Chapter 610 Paying Respects to My Uncle

Xiao Jiu was rubbing her temples with her eyes half-closed when she heard this and immediately jumped in fright.

"Let me tell you, I have no intention of doing business with you here. This isn't our home,"

Seeing her excitement, Zhou Yue found it somewhat amusing. "Don't worry, I'm not so desperate as to be indiscriminate in my choices."

Don't tell me you're unwilling; I don't want our first time to happen in public either!

Xiao Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and touched his smooth chin. "It's good that you have this awareness."

Both were exhausted, so they took off their coats and each chose a bed to sleep on.

She didn't bring many things with her this time, and it wasn't convenient for her to take things out of her spatial storage, but after turning off the lights, she still changed to her own pillow.

These days, it's not easy to go out, especially in the freezing cold of Northeast China, where all the open shops are government-owned.

Everyone slept until 7 a.m., then went to the guesthouse's small canteen, where they ate some simple pickled vegetables and steamed buns, and drank some hot porridge.

Their large family of eighteen people couldn't fit in their car, the road conditions were bad, and many public transport vehicles were out of service.

"I asked around, and the buses to the Martyrs' Cemetery have stopped running. The roads there are even worse. It's a bit better in the city, where there are people responsible for clearing the roads."

The further out you go, the harder it is to get around. If we want to get through, we'll have to find a way to take a bus from the city to the suburbs.

If we're lucky, an oxcart or something will get us across; if we're unlucky, we'll have to walk.

Xiao Jiu took the map from Zhou Yue and looked at it. The distance wasn't too far, only about 30 kilometers.

But the key question is how to get them there properly, given their large number.

The children were all quite well-behaved and didn't complain, and this was the largest family gathering they'd ever had.

Since we're already here, nobody wants to leave disappointed, so we'll definitely go, even if it'll be a bit of a hassle.

The small bar's space encompasses all types of transportation, including land, sea, and air vehicles; it has minibuses, but the question is how to take them out.

Moreover, the problem now is not whether we can take it out, but that we are not familiar with the road conditions in the mountainous area.

With the roads slippery and covered in snow, her safety as a family was her top priority.

Fortunately, there are plenty of men, so she doesn't need to worry about anything at this time. As long as the money is right, even a government car can become a private car.

I don't know how they communicated with the guesthouse staff, but they found a local bus company with vehicles and staff who were familiar with the roads.

Charter a car for them, it costs 100 yuan round trip, and they don't have to worry about anything. They'll even find a state-run restaurant for them to eat their fill.

Xiao Jiu thought it was acceptable, but her parents thought it was shockingly expensive.

"This is outrageous! Normally, a ride costs only a few cents to a few dimes."

"It wouldn't even cost 50 cents to walk from the east side of our county town to the west side! Good heavens, a hundred yuan! How dare you take it?"

After some haggling, the price was settled at seventy yuan, which was only because there was a hero in the family.

But the money wasn't given all at once.

The bus arrived, I got on, and gave them ten yuan.

After a long and arduous journey, with even the wheels fitted with snow chains, we finally arrived at the Martyrs' Cemetery around noon.

Pay another 20 yuan, and the rest of the money will be paid in installments.

The cemetery is planted with many pine and cypress trees, and under the heavy snow, it looks as beautiful as a fairy tale world.

Despite the terrible weather and the fact that no one came, and it was so quiet that the only sound was the soft patter of falling snow, no one felt afraid.

Walking in the snow, everyone's expression was solemn.

They brought cigarettes, alcohol, roast chicken, and snacks, and found the memorial tablets where their uncles had died.

Tao Changyi touched the names of his eldest and second eldest brothers, his voice choked with emotion.

"Big brother, second brother, Mom and Dad are looking for you. Did you receive them over there?"

Led by Tao Changyi and Zhao Lingli, the whole family bowed three times before the tomb.

"Last time your two aunts didn't come, so it was me, your grandfather, and Xiao An who came together. Today, you all need to remember this place well."

If you have the chance to come to Northeast China, come and see them, see these heroes who can't go home.

As we left the cemetery, everyone was covered in snow, and we all got into the car in silence.

Hungry and cold, the driver took them to a relatively large state-run restaurant in Dan City.

Perhaps they originally intended to order more good food and drinks for them, but after the price was driven down, they switched to more substantial rice, dumplings, and stew. The food tasted really good, and everyone was full. The children even got a bottle of warm soda each.

Touched, Xiao Jiu secretly slipped the driver a pack of cigarettes.

"Brother, you've worked hard today. This is a cigarette my friend got from outside. Try it."

The driver took one look and exclaimed, "Wow, it's even in foreign languages! Thank you so much, sister! I've never smoked before!"

Perhaps because of the pack of cigarettes, the driver became even more enthusiastic than before.

After lunch, we took them back to the guesthouse, which was near the train station, making it convenient for them to buy tickets.

However, this time only the newlyweds and Tao Changyi and his wife returned to Harbin.

"Mom and Dad, if you get tired of living here, just let us know and we'll come and pick you up."

Tao Changyi waved his hand at his sons, "If your mother and I get tired of living here, we'll go back on our own. We don't need you."

"Take care of yourselves, that's all that matters. Alright, we'll part ways here. Have a safe journey, and send a telegram when you arrive."

The grandchildren immediately said goodbye to them, which was true because they hadn't grown up with them and were therefore somewhat indifferent to them.

Fortunately, Tao Changyi and his wife live a carefree life. In their view, as long as they are able to move around, they will never trouble their children.

If you're truly bedridden and unable to move, live a few more years if your children are filial, but if they aren't, leave early so as not to cause them any trouble.

If you get a serious illness, you don't need treatment. If you get a minor illness, you can just make do and live for a few more years. Everyone dies sooner or later. Once you've arranged everything, you can leave in peace.

Now that their sons are all married, have children, and their wives are all quite good, they feel that their lives are better than 80% of families.

The only regret is that their youngest daughter didn't get married and have children. They want to stay and take good care of her for a few years until she has a child and takes her to a preschool. That would be the end of their lives, and they would be able to return home and rest in peace.

After seeing their brothers off at the train station, they boarded the train back home.

By the time we got back to Harbin, it was already late at night on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

After going through all this for a month or so, Xiao Jiu felt she had lost weight.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and now it's time to close the door and live my own life.

While they were away, Eighth Sister was in charge of taking care of Black Wing, and she and her sisters also did cooking and other chores here.

After heating the kang (a heated brick bed) in the evening, the room became warm, and then water was boiled so everyone could take a bath and lie in bed feeling refreshed.

"Now, it's my turn, isn't it?"

When Xiao Jiu dried her hair and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), Zhou Yue, shirtless, looked at her with excitement.