1983, Northeast China

Chapter 7 Burning 3 sheets of paper outside the woodshed

Three Pine Trees are located on the opposite side of Shallow Ditch.

It's only a dozen or so steps from where Chen Shi was standing to the other side.

The ditch that separates them is a branch ditch of the old Nangou ditch. Whether there are ice holes or old pits at the bottom, no one can say for sure.

Lao Nangou is located south of Sankesong. It looks like an old gap torn open from the foot of the mountain, with a deep gully and a steep slope.

The three pines grow on the outer slope of the old Nangou.

Chen Shi took a step forward, then stopped.

"What's the rush?" he scolded himself. "It's not like I'm going to grow legs and run away."

Moreover, he had just promised Chen Xiulan that he wouldn't go to Laonangou.

He took out some charcoal and drew two lines on the back of a birch tree next to him.

After finishing the painting, I lightly brushed it with snow. It's not noticeable from a distance, but you can see it when you get close.

This was a method Chen Mancang used to frequently employ.

People going into the mountains can't rely entirely on their memory; they can easily get confused if they turn a corner.

However, the markings shouldn't be too obvious.

Chen Shi looked at the series of hidden pits opposite him, circled around from the south of the Three Pine Trees, stopped near the tree roots, and then went north into the woods.

To the south is the main ditch of Laonangou.

To the north is a mixed forest on the back mountain.

This person didn't just happen to be passing by.

He knew about the Three Pine Trees.

The snow under the three pines looked like it had been shoveled away.

It was too far away to see clearly; all I could see was a patch of dark-colored snow next to the tree roots.

Chen Shi pulled his hat brim down.

Down the mountain!

Going uphill makes your legs tired, and going downhill makes your knees tired.

The snow was uneven, one step deep, the willow basket heavy, and firewood twigs kept poking the back of his neck.

Annoyed by the poking, Chen Shi snapped off the most unruly dry branch and stuffed it into the crack of the basket.

The bag wasn't properly secured, and the rabbit, which had just been knocked unconscious, almost fell out again after waking up.

"Don't run away either."

Chen Shi grabbed the rabbit by the ears, pulled it up to his face, poked its head, and said, "I'm counting on you to have your first taste of meat when we get back."

He chuckled as he said this.

After laughing, I realized there was nothing funny about it.

In his past life, after he opened a clinic, he had no worries about food and clothing. He had heating in winter and air conditioning in summer, and if he wanted to eat rabbit meat, he could just go to a restaurant.

Who would have thought that when he opened his eyes and came back, even a skinny rabbit could make him feel at ease?

As we approached the village entrance, a smell of paper ash wafted on the wind.

Chen Shi quickened his pace; several people were gathered outside his sister's courtyard.

The brigade and Chen Xiulan's family lived on the same east-west street. The brigade was located in the very center of the village. From a distance, you could see a simple platform set up next to the brigade, where Han Changgui was parked.

There was a broken earthenware pot set up in front of my sister's house, with paper burning inside.

The fire was small, and it was blown about by the wind.

Aunt Wang, carrying a half-ladle of water, muttered, "What kind of mess is this? In the dead of winter, what kind of mess is this? Get rid of the bad luck, hurry up and go."

Chen Shi walked over.

Aunt Wang saw him first. "You're back?"

"Hmm." Chen Shi placed the willow basket against the wall.

As soon as the basket hit the ground, some of the firewood inside fell out with a clatter, revealing the gray rabbit.

Da Hai's eyes lit up immediately: "Oh my, Shi Zi, you really got caught?"

The leash also came over to take a look, "It really is a rabbit, not very big, but at least it's meat."

Aunt Wang glanced into the basket and immediately smiled, "Xiulan can have some hot soup now."

He had just finished laughing when he realized the occasion wasn't quite right, so he quickly shut his mouth.

There's someone who died in my family.

"You're quite a good young man, you've got your father's skills too."

Chen Shi didn't respond to that question, but glanced at the earthenware pot and asked, "What's this for?"

Da Hai coughed and said awkwardly, "People can't come into the house, so we have to burn some paper money."

Seeing that Chen Shi's expression was getting worse, Shuanzhu quickly chimed in, "That makes sense. No matter what, he's gone. Even if he wasn't a person when he was alive, we can't just ignore him when he's dead. Burn three pieces of paper money to clear a path for him, and that will save those gossipy people from saying that Xiulan is heartless."

Chen Shi immediately understood what was going on; no wonder the brazier could be placed at his doorstep.

"Who says my sister is heartless?"

Da Hai immediately shrank his neck.

Shuanzhu also lowered his head and pretended to twist hemp rope.

As soon as Chen Shi returned, Aunt Wang couldn't stand it anymore. She spat on the ground and said, "Who else could it be? Someone with nothing better to do."

One sentence made the two young men extremely embarrassed.

The women in the village gossiped a lot, and Chen Xiulan's family always endured the mistreatment without saying a word.

Moving the brazier over was a job that would offend someone, so they could only look at Aunt Wang pleadingly, "Aunt Wang..."

"Did I say something wrong? They dared to do it but I can't even say anything?" Aunt Wang had been feeling aggrieved for a long time, but now that she had finally come back with someone to back her up, who else could she care about? She just wanted to feel better first.

"When Han Changgui was alive, everyone knew how he ruined Xiulan. Now that he's gone, everyone's acting like good people, saying it's outrageous not to let the dead into the house. So what if you don't let them in? You're the kind of people who should be allowed to carry them to your house."

Second Aunt.

Chen Shi called her name.

Aunt Wang stopped, still snorting indignantly.

Chen Shi walked up to the earthenware pot.

The paper in the basin was burned down to half, and the flames flickered on and off.

Dahai watched Chen Shi walk over, worried that he might kick the brazier, but also thought that given Chen Shi's personality, he should call his sister out to burn the three pieces of paper.

If all else fails, you can move the brazier inside to burn firewood.

Thinking this, Da Hai offered to help him move it.

Chen Shi stopped him.

A person like Han Changgui isn't even worth burning paper money for after he dies.

These three pieces of paper are being burned for the villagers to see, so that Ya Ya and Xiao Man will hear less gossip in the future.

Chen Shi squatted down, took the paper, and threw the sheets into the earthenware basin one by one.

The wind blew in from the old Nangou area, swirling up the ashes of the paper and drifting them toward the door panel where Han Changgui had parked.

"My sister doesn't need to burn the paper money. I'll do it myself. If he doesn't like it, I can go and talk to my dad about it."

Dahai stood there with his head down, not daring to speak, muttering to himself, "How come Chen Shi has changed his personality after Han Changgui's collapse?"

Chen Shi looked at the burning flames and said, "Even when a person dies, their debts remain."

Aunt Wang didn't understand. "Shizi, what did you say?"

"I said the funeral should be handled as it should be." Chen Shi stood up. "That's settled then. The rest is up to you. Put the expenses on my tab."

"You silly child!" Aunt Wang said anxiously, "What are you going to use to pay me back? Don't you know what your own home is like? Xiulan and the two children are waiting for their meal."

Shuanzhu scratched his head, "Shizi, this coffin isn't cheap. Even the thinnest plank will cost several yuan."

Da Hai nodded in agreement, "That's right, Han Changgui really didn't leave anything behind."

"He stayed," Chen Shi said.

Several people looked at him.

Chen Shi pointed to the courtyard, "I left behind two children and my sister, who is now riddled with illnesses."

"What a tragedy." Aunt Wang's eyes reddened instantly. She had watched Chen Xiulan grow up since she was a child. Since she didn't have a daughter of her own, she treated Chen Xiulan like a second daughter.

Zhao Defa, who was at the brigade's side, heard someone with good eyesight shout that Chen Shi had returned, so he went over and just in time to hear Chen Shi say the last sentence, "Didn't we agree before that the brigade would cover it first, and we'd keep track of the debt? There's no rush for you to pay it back right away."

Chen Shi nodded, "Uncle Zhao, our Chen family will owe you this favor for now."

"Don't give me that." Zhao Defa was a tough guy when he was young, but now that he's older, he can't stand the younger generation playing the emotional card. "As long as you know you've made progress, that's enough."

Just then, Xiaoman's soft sobs could be heard from inside the house.

Ya Ya comforted him from inside the house, "Don't cry, little brother, be good... there will be food when Uncle comes back."