The neighbors followed Cao Manjin with shovels and pickaxes. They came to an open space in the woods. Cao Manjin put San Ya down, and everyone went forward and dug a hole in the ground without saying a word.
With temperatures dropping to between ten and twenty degrees Celsius below zero, the ground was frozen, making digging a hole incredibly difficult. They dug in relays, and Lin Shuyue watched as they took turns several times until they had dug a hole over a meter deep.
Cao Manjin personally placed the child in the pit, then shoveled back the dirt, gradually covering the child's face. Cao Manjin couldn't fill it in any further, so she knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly.
No one tried to dissuade her. The north was cold, and conditions in the Bashang area were even worse. Many years ago, most of the families present had lost children. They felt the same way, and many of them shed silent tears.
A strong wind blew, making the leaves rustle. Some people couldn't stand the atmosphere and walked back crying. Yin Xin and Hang Yuhua remained silent and waited until the end.
Cao Manjin was tired of crying, so she filled the last bit of soil and placed three stone slabs on the mound. After the stone slabs were finished, she stayed on the cold ground for a long time. Next to this small mound, there was another mound that was slightly larger than it, and there was a stone slab on top of the mound.
Hang Jiabai explained that it was Daya's grave, and every year, Cao Manjin would come to fill the grave and pull out the weeds. Cao Manjin couldn't read many words, and her children were too young to erect a tombstone, so the tombstone was a mark she had made for herself, fearing that over time, she would forget Daya's death.
Lin Shuyue stood in the wind and watched. The winter wind on the dam was too strong, blowing her face painfully, and her heart also ached.
Cao Manjin sat for a while and then collapsed on the ground. Yin Xin saw that she was in a very bad mood, so she walked over and helped her up. Cao Manjin stood up obediently, with most of her body leaning on Yin Xin.
The two thin women supported each other as they walked forward. Hang Yuhua walked in front carrying a pickaxe. When he saw stones on the ground, he moved them to the side and kicked them, as if he was clearing the way for them.
Cao Manjin did not look back. According to the custom in their place, family members are not allowed to look back during burial. If they look back, their loved ones will not be able to rest in peace and will be reluctant to leave.
The suppressed sobs were carried by the northwest wind, drifting in the air. First came Cao Manjin's, then Yin Xin's. Their cries were so sad that Lin Shuyue's eyes also turned red. Hang Yuhua, who was walking in front, also had a heavy step.
Hang Jiabai took Lin Shuyue's slightly frozen hand in his own and said, "This is the cemetery for minors in the forest farm. I have a sister here too."
Lin Shuyue turned her head to look at her. Hang Jiabai said, "She was born here like my brother. But when my brother was born, my parents hadn't moved here yet, so although it was cold, it was still bearable. My sister was born here in winter. When she was two months old, she had a fever at night. It was snowing heavily, and there were no doctors. Transportation was not well developed in that era."
"My father harnessed the cart, and my mother borrowed blankets from all the neighbors, but before they could get down the mountain, my sister died. By the time she was taken to the clinic at the foot of the mountain, her body was already stiff."
"Your mother is really strong." Not everyone can accept their child dying in their arms. Lin Shuyue has experienced the feeling of a loved one slowly losing their breath in her arms, and she still dares not think about it.
Even though they were not in the same world anymore, she still didn't dare to think about it. She couldn't imagine how Yin Xin had accepted it at the time. How old was a two-month-old baby? She couldn't even speak.
Hang Jiabai nodded. "Yes, she's very strong. So after that accident, she went back to Guangdong Province to give birth. Four months after I was born, she returned to this land. She actually had many opportunities to go back."
"But she said, my sister is sleeping in this land, how can she leave? My father doesn't want to leave either. He didn't say it, but I know he thinks the same way." Hang Jiabai didn't understand why his mother could be so cruel to keep him in Guangyue.
But when he grew up, he came to this place in person, saw the hardships of this place, and learned about his sister's story. So he had no complaints about his parents staying here on this land, and even his grandparents understood.
Lin Shuyue knew that life was full of suffering, but at this moment, she finally realized how hard life was.
This happened in New China, after liberation, which is even more unbelievable.
In Lin Shuyue's previous life, she lived in the 2000s. Her family was wealthy and she had never had to worry about money. Her grandparents treated her very well. Even if she only sneezed, her grandmother would drag her to the clinic for treatment. Her home was also very close to the clinic.
In this life, her childhood memories became clearer after that dream. When she was sick as a child, it was very easy for her to see a doctor.
Thinking of what Hang Jiabai had just said, that most people in the entire forest farm had experienced the pain of losing a child, Lin Shuyue felt a little sad: "It's really not easy for the people here."
Hang Jiabai said, "It's much better now. The forest farm has a tractor, so it's easier to get down to the dam in the summer and autumn. Winter is still difficult, but a doctor came to the farm a few years ago. He can treat minor illnesses like colds."
This was the thing that made Lin Shuyue feel most relieved after hearing the news.
When they returned home, Cao Manjin was lying in the west room. Yin Xin served her some food, but she didn't eat it.
Yin Xin said to Lin Shuyue, "Let her lie down inside and don't disturb her."
After this incident, the atmosphere at home was not so tense anymore. Everyone finished their meal quietly and Lin Shuyue was called to the east room to sleep.
The furniture in the east room is much better than that in the west room. There is a kang table two meters long and one and a half meters high at the end of the kang. There is a mirror inlaid on the door near the window. There is a row of small flower pots on the windowsill, planted with green onions and some green plants.
A circle of small cabinets lined the wall beneath the kang, draped with a white lace scarf. It was a beautiful sight. Two large trays sat by the door. On one tray sat an upside-down glass emblazoned with a red double happiness character and peony flowers. On the other, several thermoses with the same floral design sat.
Hang Jiabai poured Lin Shuyue a cup of hot water and explained to her in a low voice: "Originally, my mother meant for you to live in the west room, and my eldest brother and I would sleep next door."
"Now that Cao Manjin is like this, she's really worried, so she asked for her to stay in the west room for a few days. She and Cao Manjin will sleep there, while my father, my eldest brother, and I will sleep in their room."
Yin Xin is also from Guangdong Province. She knows and respects Lin Shuyue's living habits. The west room is unoccupied all year round, but Yin Xin cleans it regularly.
"My mother is the women's director here." Hang Jiabai explained.
Seeing that the neighbors subconsciously let Yin Xin stay last, Lin Shuyue had already guessed Yin Xin's identity.
"Tell auntie that it doesn't matter where I stay." Lin Shuyue said.
Hang Jiabai smiled at Lin Shuyue and squeezed her hand: "Are you used to eating here? Is there anything you want to eat?"
Lin Shuyue thought of the delicious bracken bone stew at noon and laughed, "I'm used to it. It was the first time I knew bones and bracken could be stewed together. It was really delicious."
The northern part focuses on rich and spicy flavors, which is different from the light flavors in Guangdong. For Lin Shuyue, this is like a mouse falling into an oil jar, it is so delicious. (TL's Note: A Chinese idiom-like expression '油缸里掉老鼠' (Yóu gāng lǐ diào lǎoshǔ). It is the image of a mouse falling into an oil jar, which means: once it falls in, it's surrounded by something it loves and doesn't want to leave.)
Seeing that Lin Shuyue was really used to the food, Hang Jiabai felt relieved.
During the meal before, Yin Xin told Lin Shuyue a lot about the summer and autumn on the Bashang grassland, and Lin Shuyue was very longing for it.
"If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come here in the fall. Auntie said that the summer and autumn here are very beautiful."
"We'll come together then."
"Okay." Lin Shuyue agreed.
There was a roar of a car outside. Cao Manjin in the west room stood up and rushed out. Yin Xin was tidying up in Hang Jiaqing's room next door. When she heard the things, she hurried out as well.
When Lin Shuyue and the other person came out, all the neighbors came out. They followed the green jeep to the Wei family.
Wei Guoyong's hair was sticking up and his clothes were wrinkled. Lin Shuyue had good eyesight and could even see the eye boogers in the corners of his eyes.
Everyone, including Lin Shuyue and others, felt very disappointed. Aunt Wang, who lived next door to the Wei family and had spoken to Grandpa Hu in the morning, spat at them.
"I've known for a long time that Wei Guoyong is no good, but I never thought it would get to this point. His daughter died in the morning, before two o'clock, and he's already sound asleep in the house? Even animals have more humanity than him!"
Aunt Wang's words resonated with everyone present.
Wei Guoyong didn't think anything was wrong with him and quickly went to greet them. "Hello, police comrades, hello! Come in quickly. Cao Manjin, what are you doing standing there like an idiot? Quickly pour some water for the police comrades and cut two more pieces of meat. I'll make them something delicious later. It must be difficult for them to come all the way here."
Wei Guoyong didn't think the death of a daughter was a big deal. He even thought that without Sanya as a burden, he could wait until next year to have a son with Cao Manjin. He and his brothers couldn't let the bloodline of the Wei family be cut off here.
Cao Manjin spitted blood on his face and said, "Screw you, Wei Guoyong, you heartless beast."
Wei Guoyong was completely stunned. He had already graciously let go of Cao Manjin's spitting on him that morning, but now she was doing it again? And she was even calling him a beast?
Wei Guoyong's teeth were bared as he raised his fist and struck Cao Manjin. How could the policemen who had come up from the dam let him attack a woman in front of them? One of them, wearing a dog-skin hat, finally slowed down, straightened his clothes, and shouted at Wei Guoyong, "What do you want to do?"
Wei Guoyong is a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong. When the police scolded him, he dared not say a word or move.
The policeman in the dog-skin hat rolled his eyes when he saw him like this: "Where's Lao Hang? What's going on? I heard a child is missing?"
At this time, Hang Yuhua squeezed in from the outside of the crowd: "Here, here. I just ran something."
Hang Yuhua walked up to the police and told them the whole story. The policeman wearing a dog-skin hat was named Zhao Fu. After listening to what Hang Yuhua and Cao Manjin said, he asked Wei Guoyong.
"Wei Guoyong, you said that before you went to bed last night, you went to see the child. She was indeed sleeping in the west room, right?"
Wei Guoyong smiled obsequiously, looking rather embarrassed. At this moment, he hated these nosy neighbors in the place. It wasn't their child who died, and he, as the father, hadn't done anything yet, so why were they so anxious?
And Cao Manjin, didn't she know that family disgrace shouldn't be made public? Is it a glorious thing for a child to freeze to death? She actually made such a big fuss that she even called the police. What a waste!
Wei Guoyong grumbled inwardly, but he dared not refuse to answer the police's question: "Officer, I did go to see Sanya last night, and she was indeed asleep. However, I had a few drinks last night and slept very soundly. I really don't know when the child left the house."
"This morning, Cao Manjin returned from her parents' home, and I realized Sanya had been out all night. You see, this kid has a big mouth, but she never says anything. She even goes out to the bathroom and never comes back."
At this moment, Wei Guoyong did not feel that he was not doing his job as a father well. All he could think about was that his child was doing something wrong.
What does a three-year-old know? Being able to clearly say "eat" and "go to the toilet" is already impressive.
"Bullshit, Wei Guoyong, your daughter is three years old, not thirty. Could she have opened the door and went out to the toilet by herself? It must have been you and your mother who opened the door to let her out and didn't let her in." Aunt Wang from next door saw the police coming and didn't hide anything anymore. She told them what she vaguely heard last night.
"Comrade police officer, I live next door to Wei Guoyong's house. Last night, around 3:00 AM, Sanya was clamoring to go to the bathroom, so her grandmother brought her out, cursing and swearing. Sanya was already using the restroom in the yard. I woke up from a daze, and I heard Li Xiaohe calling Sanya a lazy donkey who poops and pees a lot."
"I was so sleepy afterwards that I turned over and fell back asleep. I don't know what happened after that. When I woke up in the morning, I didn't see San Ya and thought she was still in the house. I knew that Li Xiaohe went to the bottom of the dam, but I didn't there's a problem with it before!"
"Now that I think about it, this old woman must have locked the door to the house last night. When she woke up this morning and found the child is dead, she hurried to hide at the bottom of the dam."
Aunt Wang looked at Cao Manjin with an apologetic look on her face. "Manjin, I didn't mean to not tell this to you this morning. I just knew that if that idiot Wei Guoyong knew his mother was the culprit who froze San Ya to death, he would definitely pack up and run."
"Just in case, I didn't tell you the truth."
Following Aunt Wang's revelation, Lin Shuyue activated her good-evil discrimination system: [ Name: Wang Xuehua, Sin Value: 6%, Good Value: 40%, Gray Area: 1, Overall Evaluation: A very kind-hearted person~ ]
Cao Manjin did not blame Aunt Wang. The moment she saw the child's body, she had guessed the truth of the matter.
Every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt has its creditor. She now only wants to bring the culprit who killed San Ya, his mother, who has made so many mistakes, to accompany her.
"What are you doing gathered here at my door?" A soft female voice came from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned and looked towards the source of the sound. It was a woman in her fifties, wearing a cotton jacket with purple, yellow and green flowers, a black woolen hat on her head, a headscarf covering her face and neck, and thick cotton pants with a large crotch, the shape of which was just like the harem pants of later generations.
The moment she appeared, Lin Shuyue's system for distinguishing between good and evil seemed to explode.
[ Ding ~~~ Criminal Li Xiaohe, whose sin value is as high as 78%, appears. Host, please assist the police in capturing her. ]
[ Ding ~~~ Criminal Li Xiaohe, whose sin value is as high as 78%, appears. Host, please assist the police in capturing her. ]
[ Ding ~~~ Criminal Li Xiaohe, whose sin value is as high as 78%, appears. Host, please assist the police in capturing her. ]
The good and evil discrimination system played three messages of this type as usual.
Just when Lin Shuyue thought the broadcast was about to end, another broadcast sounded.
[ Ding ding ding ~~~ Cao Manjin's sin value is detected to be 10% and his kindness value is 30%. The sin value is rising. Please pay attention! Please pay attention! ]
[ Ding ding ding ~~~ Sin value rises to 20%···30%···40%··· ]
[ Ding ding ding ~~~ Sin value reaches 50%! ! ! ! ! ! ]