mtl008 Chapter 366: Celebration 9
Chapter 366: Celebration 9
Grandpa has always been worried about not being able to tell Lin Lezhi the truth in time and the fact that Lin Lezhi went to the city on his own.
Later, he fainted and was sent to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. As his health deteriorated and his consciousness became increasingly unclear, he always regretted this matter.
Every time these words were whispered, the already dull ward seemed even more depressing.
Lin Le had no idea how his father, who was guarding the bedside, and his new family felt when they heard this. In short, no one said a word.
It was also at that time that Lin Lezhi realized that this matter was actually a thorn in his grandfather's heart that had been buried for many years, and there was a heavy stone pressing on the thorn, making it difficult to let go.
Sometimes when it was just the two of them in the ward, Lin Lezhi had said that he didn't care, but his grandfather at that time would not listen to a word he said.
Because he had to go to school, he couldn't stay with his grandfather all the time.
The news of his grandfather’s passing came to his homeroom teacher during a break when he received a call from his father.
Just like the worry that my grandfather had for many years, after my grandfather passed away, this worry did not disappear, but was transferred to Lin Lezhi.
He also regretted not being able to explain things to his grandfather earlier, but he didn't care.
The regret kept my grandfather in his heart for so long that he could never let it go until his death.
If only he had made it clear earlier.
Would grandpa not have gotten sick so quickly, would he not have left me so soon?
is not it……
The voice in my heart is like a bottomless abyss, swallowing me up and not getting any response.
now.
He finally had the chance to tell his grandfather face to face the words that he had repeated in his mind countless times but never said out loud.
Listen and.
Grandpa seemed to have untied the worry he had been carrying for many years. Misty mist gathered in his eyes. He patted Lin Lezhi's hand with a warm look of relief. He smiled and choked with tears, saying, "Great, our Lezhi has grown up. That's great."
"He has grown up, but he has only grown up physically. He is still that childish little brat, making me worry all the time."
Although Ji Hang's teasing ruined the atmosphere a bit, it also made the depressing atmosphere around them become relaxed again.
Grandpa laughed cheerfully, and the gloom in his eyes was gone. He said, "With us here, there's no way he'd want to grow up. In my eyes, he's still a little kid."
Grandpa gestured a height with his hands.
It was probably when he had just learned to walk and was just starting to speak.
"So, a lot of interesting things happened to him while he was away at school and working?"
Grandpa looked at Ji Hang with curiosity and asked, wanting Ji Hang to tell him.
Before Ji Hangren could even begin to speak, he was already laughing uncontrollably. Lin Lezhi knew at a glance that he had no good intentions and was bound to exaggerate.
He finally seized the opportunity to confess his ugly deeds in front of his grandfather, as if he was going to talk for three days and three nights.
Although Lin Lezhi felt ashamed, seeing that his grandfather was curious and happy and willing to listen, Lin Lezhi let Ji Hang add fuel to the fire.
Not only that, Lin Lezhi himself didn't want to break this atmosphere.
Although it was noisy and shameful, my heart felt unprecedented warmth and peace.
Lin Lezhi didn't expect that Ji Hang even described how he was splashed by the water from the can many times, and he described it vividly.
It was obvious that he deliberately let Ji Hang cheat every time, so how come he was the easy one to cheat? I don’t know who is the childish kid.
"So this is how Lezhi is outside. This kid gave me a lot of worries when he was little. He was different from other kids since he was young, very noisy. I didn't expect him to become so quiet after growing up."
"Really?" Ji Hang, finally getting his chance, immediately became excited, his eyes sparkling as he asked, "Grandpa Lin, tell me about it quickly."
When grandpa heard this, a nostalgic and happy smile appeared on his face, as if he had returned to those years.
"Lezhi was a very naughty child. He would climb trees in the mountains to rob bird nests and go to the river to catch fish. Every time he came back from outside, he would get himself dirty, like a little pitiful person, but he was still very happy. One time, he didn't come back until very late, so I went to the mountains to look for him. Guess what happened?"
"What's wrong?"
"grandfather!"
Realizing what his grandfather was going to say, Lin Lezhi felt ashamed and his face turned red instantly.
"Grandpa Lin, don't worry about him. Just tell me."
"Forget it, I'll go open the cake."
Seeing that he couldn't stop the two from chatting and there was no chance for him to interrupt, Lin Lezhi could only hide aside for a while.
"He was only about four or five years old at the time. He went to the mountains to dig out bird nests. It happened to be breeding season, and he discovered that an adult bird in one of the nests had died in a trap set by the villagers. He then took the eggs out of the nest and left them there to incubate, saying he would wait until the other bird returned. He also said that when the chicks hatched, he would catch earthworms for them to feed and raise them."
"true and false?"
Ji Hang couldn't stop laughing.
"Really? In fact, the eggs in that nest have already spoiled because the adult birds have been away from the nest for a long time, causing temperature imbalance."
"Any more?"
"Yes, Lezhi knows him..."
Although those childhood memories are a little fuzzy, they become clear again after listening to my grandfather's narration.
Lin Lezhi listened at the side, and his cheeks felt like they were about to be burned through. They were so hot that he felt that if he cracked an egg on his face, it would be fried immediately.
He quickly opened the cake box to find an excuse to interrupt their conversation.
Can……
Just as he was taking out the candle from the tool bag, Lin Lezhi's hand paused, the heat on his face suddenly dropped, and the shy yet warm smile on his face froze.
The candle numbers are '6' and '9'.
how come……
Lin Lezhi was unwilling to accept it.
Yes.
My grandfather didn’t live through his birthday that year, so his age remained at 69 forever.
If grandpa hadn't passed away, he would be 84 years old now.
This was undoubtedly a bucket of cold water poured on Lin Lezhi's head, bringing him back to reality.
No wonder Ji Hang said that he respected traditional culture and specifically asked someone about it.
He thought Ji Hang must be talking nonsense.
The old people in the village believe in "celebrating the ninth but not the tenth", which means longevity. "Ten" sounds like death, which is unlucky.
If grandpa stayed at the age of 69, and he didn't see any other familiar people here except grandpa and Ji Hang, does that mean that this is the world after death?
Speaking of which, he remembered that when Ji Hang was alive, he had always been a member of the team and had never been the captain.
that……
Since I came here, does that mean that I really died in that rental house?
After coming to this conclusion, Lin Lezhi did not feel any fear in his heart. Instead, he felt very calm and composed, and even very happy.
Wait? !
When did the talking and laughing stop?
"It seems Lezhi has discovered it."
Grandpa's voice, which sounded regretful, sounded behind Lin Lezhi.
Lin Lezhi suddenly turned his head and saw the two people sitting there, looking at him with a relieved expression on their faces. Tears instantly blurred Lin Lezhi's vision.
Ji Hang's smile grew even wider, and he was very proud. He said smugly, "Grandpa Lin, I told you Le Zhi was born to be a good detective. He'll definitely be able to spot it."
"grandfather……"
Grandpa smiled, and although he was reluctant to leave, his eyes were full of relief. He said: "Lezhi, I am very happy to see you grow up, but this is not the place you want to come to yet."
Hearing his grandfather say this, the reluctance in his voice made Lin Lezhi realize something instantly, and tears fell uncontrollably.
"But…"
Realizing what Lin Lezhi wanted to say, Ji Hang stood up and interrupted him, "Don't say buts. You still have things to do, don't you? Go and do them well."
As he spoke, Ji Hang pointed to a place.
Lin Lezhi followed Ji Hang's finger and saw that it was an old wardrobe in the house. There was a mirror embedded in the wardrobe. After years, the corners of the mirror were cracked and damaged.
Lin Lezhi's eyes suddenly narrowed when he saw the figure reflected in the mirror.
The reflection in the mirror showed Jiang Lian'an wearing ancient attire. Lin Lezhi looked at himself again and found that he had changed back into that ancient attire without knowing when.
The red peace knot around the waist is now frighteningly red.
Ji Hang's tone softened as he slowly said, "That's where you should go."
Lin Lezhi's eyes were filled with tears. He felt lost and choked with sobs as he said, "But...but I don't know what to do. I really don't know. I want to..." stay...
"That's not a reason for you to escape. Even if it's painful, you have to grow up. You should move on."
"I…"
Grandpa's eyes were filled with reluctance, but his smile was filled with relief. He consoled him, "When you don't know what to do, just let nature take its course and follow your heart. Keep going, and you'll naturally find the answer. Isn't that what you've always done?"
As he spoke, Grandpa looked at the mirror, his eyes filled with memories as he said, "Just like that mirror, although it is broken and cracked, it still reflects everything in the world."
The crack on the mirror was caused by him accidentally breaking it when he was a child.
At that time, instead of blaming him, his grandfather used candies and gentle words to comfort him as he cried out of fear of being scolded and shame of breaking things.
"A mirror is like the heart; the heart is clear. Lezhi, Grandpa believes in you. No matter what situation you are in, you can see the road ahead clearly and find your own direction."
"..."
Tears blurred his vision, and the familiar figure in front of him also became blurry. The pain like sea water squeezing his chest, the huge sadness and reluctance made Lin Lezhi unable to utter a word.
"Didn't I just say that at a time like this, it's better to just say thank you frankly." Ji Hang smiled and promised Lin Lezhi, "Grandpa, I will take good care of you. Remember, don't embarrass me, your senior brother, or I won't acknowledge you as my junior brother."
"..."
Lin Lezhi wiped away the tears from his eyes, but the next second, the tears still flowed out like a spring. It was not because his eyes were blurred by tears that he could not see his grandfather and Ji Hang clearly, but their figures were gradually blurred, and the surrounding scenery became illusory.
He wanted to get closer, but his body seemed to be nailed to the ground and he couldn't move a step.
He was afraid of missing them again, afraid of forgetting them, so he nodded obediently, trying his best to imprint their gradually blurring faces into his mind. To avoid worrying them, he forced a smile and said, "I understand. Thank you, Grandpa."
He turned to look at Ji Hang and finally said what had been suppressed in his heart for a long time but he had never been able to say it out of embarrassment.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."