TRMLCM Chapter 82

Chapter 82: A Visitor

Chapter 82: A Visitor

The phone had been hung up at some unknown time, and the contents of the conversation were somewhat hazy. The phone was left forgotten on the floor by its owner.

Shen Chang’an’s back was slightly hunched as he sat quietly by the bed all night. It wasn’t until the sunlight streaming in from the window was brighter than the light of the incandescent lamp that his stiff body shakily rose from the chair.

His unkempt hair was scattered and messy, and the dark circles beneath his eyes were strikingly prominent against his pale cheeks. His eyes were dull, and he looked sickly, surrounded by a sense of dejection.

Stumbling slightly, he pushed open the half-closed door and slowly walked downstairs, step by step.

The house, filled with cluttered objects and a strong sense of everyday life, was extremely quiet. In the empty rooms, only the floating and unsteady sound of footsteps accompanied him.

Walking into the kitchen, he saw two bowls of noodles on the table that had already dried into a clump. The white noodles vaguely contained traces of green and yellow.

But the porcelain bowls were cold, and the aroma had long since dissipated.

Shen Chang’an stopped at the edge of the table.

He lowered his eyes and stared silently for a moment before dumping the two bowls of noodles without expression.

After washing the bowls, he went to the bathroom to wash up and then returned to the kitchen.

As usual, he went to the stove and busily and methodically prepared himself a fairly substantial breakfast.

After finishing his bland breakfast and tidying everything up, he lit a string of red firecrackers in the courtyard in front of his house once again.

The ‘Crack’ sound echoed through the mountain valley, not too loud, just enough to break the tranquility of Li Family Village.

Perhaps due to his previous experience, Shen Chang’an didn’t panic this time, even though he was alone. He slowly followed the series of procedures.

He called the village’s female elders to cleanse and dress his grandmother’s body, contacted the undertaker in town to set up the mourning hall, and communicated with the elder who had helped him with the funeral last time to plan things…

His eyes remained indifferent, and apart from the noticeable dark circles, one couldn’t see a trace of sadness.

Granny Liu, having nothing much to do in the village, heard the news while strolling around and was incredibly incredulous. As soon as she arrived, she threw herself onto the coffin. Only after confirming it was true did her eyes fill with tears, and she began wailing with deep sorrow along with the mournful music.

Perhaps it was truly from the heart, as she perfectly portrayed the emotions of grief and sorrow, crying brokenly.

The other elderly people in the village hurried to comfort her.

Whether genuinely sad or feigning compassion, crying in the mourning hall was indeed a way to liven things up.

Whether the departed relatives could see or hear was a mystery, but this outpouring of sorrowful emotions was released.

Shen Chang’an knelt upright in front of the mourning hall, listening to the incessant and somewhat annoying wails, his eyes cold and detached.

He lowered his head and quietly burned paper money.

One by one, the roughly made paper money was burned to ashes in the brazier. The red candles slowly burned, and the wax dripped down the sides, solidifying on the candlesticks.

The acrid and choking smell, along with the blue smoke, circulated in the room. Through the swirling smoke, one could only see the black and white framed photo placed in front.

The wind fluttered the white banners.

Shen Chang’an casually brushed his fingers across his cheek, silently continuing to burn paper.

…This smell is indeed a bit eye-watering.

*

The rain drizzled down. As it was the end of the year, people in the village weren’t very busy, so groups of three or five gathered at Shen Chang’an’s house, helping to set up the awning.

Neighbors who often visited contributed cabbage and radishes, and several aunties helped prepare dinner.

One is not invited to celebrations but comes uninvited to funerals.

That’s just how it is in the countryside. When one family has something happen, the entire village will come to help, without expecting anything in return. If possible, giving them a cigarette is enough.

After dinner, the rain lessened a bit, falling on the plastic awning overhead, the sound muffled and indistinct, both noisy and quiet, somewhat hypnotic.

Under the cold night sky, the lights were blurred by the damp air.

A fire was lit in the courtyard, and several elderly people sat around the fire, quietly chatting about the past. They didn’t need much sleep, so they came to join the crowd and help keep watch.

Puddles of water accumulated on the uneven cement road below the courtyard, the tiny ripples gently swaying with the raindrops, the reflections of light and shadow in the water distant and blurred.

A whooshing sound grew closer, and two bright lights appeared like eyes in the darkness, particularly bright.

The elderly people stopped talking and curiously turned their heads to look.

The car came to a smooth stop on the road beside the courtyard. Through the dim light, the car’s beautiful shape was revealed. At a glance, it was clear that it was expensive!

The elderly people didn’t understand these things, and their cloudy eyes looked at the car they had never seen before with some surprise.

They secretly wondered whose relatives these were.

The car door opened, and a flash of white appeared in the misty rain.

The white suit was tailored and fitted, though there were some faint wrinkles around the waist. Paired with that cold and handsome face, the whole person was incredibly noble, not like someone who could have grown up in their poor and remote village.

This person looked as if he had rushed here straight from a banquet. His brow was furrowed, and the corners of his elegant clothes were slightly disheveled, but it didn’t detract from his handsomeness in the slightest.

They had only seen such noble young masters on television, and now one had walked right in front of them as if breaking through time and space.

The elderly people squinted, feeling a sense of wonder in their hearts.

Cheng Yi looked at the door that had been decorated by the undertaker, his eyes dimming slightly, his heart filled with a heavy emotion.

The rain lightly dampened his forehead, and the smooth white suit was water-resistant, leaving a scattering of small droplets on its surface, reflecting the shimmering light.

Cheng Yi walked under the awning, where the rain was blocked, and the wind was less strong. He walked towards the door.

“Young man, who are you looking for?”

A deep, old voice sounded, it was the old man by the fire asking.

Cheng Yi paused briefly in his stride. He turned to meet the old man’s questioning gaze, replying calmly and politely with his dark eyes, “I’m here to see Shen Chang’an.”

The old man was stunned, embarrassed by his own foolish question. Luckily, his face was wrinkled and his skin dark, so no change in color could be seen at all.

The person’s destination was so clear, why did he ask so many questions?

The old man didn’t dare to look at his old companions, nodded haphazardly, and said with a sudden realization, “Oh, then go ahead. He seems to be inside talking to someone.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Cheng Yi turned and walked towards the house.

The old man next to the fire slightly raised his eyes and looked at the awning, as if nothing had happened. He was calm, and casually murmured to himself, “Why are so many people coming to see the Shen boy?”

The old woman next to him smiled when she heard this, “What, are you going to manage everything they do, even their eating and drinking?”

The first old man became embarrassed and angry, so angry that he blew his white beard, glared his eyes and said loudly, “I just said it casually, don’t slander me.”

The old woman didn’t care about him. She looked at Cheng Yi’s leaving figure with kind eyes, feeling as if her heart was returning to her youth.

“This young man is so handsome, and he looks quite rich. He’s so polite, completely incomparable to that other person.”

The old man looked at her infatuated expression with disgust. He pursed his lips, sat a little further away, and continued to warm himself by the fire.

…

“Chang’an, I only need two million.”