Chapter 13 A family with a wolf-hearted heart and a dog-like heart
 |
| Cementery |
—
Seeing her not speaking for a long time, Li Qiaoyun became anxious.
She defended: “Xiao Ai, I’m not talking nonsense, it’s really like this. The main reason is that this matter was too big, and your grandfather didn’t think of avoiding people initially, so everyone in the neighborhood and work unit knew about it. If you don’t believe it, you can ask others.”
“I believe it.” Shi Xiaoai waved numbly: “It’s not that I don’t believe it, it’s just... I’m so shocked.”
Hearing what she said, Li Qiaoyun nodded immediately with a look of shared hatred.
“Do you also think they are too shameless? Oh, don’t think I’m scolding your family. The main reason is that your second uncle’s family is so unethical in handling things.
It’s not just me who feels this way; everyone says so!
Even if they are dissatisfied with the house, your grandfather is still your second uncle’s biological father! Where is the person who placed his father’s ashes in the crematorium and ran away? This is a lack of great virtue! “
Shi Xiaoai felt depressed and didn’t understand what was happening to her!
But what’s the use of talking about this now?
She couldn’t immediately run over and pick out that family and beat them up!
Besides, for a person who values money more than his face, beating him won’t solve the problem.
They are estimated to be reluctant to take out the money if they have any breath left.
Alas, despicable people will be rewarded.
She’d better settle the older man’s matter first.
After clearing her thoughts, she immediately asked: “Qiaoyun, do you know how this matter was resolved later? My grandfather’s ashes...”
Shi Xiaoai didn’t say the following words.
She didn’t dare think the older man’s ashes would be mistreated.
Just thinking about it makes me feel a numbness on the back of my neck, and my whole body is about to feel bad.
“Later, the union came forward to deal with it, and it seemed that much money was advanced. I don’t work in the union, so I don’t know what happened next. But it’s okay. Knowing that you are back, I guess the people from the union will come find you soon.” Li Qiaoyun said.
“Qiaoyun, you are going back to the company, right? Can I go with you? I want to go and ask about the situation in person.”
It’s okay if you don’t know about this matter. Now that you know it, you can’t delay it.
Shi Xiaoai and Li Qiaoyun went to the catering company together.
Nothing major happened in the unit because the Chinese New Year had just ended. Everyone in the room was drinking tea and chatting. When they saw Li Qiaoyun coming in with someone, they stopped talking and looked at them together.
“Chairman Zhang, this is Shi Xiaoai. She just returned from the countryside to ask about her grandfather.” Li Qiaoyun introduced.
Hearing Shi Xiaoai’s name, everyone had surprised expressions on their faces.
The middle-aged woman named Li Qiaoyun stood up directly.
“You are Shi Xiaoai. Are you back? We don’t know when you came back. How is everything at home?”
As expected of the chairman of the trade union, her words were refreshing and made people feel a lot closer to her.
Shi Xiaoai quickly thanked her: “Thank you for your concern. Everything at home is fine.”
After saying that, she went directly to the topic: “Chairman Zhang, I came back yesterday morning, and I didn’t know what happened before. Today, I went to apply for household registration and met Qiaoyun. I hurried over after hearing her talk. Can you tell me what’s happening with my grandfather’s ashes now?”
Chairman Zhang originally wanted to talk to Shi Xiao Ai about the older man’s affairs after a few words of greeting, but she didn’t expect that she would take the initiative to ask.
Thinking about her second uncle’s family’s attitude of not being afraid of boiling water and seeing the little girl’s kindness in facing problems head-on, her impression of Shi Xiaoai instantly improved.
In this case, she stopped going around the bush and directly led Xiao Ai to sit at the side desk. Then she told a young man next to her: “Go to the finance department and collect all the receipts issued by the crematorium.” bring them here.”
The young man agreed and ran out.
Chairman Zhang told Shi Xiaoai things that Li Qiaoyun didn’t know.
It turned out that just after the memorial service was held that day, Shi Laoer and his family sneaked away without even collecting the ashes.
The people at the crematorium couldn’t contact the family members, so they could only find the older man’s original employer based on the registration list. Only then did the company know what a terrible thing the family had done!
The union contacted the Shi family several times, but that family killed the older man, and he had two sons. Since Shi Xiaoai got the older man’s house, she should bear the expenses for the aftermath.
The company will use her house to pay off the debt if she doesn’t give the money. Their family doesn’t have a penny and can’t get it out.
“Their house can be relocated.”, but not the crematorium!
After several fruitless negotiations, Secretary Liu decided, and the company temporarily advanced the money.
The old man had worked hard for the government all his life, and he couldn’t die without even having someone to “collect the body.” That would be too chilling.
Shi Xiaoai’s heart suddenly hurt.
I couldn’t tell whether it was the original owner’s remaining emotions or because I felt uncomfortable after hearing these words, and the tears flowed uncontrollably.
“Hey, don’t cry!”
Seeing her like this, Chairman Zhang stood up quickly, took a clean towel from the side, and handed it over.
Looking at the red eyes on Shi Xiaoai’s fair face, her eyes became softer.
Chairman Zhang sighed and consoled her like an elder: “Don’t feel bad. I don’t blame you for what happened before. Auntie knows you are a respectful child; your grandpa must know it, too. With you thinking about me, my work is not in vain.”
But, Xiao Ai, you should visit your grandpa when you can. No matter what happens, the older man still needs to be buried! “
Shi Xiaoai suddenly raised her eyes: “My grandfather... hasn’t been buried yet?!”
Chairman Zhang shook his head: “No, buying a cemetery is a big deal. This unit can’t decide for you. We helped pay the management fee for half a year. You take the receipt to the temporary storage office, and they will take you to see your grandfather. .”
Shi Xiaoai couldn't control her tears, and they flowed out uncontrollably. She realized that what had happened could never be erased or forgotten..
She couldn’t explain what was wrong, but she felt a pain in her heart, and it was blocked.
This kind of pain was something she had never experienced since time travel.
She covered her chest with her hands, unable to calm down her emotions for a long time.
Seeing her grief-stricken look, everyone in the office looked sideways, and several people couldn’t help but wipe away tears.
The young man came back with the receipt.
Shi Xiaoai wiped away her tears and took it over to look at it. She found out that the total fee paid by the company was twenty-five yuan and seventy cents, which also included half a year’s temporary storage fee.
When she thought that just because of this little money, Shi Laoer’s family abandoned his grandfather in the crematorium, Shi Xiaoai couldn’t hold back the fire in her heart.
She clenched her fists hard.
Because she had planned to buy food after registering her household registration, Shi Xiaoai had money with her, so she handed over the money directly and got the receipt.
Afterward, she consulted on some matters regarding the purchase of a cemetery. Everyone in the office came together and gave her a lot of advice.
After understanding it clearly, Shi Xiaoai said goodbye to everyone, and Li Qiaoyun, who had been accompanying her, sent her out of the company door.
Because there were so many people and so many eyes, the two didn’t talk too much and just made an appointment to meet on the weekend.
After leaving the catering company, Shi Xiaoai jogged all the way and finally settled everything related to household registration and food before getting off work.
It was 1980, and food was no longer as tight as before. Although it was already the middle of the month, with the newly received food stamps and food books, she still successfully sold the food rations for a family of three for this month.
Looking at the two heavy bags of food in his hands, the most significant stone in Shi Xiaoai’s heart finally fell to the ground.
But at the same time, a new problem appeared; her wallet was about to bottom out.
Comments
Post a Comment