newbobooks Chapter 1077 Mom and Dad are here to pick you up!
Chapter 1077 Mom and Dad are here to pick you up!
"Mom..." Deng Min looked at her mother's withered face, her heart felt like it was being crushed, and tears streamed down her face.
"Your daughter is unfilial. Over the years, I have left you lonely and helpless, wandering from place to place. You have suffered so much."
Her hands trembled as she tightly grasped Deng Jinhua's wrinkled and age-spotted hands.
Those hands, which had once struck and cursed her, were now only cold and rough, etched with indelible marks of time and hardship.
"Today is Ayi's big day. He is very sensible, and Qianqian is very virtuous."
She choked back tears, her voice filled with endless regret, "All these years I've lived in a daze, forgetting the harshness you showed me back then..."
All the abuse was directed at Ayi, with constant beatings and scoldings… but he never complained about me, and he's still so outstanding. It's my fault for being so disappointing, for bringing shame upon you.”
"Ah Yi told me that they found that drunkard from back then. He got his just desserts; a gambling spree left him with huge debts from loan sharks."
He was abandoned on the highway, subjected to the punishment of evil, and died a violent death.
She said those words through gritted teeth, as if a huge stone that had been weighing on her heart for many years had been lifted.
Deng Jinhua's cloudy gaze seemed to be drawn by the name "Ayi," and slowly fell on Deng Min's face.
Her lips moved, and she uttered a single word very softly: "Min..." Her voice was indistinct.
Yet, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation in his gaze; the emptiness in his eyes was gone, and he was now staring intently at the person before him.
When Deng Zhouyi noticed Deng Jinhua's unusual behavior, his heart tightened, and he quickly knelt down beside his mother, gently grasping his grandmother's arm: "Grandma, it's me, Ayi."
"Mom, look at me! It's me, Amin! Your daughter, Amin!" Deng Min tightly gripped her mother's hand, tears falling onto the back of her hand.
Deng Jinhua seemed not to hear, her gaze drifting into the distance, and she began to mumble incoherently:
"The yellow flowers by the east end of the village... are in bloom... Look, when the wind blows, the golden sea of flowers ripples in layers, isn't it especially beautiful?"
Deng Jinhua's eyes were filled with the sweet glow of the lake, unable to conceal her satisfied happiness.
"...Hang Tiesheng asked me to meet him in the daylily field...He had returned from the provincial capital with candy."
There's also something called 'chocolate'... They say city people give this as a token of their affection...
He said he wanted to bring me roses... but he was afraid that the journey would be too long... and they would wither by the time he got back to the village, which would be bad luck.
The daylilies at the east end of our village are really good; they bloom for a long time and look lively..."
Tears slid down her cheeks, mingling with the wrinkles on her face, winding their way down.
"Mom..." Deng Min reached out to wipe away her tears, her voice trembling, "Are you missing Dad?"
He lied to you your whole life, why should you suffer for him your whole life? It's not worth it, let it go. We'll take you home to live with us from now on.
"Go home?" Deng Jinhua murmured, her eyes unfocused. "Gone...gone a long time ago...landslide...they're all gone..."
"Grandma, this is our home. Would you like to come home with your grandson?" Deng Zhouyi held her hand tightly, his voice full of pleading.
Deng Jinhua, however, seemed not to hear her, still immersed in her own world, rambling on and on:
"The yellow flowers in the fields by Dongtou Village... are in bloom... that sea of golden flowers... rippling like waves, so beautiful! Dad... Mom..."
She suddenly reached out her hand, as if to grab something, a childlike longing on her face.
"Dad, Mom, you're back?" Deng Jinhua looked like a pampered little princess.
She playfully scolded, "Why did you take so long to come back... Your daughter is all alone... so lonely..."
In her blurred vision, she seemed to see two figures dressed in coarse linen clothes.
With a loving smile, he walked towards her, extended his large hand, and gently took her hand: "Huahua, Mom and Dad have come to take you home."
“Okay… Dad, Mom… let’s go home…” A very faint smile appeared on Deng Jinhua’s lips.
A final tear slid down her cheek, her eyes slowly closed, and she gradually lost her life, holding Deng Min's hand.
"Mom—!" Deng Min's cries were heart-wrenching.
Deng Zhouyi and Yu Qianqian's eyes also reddened, and they called out "Grandma" in unison, their voices full of sorrow.
Deng Jinhua's life was filled with pain and hatred; her verbal attacks almost dragged her daughter into the abyss as well.
Fortunately, Deng Min met Teng Junhao and his wife, found a new life in the Teng family, and also helped her son Deng Zhouyi emerge from the shadows.
The moonlight streamed quietly in through the window, falling on the old woman's peaceful face, as if finally relieving her of the burdens of a lifetime.
It allowed her to find her hometown, a place where yellow flowers bloom forever, in another world.
The following day, the sky was shrouded in thick, dark clouds, like a ball of cotton soaked in ink, pressing heavily over the Qingshan Sanatorium.
Inside the funeral home, the atmosphere was solemn. Deng Min and Yu Qianqian, dressed in black cheongsams with small white flowers pinned to their chests, stood quietly on one side of the main hall.
Above the main hall hangs a black-and-white portrait of Deng Jinhua. Below lies her remains, the elderly woman dressed neatly in her funeral attire.
The makeup artist gave her an exquisite makeover, removing the signs of age and revealing a serene and contented look in her eyes as she enjoyed her later years.
Mr. and Mrs. Teng Junhao entered the main hall, each holding a white chrysanthemum, and bowed deeply to the portrait to bid farewell to this weathered old man.
Following closely behind were Teng Zijing and An Ran, both dressed in black suits with white flowers pinned to their chests, their expressions solemn.
They slowly stepped forward, offered chrysanthemums, bowed solemnly three times, and then walked to the back of the mourning hall to pay their respects to the deceased.
Teng Junhao and his wife gently placed the chrysanthemums beside Deng Jinhua and stood silently for a moment.
An Ran glanced at Teng Zijing, put down the chrysanthemum in her hand, and followed Teng Junhao and his wife to Deng Min and Deng Zhouyi's family of three. The two sides bowed to each other in greeting.
Ling Ya stepped forward and gently hugged Deng Min, softly comforting her, "Min, please accept my condolences and take good care of yourself."
"Thank you, Madam." Deng Min's voice was hoarse from crying.
Teng Zijing patted Deng Zhouyi on the shoulder, exchanged a glance with An Ran, nodded, and turned to leave the mourning hall.
Yu Qianqian said softly to Ling Ya, "Aunt Ling, Uncle Teng, you should go back. Everything has been arranged at the funeral home; you don't all need to stay here."
Ling Ya reached out and smoothed Yu Qianqian's hair, saying gently, "Okay, then we'll head back now. Please take good care of Amin here."
"Don't worry, Aunt Ling, I will." Yu Qianqian's voice was gentle, and her eyes were full of determination.
Ling Ya and Teng Junhao had only taken two steps when they saw Yu's parents, second uncle and aunt, and their group walk in with solemn expressions, carrying chrysanthemums.
The four of them walked slowly forward to the rhythm of funeral music, towards the elderly couple who had just become a family.
Sending off on the final journey of life, the pure white chrysanthemums symbolize the sincere blessings of every loved one.
The pure white chrysanthemums in my hand seem to carry every pure blessing and a final respect.
They stood by the coffin; this was their first and last meeting and farewell.
During the minute of silence, the air seemed to freeze, with only mournful music echoing softly.
After putting down the chrysanthemums, Yu's father, mother, second uncle, and second aunt walked up to Deng Min and bowed to each other in return.
Yu's mother gently took Deng Min's hand and said in a gentle voice, "My dear in-law, please accept my condolences."
Deng Min slowly brought her unfocused gaze back, nodded, her eyes still red-rimmed.
"Qianqian's mom, her second aunt, you've come too? We're sorry we haven't been able to take good care of you."
"It's alright, it's all part of the job," Mrs. Yu patted her hand, continuing to comfort her.
"Your life has not been easy. Ayi is a good kid. From now on, your hardships will be over and you can enjoy the good life. You deserve all of this."
Yu Qianqian whispered from the side, "Dad, Mom, let me take you over there to rest. When no one comes, we'll have to take him to the crematorium."
Second Aunt is a quick-witted person, and she immediately waved her hand: "Qianqian, we can go by ourselves. You stay with your mother-in-law and don't make her too sad. Your health is the most important thing."
Deng Min bowed slightly in return: "I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Aunt. Please excuse me."
"No need for formalities, we're family!" Auntie waved her hand with a smile. "We're going now."
Deng Zhouyi bowed and said, "Dad, Mom, Second Uncle and Second Aunt, please make yourself at home."
Watching them walk towards the rest area, Deng Min took a deep breath. Deng Zhouyi, standing beside her, gently supported her arm silently.
"Mom, sit down and rest for a bit!" she said, bringing over a chair and helping Deng Min sit down.
Yu Qianqian walked to the side and poured a cup of hot water. "Mom, have some water. It seems there's no one around anymore! Let's prepare for the midday funeral procession!"
The funeral music continued, but it seemed less jarring. Perhaps it was the warmth from loved ones that brought some comfort to this farewell.
Just after the noon bells rang, the funeral home owner walked in quietly and whispered to Deng Zhouyi, "Mr. Deng, it's time to prepare for the funeral procession. Have you made all the arrangements?"
Deng Zhouyi took a deep breath and nodded: "Ready? Let's go."
He stepped forward, picked up three incense sticks, and lit them with a "click" of the lighter, igniting a pale blue flame that quickly turned the tips of the incense sticks orange-red.
He bowed deeply three times to Deng Jinhua's portrait, then placed incense sticks into the incense burner, his movements as steady as if he were performing a solemn ceremony.
Then, he picked up the brazier used for burning paper money and slammed it to the ground. The earthenware basin shattered with a crash, and he shouted, "The spirit is being raised!"
Mr. Yu, his mother, his second uncle and aunt quickly got up, their eyes following the movements of the funeral home staff.
Several people stepped forward and closed the coffin lid. Their movements were gentle yet powerful as they steadily lifted the coffin and walked towards the hearse.
Deng Zhouyi and Yu Qianqian supported Deng Min on either side; her steps were still somewhat unsteady.
But she stopped crying and just stared intently in the direction the coffin had gone.
The three slowly walked towards the Maserati, got in, and the car slowly started, following the hearse at a distance, heading towards the crematorium.
The wind on the road was a bit cool, making the car windows rattle slightly, as if it were whispering goodbye.
Deng Min gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the window, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hem of her clothes, her face expressionless.
But it lets people know that some things are slowly settling into the past with this farewell.