the vegetable field. Ma Liu planted another locust tree next to the cemetery, echoing the original ones, one left and one right. Ma Liu wanted to come to worship every year.

There were many elegy couplets and wreaths, at least one hundred. The people carrying the coffin were nearby villagers, spontaneously. No one called them. When Grandma Du passed away, the villagers came enthusiastically to help. After the burial, everyone looked at Ma Liu kneeling there. Ma Liu finally cried and muttered to himself for a while. His eyes turned red, and his eyes turned red, and tears couldn't stop coming out. This was the first time that Grandma Du cried three days after his death. No one knew what he said. At that time, everyone was blocked from far away, burned paper, kowtowed, lit incense, toasted wine, and set off firecrackers.

Everyone left. After the orphanage was closed for three days, classes resumed again. The children's faces were no longer as smiling as before. Ma Liu lived in the room where Grandma Du originally lived for seven consecutive days. Every day, he would play games, eat together, and even help with the children. Ma Liu kept laughing. By the sixth day, the children gradually recovered their smiles, and perhaps a trace of sadness was relieved by them.

Ma Liu has eaten very little these days and has lost weight all over the place. Every evening, Ma Liu would quietly run to the graves of Grandma Du and Grandpa Zhou, stand quietly under the locust tree, or help hoe the weeds beside the graves.

Every morning, a Bentley car will park at the door of the orphanage. A golden-haired woman will sit in the car, from morning to night, not entering the orphanage, but just watch it silently. At noon, the Bentley car will disappear for half an hour and then appear again. The children will be surprised at first, but later get used to it.

The waiter came to Ma Liu twice, and even sent some pork or other food. However, he saw that Ma Liu was not in high spirits and did not dare to stop for too long. He hurriedly left when he came.

The children gradually fell in love with Maliu. Every time Maliu helped to class, the children were very interested, and there seemed to be a strong expectation in their eyes. Maliu knew that the children remembered what he said last time, and their future was already placed on themselves, so Maliu was very serious when he was in class and felt quite stressed.

After class, Qi Qingqing would chat with Ma Liu and listen to Ma Liu talk about the glorious history of Zhou Shangen and his wife. Qi Qingqing also talked about the details of Grandma Du’s daily life. The two of them smiled in their hearts when they were happy, and they would burst into tears when they were sad.

Ma Liu would take Qi Qingqing to the cemetery, and Qi Qingqing would even dance in front of Ma Liu, who danced cutely, childishly, but very touching. Qi Qingqing said that these dances were taught by Grandma Du, and then the children would teach the dance to their children when they grew up and wanted to leave. It has been passed down from generation to generation, and the movements have not changed at all.

According to Bazhong customs, people who die must "maintain the seventh". The first seventh day is the so-called Xiaoqi, and the seventh day is the so-called Big Seven. On that day, Ma Liu brought a pot of wine and went to the cemetery early in the morning. He did not dare to set off firecrackers anymore. For fear of arousing sad memories from the children, Ma Liu burned the wreaths that were originally placed by the grave together. This is also a custom.

Then Ma Liu lit incense and candles, burned paper money, knelt down and kowtowed a few heads, Ma Liu poured three glasses of wine, picked up the first glass, Grandpa Zhou, Grandma Du, you are the heroes of the country. When you resist the U.S. aggression and aid Korea, you went through fire and water for the country. As a member of the ordinary people, I want to toast you a cup!

Sprinkle the wine in front of the grave, Ma Liu picked up the second glass of wine and said, Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Du, you have been running an orphanage for decades, giving countless children hope for life, and are unwilling to take credit for yourself. Your character will affect countless children. If they really have a future, it will be your credit. Here, on behalf of all the orphans you have adopted, I would like to wish you a glass of wine. I hope you can continue to protect them in heaven!

Sprinkle the wine in front of the grave, Ma Liu picked up the last glass of wine and said, Grandpa Zhou, Grandma Du, in North Korea, you saved my grandfather’s life, you are the benefactors of our old Ma family. My mother often says, "People should be grateful for your kindness. I failed to repay you before you are alive. It was my fault. I want to toast you with another glass of wine!"

After three glasses of wine, Ma Liu sighed, but suddenly laughed and said, Grandpa Zhou, Grandma Du, don’t worry, when you are here, the children are full of hope for the future. You are no longer here, I still want to give them hope for the future. Grandma Du, I promised you, I will not forget, our Lao Ma family either does not make a promise. Since we promised, it will definitely come true. Therefore, I have already told people to rent a house in the city. I guess everything will be done in the next few days. Then we can go to the city to live together. I know your last wish in my heart. I will keep the orphanage in the orphanage, and the more I will do it, and I will adopt more orphans. You two elders will go all the way!

These words of Ma Liu are all his true words. He has a great relationship with his grandfather he has never met. Otherwise, the Qin family would not support him. Without the Qin family, Ma Liu might have died long ago at the hands of the Eighth Master. But without Zhou Shangen, it would be impossible for his grandfather to block bullets for Old Master Qin. Therefore, Ma Liu is really grateful to Zhou Shangen and his wife.

Although Ma Liu, who was taught by my mother since childhood, was a little unruly, he was a righteous person at heart. He never dared to forget the strong and the weak. He could not do ungrateful things, so he did not dare to forget Zhou Shangen's great kindness. Ma Liu respected him from the bottom of his heart for a true hero like Zhou Shangen.

Standing up, Ma Liu helped the locust tree planted by himself to put some soil on the locust tree, and helped to light the unburned wreath again. The flames soared into the sky. Under the reflection of the fire, Ma Liu still had tears in his eyes. He wiped his eyes hard. Ma Liu turned his head, and dozens of children and Qi Qingqing stood not far away, all of whom were crying.

Ma Liu was about to speak, but suddenly received a call. The waiter called. On the phone, the waiter said that the house had been settled. Ma Liu hung up the phone and waved to a group of children.

When the children came to the grave together, Ma Liu sighed and said, "Maybe we will go to the city tomorrow. You all kneel down and kowtow to Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Du. No matter where you go in the future, remember that we are buried here. No matter how great your future is, don't forget the two old people buried here. If you forget, then you will be really inferior to pigs and dogs!"

A group of children came forward one by one and knelt in front of the grave, kowtowed, and then knelt there and prayed silently. In the end, Qi Qingqing took the wine pot and wine glass from Maliu and poured a glass of wine. Qi Qingqing said with a firm expression: "Grandpa Zhou, Grandma Du, it was you who taught me what kind of person to be. Don't worry, I will inherit your will. I will stay in the orphanage forever and will stay in this life!"

Ma Liu's face changed slightly, and the group of children started crying together.

Qi Qingqing stood up, her expression relaxed a lot, as if she had figured out a lot of questions. When she walked to Ma Liu, the two were only half a foot apart. Qi Qingqing smiled slightly, her eyes were still red, and she said, "You will support me, will you?"

Ma Liu sighed in his heart, nodded, and suddenly felt a little moved. He hugged Qi Qingqing into his arms and murmured: "Qingqing, you love you!"

Qi Qingqing's body trembled slightly, and tears burst out.

At the entrance of the orphanage, in the Bentley car, Alyssa's expression was as usual, and she showed a smile.

Not far away, the morning glow dyed half of the sky red, and a red sun exposed its head from the distant mountain side, shining with light.
Chapter completed!