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"It seems like no one has been worshipping the grandmother next door for a long time... I haven't seen any new yellow paper or offerings on the tombstone this year."
"Maybe the family is too busy and has no time to come... or maybe they have moved."
"This grandma is so pitiful."
As Lin Youxi spoke, she took a small apple from her mother's offering table and placed it respectfully in front of the incense burner on the tombstone next door.
"Aren't you afraid that your mother will be angry?"
"My mother and this grandmother are neighbors. They should talk to each other often. It shouldn't be a big deal if they just share an apple."
Lin Youxi pointed at the photo and said, "Look, my mother is smiling so happily, she must not be a stingy person."
"Yes."
Mei Fang agreed with Lin Youxi's opinion and was about to leave when Lin Youxi grabbed Mei Fang's arm.
"Are you in such a hurry to leave? I finally got here to see my mother, so stay here for a while."
Mei Fang looked up. The weather was gloomy and he was actually a little worried that it would rain.
"Okay... I'll do as you say."
Lin Youxi and Mei Fang sat on the small stone steps opposite their mother's tombstone, chatting about some trivial topics.
But I also told it to my mother.
Finally, Lin Youxi suddenly asked Mei Fang, "Mei Fang, are you afraid of death?"
"Yeah... I'm afraid. Of course I am."
Mei Fang nodded seriously, "That's a very painful thing, especially sudden death."
"You talk like you've been there."
"That's not."
Lin Youxi took Mei Fang's sincere words as a joke and did not continue the topic.
"I think that after a person dies, there are still descendants or relatives and friends who come to pay tribute to them. At this time, they are not completely dead. For example, my mother is still alive in my and my father's hearts."
"Yes... that's it."
"But if my father and I die, maybe someone will remember us, but no one will remember my mother."
Lin Youxi's voice sounded very sad.
"When that happens, my mom will be like the grandma next door. No one will come to pay respect to her or remember her anymore."
It is a common saying that people die three times.
But it is indeed remarkable that Lin Youxi can understand this truth at such a young age.
"But, there's nothing we can do about it..."
"No, I don't want that."
Lin Youxi seemed to have made up her mind. "When I grow up, I will definitely bring my child to see my mother. I will tell my child that this is his grandmother, my mother's mother. If I leave in the future, he must not only remember to worship me, but also my mother."
Listening to Lin Youxi's firm words, Mei Fang felt inexplicably emotional.
In Chinese culture, we have an almost god-like respect for our ancestors. The custom of ancestor worship is prevalent in this land, and what is important is the passing on of the torch and the everlasting prosperity of the incense.
However, with the development of the times, these heritage items have gradually been forgotten. The older generation who stayed in their hometowns continue to follow the traditions of the past, while most of the new generation are struggling in rental houses in big cities.
As the older generation gradually passes away, some customs and habits seem to have no escape from extinction.
Of course, this is not a question of good or bad, it is a nihilistic concept. Our ancestors came with nothing when we were born and nothing with us when we die, so do they really care whether they are remembered or not?
When Mei Fang came back to his senses, he continued Lin Youxi's words: "But, isn't it too early to think about things that far ahead now?"
"No, not at all."
Lin Youxi stared quietly at her mother's tombstone opposite and murmured.
Seeing her melancholy look, Mei Fang couldn't help but ask softly:
"Lin Youxi, tell me...when do you miss your mother the most?"
Lin Youxi squatted on the stone steps, hugging her knees, looking at the green grass and moss on the ground.
She fell into deep thought.
"I don't usually think about it. After all, you and Xia Yuan are always by my side."
"Xia Yuan is willing to be my friend, share her toys with me, give me all kinds of small gifts, and always plays the role of my mother and takes care of me... I really like her so much."
When Lin Youxi talked about Xia Yuan, she always admired and liked her so much.
"Is that so... then what about me?"
Mei Fang smiled with an expectant expression.
"Your words—"
Lin Youxi thought about it, and then said seriously, "You are also very good, after all, you can play games with me."
"After all these years, is this all you remember?"
This heartless girl!
Mei Fang looked aggrieved, as if his conscience had been eaten by a dog.
But at the same time, Lin Youxi suddenly became silent as he spoke.
After a long time, she looked up at the sky.
Paper money is carried away by the evening breeze, and the setting sun is hidden behind the green pines.
As the sky was covered by dark clouds, Lin Youxi also spoke.
"But, apart from these times..."
A tear gently slid down Lin Youxi's cheek.
"I miss my mom all the time."
"I think about it every day."
Mei Fang silently watched Lin Youxi cry and express her feelings.
"Everyone I know has a mom except me."
"I want to act like a spoiled child in front of my mother..."
"Like what Xia Yuan did to Teacher Yu..."
"Like Xiaoya treated Aunt Mei..."
"But I'm the only one without a mother..."
Lin Youxi hugged her knees and cried aggrievedly.
Perhaps because he was confused by the little crybaby Xia Yuan, Mei Fang only noticed that even though they had been together for so many years -
It turned out that this was the first time he saw Lin Youxi crying like this.
He moved closer and touched Lin Youxi's head to comfort her just like he did to Xia Yuan.
Lin Youxi did not show any obvious reaction to Mei Fang's actions, but just kept crying.
But Mei Fang could slightly feel that she was leaning closer to the ground, leaning against his arm.
There are many times when a friend encounters sad things, there is no need to say any profound truths to comfort her.
You don’t have to tell her, “You’ve done a great job.”
You don't have to tell her, "It's others who are wrong, not you."
These are all meaningless concerns, and sad people don’t care about them at all.
You are willing to stay by her side.
You are with her now.
When she needs you most.
Being able to do this is worth more than a thousand words.
Just then, a muffled thunder sounded in the dark cloudy sky, and then a drizzle began to fall.
Chapter 037 Fortunately, the moonlight is beautiful
"Hurry up... come here."
Mei Fang pulled Lin Youxi to a small wooden shed at the entrance of the cemetery to shelter from the rain. The rain was getting heavier and heavier, and the continuous thunder was deafening.
"This weather is really strange. It's almost autumn, and it's still raining non-stop..."
Mei Fang saw Lin Youxi hugging her arms and shivering with cold, so he took off his coat and helped her put it on.
"are not you cold?"
Lin Youxi raised her head and looked at Mei Fang.
Because she had just cried, her eyes were still red and swollen.
It hurts.
"I'm fine..." Mei Fang patted his chest and said, "I'm a man, I'm not afraid of the cold—"
Just after he finished saying those cool words, Mei Fang sneezed loudly.
Lin Youxi smiled, then moved closer to Mei Fang.
"Let's sit closer together so we won't feel cold."
"Ah."
Lin Youxi took off Mei Fang's coat, put it on both of their heads, and then became close to Mei Fang.
Mei Fang felt the warmth coming from Lin Youxi's skin, and finally couldn't help but speak:
"You're really cold."
"I can make it even colder!"