The first day of the Lunar New Year.
In Jiang Tao's hometown, there was a tradition of paying respects to ancestors.
Honoring the ancestors symbolized not forgetting the grace of those who gave life during the most festive holiday of the year.
The ceremony wasn't anything complicated—simply put, it was visiting the graves.
They would burn some paper money and bring offerings for the ancestors.
The time for ancestor worship was generally between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., when the yang energy between heaven and earth was at its peak, which could strengthen one's own yang energy.
After having breakfast at his parents' house, Jiang Tao, his father Jiang Wen, and his two nephews, Jiang Shijie and Jiang Shaojie—the four male members of the family—set off to visit the graves.
Jiang Tao's mother, Du Yongmei, stayed at home, busy lighting incense and arranging flowers.
Xu Li and Jiang Bing, meanwhile, took Jiang Xue to visit the uncles and elders in the village to exchange New Year greetings.
The ancestral graves of the Jiang village were all located in the fields outside the village. Most were on land owned by the families or exchanged with others' farmland. Compared to the increasingly expensive cemeteries in the cities, where people complained they couldn't afford to die, rural grave plots had remained consistently cheap for decades.
The plot where the old Jiang family's ancestral graves were located had been allocated to Jiang Tao during the family division, with an officially registered area of one mu (about 0.165 acres). However, he had never farmed it himself; his parents always took care of it.
At the gravesite, they got to work. The old man, Jiang Wen, first walked around the graves, drawing a circle around them. Jiang Tao and his two nephews busied themselves pulling out offerings and stacks of paper money printed to look like real currency from their pockets.
In previous years, the paper money for the graves was absurdly exaggerated—bills worth tens of billions or even trillions, more outrageous than Zimbabwean currency. In recent years, however, the denominations of the spirit money had gradually returned to normal: five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred yuan, looking almost like the real thing at a glance.
Once his father finished drawing the circle and chanting, Jiang Tao took out a lighter and began burning yellow paper and spirit money. This time, the ancestral graves were truly emitting green smoke.
After the ancestor worship was complete, the group returned home.
That noon, they were still eating at Jiang Tao's parents' house. Jiang Tao brought over the fish, shrimp, beef, and other items Xu Li had bought at the market. Old Jiang started preparing the dishes.
Jiang Tao mentioned he had something to take care of at home and, munching on sunflower seeds, returned to his own place.
This wasn't an excuse to slack off. He really did have something to do—something important.
The previous night, he had stayed up late dealing with the information about his cousin Xu Jiantao. But the information about Old Sun hadn't been processed yet.
"End-of-life care…"
"How do you provide care? Call to wish him a happy New Year? Or…"
Back at home, sitting on the living room sofa, Jiang Tao pulled out his phone and found Old Sun's number. After thinking it over in his mind, he finally dialed the number.
…
In Beijing, Pingchang District.
The Baigezhuang New Village neighborhood was festooned with decorations, brimming with the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival.
In Room 101 of Building 79, there was a small guest room. The curtains in this room were always drawn, leaving the interior dim.
There was no bed or cabinet in the room, only a small round table that Sun Xiaobao had scavenged from a garbage dump. At this moment, five chairs were placed around the table, with four dishes set on it.
Aside from Sun Xiaobao, the only living person present, the other "guests" were four black-and-white memorial photos.
"Dad, Mom, Happy New Year! I'm here to pay my respects," Sun Xiaobao said, raising his first cup to his parents. After the toast, he tilted his head back and downed a small cup of liquor.
"Son, Happy New Year to you too. Let's have a drink together, us father and son."
"Grandson, Happy New Year to you too."
Sun Xiaobao toasted cup after cup, exchanging New Year greetings with his four deceased relatives.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, other families were full of laughter, joy, and togetherness. For Sun Xiaobao, every year on this day, he was alone at home, chatting with four memorial photos. Yet, he didn't feel lonely.
"You guys must miss me, right?"
"Don't worry, it won't be long now. I'll be joining you soon."
"A while back, I wasn't feeling great. Went to the hospital for a checkup—guess what?"
"Late-stage liver cancer! Done! I don't have many days left."
"The doctor said I've got two months at most and told me to get hospitalized for treatment right away."
"I said, treat what? Can you cure cancer or something? Acting all high and mighty."
"In the end, it's just spending money for nothing. The money's gone, and so am I. What a waste!"
Sun Xiaobao rambled on alone, starting from just past 5 a.m. when the sky was barely bright, talking nonstop until after 9 a.m. when it was fully light.
Every year on this day, he spoke more than he did the entire rest of the year combined. After more than four hours of talking and downing an entire bottle of Maotai, he didn't treat himself like a patient at all.
In the last two months of his life, Sun Xiaobao had come to terms with it. Eat what you want, drink what you want, and live as comfortably as you can. When the time comes, he'd report to the King of Hell.
"I'll stop here for today. You guys don't talk, so I don't know what else to say."
Having said everything he wanted to, Sun Xiaobao sat there like a statue, staring blankly. He could hear the sound of children running upstairs and the joyful laughter of the family living above him.
To say he wasn't envious would be a lie.
In the past, Sun Xiaobao's feelings were limited to envy. But today, he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness and loneliness. He had no family, no close friends, not even someone to wish him a happy New Year.
"Fifty-six ethnic groups, fifty-six flowers~"
The ringtone of his phone in the living room interrupted Sun Xiaobao's thoughts. Coming back to himself, he got up with a faint hope and walked to the living room. As if afraid the caller might hang up, he practically jogged to the table and picked up his old-fashioned phone.
Seeing the name "Little Jiang" on the small screen, a pure, childlike smile spread across Sun Xiaobao's weathered face. So there was still someone in this world who remembered this old man!
"Hey, Little Jiang! You're back at your hometown, huh? Happy New Year! Wishing your whole family a happy New Year too!" Sun Xiaobao answered the phone cheerfully, offering his New Year blessings first.
"Old Sun, Happy New Year to you too! I'm calling to wish you well, hoping you stay healthy and free of illness in the new year."
"You kid! Are you teasing your old man again?" Sun Xiaobao said, his eyes glancing at a plastic bag by the wall near the TV. Inside were about ten pounds of scrap rebar that had gotten him into trouble twice.
Yesterday, Sun Xiaobao had taken his phone, some dry food, and a thermos of water back to the demolition site in Baigezhuang. This time, he finally avoided any mishaps and successfully collected some rebar.
During the New Year, his mind felt clear and at ease. Receiving Jiang Tao's call now made him happier than ever. The feeling of being cared for and blessed was truly wonderful.
Just moments ago, Sun Xiaobao had been lost in thought, wondering if, when his time came and his life ended, there would be anyone left in the world who remembered he ever existed. In the future, during holidays, would there even be someone to burn paper clothes or visit his grave?
In life, he was alone. In death, he'd be a lonely ghost. Across both the mortal and spiritual worlds, it was all too bleak.
While joking with Jiang Tao over the phone, a sudden idea popped into Sun Xiaobao's mind. The second time Jiang Tao had saved him from under a collapsed floor, he had considered befriending him. But fearing he might bring bad luck to Jiang Tao, given the tragedies that had befallen his own family, he had given up on the idea.
Now, knowing his days were numbered, Sun Xiaobao had a new thought. But whether to act on it, he still needed to observe Jiang Tao further.
"Old Sun, aren't you bored being alone in Beijing?"
"Why don't you come to our village and experience the New Year atmosphere? From the fifth to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, we have all sorts of temple fairs, big and small. It's lively!"
Hearing Jiang Tao's warm invitation over the phone, Sun Xiaobao, if he were still healthy, would have politely declined. He'd have expressed his gratitude but wouldn't want to trouble Jiang Tao.
"Coming to your place, wouldn't that be too much trouble for you? It's the New Year, and I'm just an old man…"
"Old Sun, don't be so formal! I see you as a friend—what do you take me for? Let's not beat around the bush. Are you coming or not? Give me a straight answer."
Jiang Tao's voice on the phone was warm and sincere, and Sun Xiaobao felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
"Haha, since you're so kind to invite me, and I've got nothing going on at home, I'll treat it as a trip to your place!"
"I'll head to the train station to buy a ticket soon!"
"No need to buy a ticket. I'll find you a ride in a carpool group. Get ready, and someone will probably pick you up in about an hour. They'll bring you straight to my doorstep."
"Little Jiang, isn't that too much trouble? I feel bad about this!"
Hearing Jiang Tao's thoughtful arrangements, Sun Xiaobao's heart swelled with gratitude again. He was even tempted to end his "test" of Jiang Tao right then and there and have a lawyer draft a will for notarization.
"No trouble at all. Just get ready at home… Actually, you don't need to prepare anything. Just bring yourself, and I'll take care of the rest."
"Oh, and one more thing, Old Sun. I need you to help me with something."
"Oh? Help with what?"
Sun Xiaobao was puzzled.
"Here's the thing: I told my parents and my wife that you're my master, and I'm learning feng shui from you. When you come, just go along with being my master."
Jiang Tao was now truly experiencing the saying, "One lie requires countless more to cover it up." Having made up a story to Xu Li, he now needed Old Sun to play along with the lie.
"Huh?"
Sun Xiaobao thought Jiang Tao's parents might not welcome him, hence the fake identity. He quickly said, "Little Jiang, if it's inconvenient for your family, I won't come and cause trouble."
"No, no! It's very convenient here. Consider this a favor I'm asking of you."
Jiang Tao continued, "Some things are hard to explain, so don't ask why. From now on, we're master and apprentice, and you're a feng shui master. Just play along, and I'll owe you a huge favor."
"No talk of owing anything between us! Alright, since you've arranged it, I'll fully cooperate! But, uh… what if someone asks me about feng shui stuff…"
Sun Xiaobao was thinking ahead, worried about messing things up for Jiang Tao.
"No worries, no one will ask you about that. The identity is just a cover."
"Oh, alright then! If I mess this up, don't blame me."
"No way, I'll be thanking you! It's settled then. Remember your role, and I'll arrange the ride."
After explaining everything to Sun Xiaobao over the phone, Jiang Tao hung up.
"That kid Little Jiang probably gave me this identity because he's worried his family wouldn't welcome me. What a thoughtful kid."
After the call, Sun Xiaobao was convinced that Jiang Tao's "role-playing" idea was for his own good. His fondness for Jiang Tao grew even more, and he felt he'd chosen the right person.
"If it weren't for Little Jiang, this old life of mine would've been gone long ago."
"Now I've got two more months to live, all thanks to Little Jiang."
"I really have a connection with this kid."
"And he's so honest and reliable."
Recalling his interactions with Jiang Tao, Sun Xiaobao felt that Jiang Tao had basically passed his test and met the standards to be his heir.
"Since they're so warmly inviting me, I can't go empty-handed."
Thinking this, Sun Xiaobao walked to the storage room and started pulling out boxes of liquor. One box, two boxes, three boxes, four boxes… He moved all six remaining boxes of Maotai to the door. He also packed twenty-plus packs of Zhonghua cigarettes into a box that had previously held instant noodles.
He planned to bring these as New Year gifts for Jiang Tao and his parents.
With the cigarettes and liquor ready, Sun Xiaobao, for the first time, went to his bedroom closet and pulled out the most expensive black mink coat his grandson had once bought him. Suddenly, he remembered Jiang Tao's request to play the role of a "feng shui master." So, he layered a black Mao suit over the mink coat.
And you know what? Dressed like that, Old Sun actually looked a bit like a fortune-teller, exuding a certain air of dignity and refinement.
He waited at home until around noon. At about 12:30 p.m., a Beijing-licensed BAIC electric car pulled up downstairs. After confirming identities, the driver helped Old Sun load the six boxes of Maotai and the box of Zhonghua cigarettes into the trunk.
Then, the driver set off with Old Sun toward Jiang Tao's hometown.
It was now around 12:30 p.m. Barring any unexpected delays, Sun Xiaobao would arrive in Jiang Village by around 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, back in Jiang Village at Jiang Tao's parents' house, his mother, Xu Li, and his younger sister Jiang Bing worked together, taking about half an hour to clean out a room for Jiang Tao's "master" to stay in.
Jiang Tao's parents were naturally warm and hospitable. Knowing that the guest was a benefactor their son had met in Beijing, they were even more welcoming of Old Sun's arrival. They even wondered if having him stay at their home might be too modest.
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