Pokémon: What should I do? My father-in-law always wants to tear me apart

A few days later, in the early morning light, the vehicle carrying Xu Guangmei's body drove into the mountain city solemnly and majestically, like a lonely boat slowly returning home.

The wheels rolled lightly over the ground, as if afraid of disturbing this land immersed in sorrow, and the sounds they made were solemn.

On both sides of the road, people gathered spontaneously, like a forest of steles, standing quietly and silently.

Everyone's face seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze, with expressions solemn and sad. Those villagers who had dealt with Xu Guangmei and received her care, tightly grasped the beautiful flowers in their hands. The flowers were stained with tears, making them look even more pitiful.

With tears in their eyes, they followed the vehicle as if they were seeing off a loved one who had returned from a long journey but was now asleep.

In the forest, all the Pokémon that Xu Guangmei had saved from poachers' guns and wildfires in the past also came over tacitly.

They either hover at low altitude, with their wings bringing up sad air currents; or they sneak quietly among the grass, with their dark green eyes filled with sadness.

Or they stand on the branches and sing silently, expressing the pain in their hearts in their own unique ways, like a silent but grand moment of silence.

The vehicle stopped steadily. Lei Lanxin stepped out first. Her plain dress made her look even taller and more resolute. Behind her, a group of forest rangers followed in an orderly manner. They all had stern faces and solemn expressions. Their steps were as steady as waves of undercurrents, escorting the coffin carrying Xu Guangmei's last journey forward slowly.

The coffin was as dark as night, yet it seemed to be condensed with thousands of lights, which were the embodiment of everyone's respect and grief.

The old lady had been waiting at the door with a hunched but straight back, and Lin Yi and a few others surrounded her as if they were guarding a rare treasure.

The childish faces of several people were filled with sadness at this moment, their brows were furrowed, their eyes were red, and the sadness seemed to materialize like mist, spreading around them.

As the coffin approached, the old lady's body shook and her tears instantly burst out, rolling down and wetting the front of her clothes.

But she still raised her head stubbornly, with her back straight, as if she wanted to use this aging body to support the last dome of peace for her daughter in this world, so that she would not be disturbed again.

When the coffin quietly fell to the ground, the aunt's trembling hands were like two fallen leaves in the autumn wind, gently stroking the coffin lid. The subtle sound of her fingertips rubbing the coffin seemed like a whisper that transcended life and death.

She murmured, her voice faint but every word clear: "My daughter, you are back, Mom is here..."

The Sandshrew beside her rubbed the old lady's legs with its rough but warm head, and a soft snoring sound came from its throat, as if conveying silent comfort.

My aunt lived a lonely life, with many of her relatives gone. The farewell was so hasty that she couldn't even have a proper funeral.

This time, Lin Yi and his colleagues ran around and joined forces with a group of warm-hearted residents in the mountain city to work together to make up for this regret.

They distributed flyers, arranged the venue, prepared offerings, taking care of every detail, and put their heart and soul into this farewell.

In the past, the trainers in the mountain city who were obsessed with battles, were full of passion and eager to make Pokémon skills roar all day long, have now restrained their former excitement.

They stood quietly in the corner with their inseparable Pokémon. The usually high spirits were hidden in their eyes, leaving only a quiet sadness, as if they were a different group of people. Only their gazes looking towards the coffin were still as fiery as before.

On the day of the funeral, the mountain city was covered in white, as if it had been visited by a heavy snowfall in advance.

The streets and alleys are decorated with elegiac couplets and white flowers. When the breeze blows, paper ribbons flutter, as if they are the reluctance of the deceased.

The people, dressed in plain clothes, came forward one by one to lay flowers. Each step was heavy and slow. Each flower placed in front of the tomb was accompanied by a sigh and a tear. The whole mountain city was immersed in this grand and sad remembrance, sending the hero on his final journey.

……

Lin Yi stood straight, his expression solemn and respectful, his eyes fixed on Ruan Tianli on the phone screen, and said sincerely: "Thank you, father-in-law."

The voice was clear and steady, revealing sincere gratitude.

The body of martyr Xu Guangmei was able to be sent back to the mountain city safely and without any setbacks. The many complicated and difficult steps in the process were all due to Lin Yi's private request to Ruan Tianli, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, for full assistance, which led to the current relatively satisfactory situation.

As soon as Ruan Tianli heard the word "father-in-law", his brows were instantly twisted into a knot, his eyes widened, anger jumped to his forehead, his cheeks bulged, and he opened his mouth to curse.

But when the words came to his lips, they seemed to be grabbed by an invisible force and stopped abruptly. He just snorted heavily from his nose and said in a stifled voice:

"Don't talk about these nonsense." So, I understand clearly. Originally, you little bastard and Yaoyao ran to the mountain city happily, intending to evolve Scyther, but what was the result?

You, instead of evolving your Pokémon, have been so busy preparing for the funeral that you've forgotten all about your own business?"

Ruan Tianli frowned and questioned suspiciously, with a look of confusion and anger in his eyes.

"You look smart, you don't seem like the kind of fool who would try to be a good guy without thinking. What's going on here?"

Lin Yi nodded slightly, his expression calm, and responded neither servile nor arrogant:

"Yes, that's what you see. I admit that I'm not a good person. I did all this just because I had an agreement with someone. I have to do what I promised. Besides..."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze slowly to the window, looking at the warm scene in the yard.

The aunt sat alone on an old rattan chair in the yard, the sunlight shining through the mottled shadows of the trees and onto her thin body.

She tightly grasped a photo of her daughter Xu Guangmei in her hand, and gently stroked the edge of the frame with her fingertips. Although there were still traces of tears on her face, there was a hint of relief between her brows after experiencing vicissitudes of life, as if she had quietly reconciled with the past and her deceased loved ones.

Ruan Yaoyao and a few others sat around her, close to the old lady, with intimate postures and focused eyes, quietly listening to her soft and hoarse voice, slowly telling those interesting stories from the past that had already faded but were still vivid.

The afterglow is like a golden gauze, gently enveloping the young and old in the yard, warming the thoughts and continuing the deep friendship passed down from generation to generation.

Lin Yi retracted his gaze, turned to the phone, and said firmly:

"Anyone with a decent outlook on life and a good education would make the same choice in such a situation. This is the most simple kindness and responsibility in human nature. There is nothing to be surprised about."

When Ruan Tianli heard this, he curled his lips, looked disdainful, and sneered:

"Humph, in your eyes, this has become a normal thing? Young man, you are overestimating humans, a race full of bad qualities. Do you really think that everyone has a sense of justice and sincerity?"

Lin Yi's mouth corners slightly raised, as if smiling, a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, and he asked back slowly:

"Then why have you been so busy these past two days, running around everywhere, concentrating on applying for a martyr's place for Ms. Guangmei? Could it be that you just did this thankless task on a whim?"

This sudden question was like a blow to Ruan Tianli, which made him speechless for a moment. He opened his mouth and managed to say something after a long while:

"Damn it, I'm clearing the names of good people and seeking posthumous honors for heroes. Is that wrong? I really don't understand what's in the minds of those idiots in the parliament. They have to find faults in everything and oppose this and that. Sooner or later, I'll be so angry that I'll break into the parliament and beat them all up!"

"But fortunately, the quota was finally approved, wasn't it?" Lin Yi comforted softly.

"Humph! The person is gone, what use can this false reputation have now?"

Ruan Tianli's voice gradually became lower, full of resentment and helplessness. He shook his head vigorously in annoyance, as if he wanted to throw away all the grievances in his heart.

"If those old guys had intervened earlier, it wouldn't have happened... Never mind, let's not talk about it."

After that, he let out a long sigh, "Okay, I'll hang up if it's okay."

"Goodbye, father-in-law." Lin Yi responded obediently.

"Just a reminder, don't think that things will just go smoothly. I haven't given my approval to the matter between you and Yaoyao yet!"

Ruan Tianli looked serious and spoke in a solemn tone.

"what?"

Lin Yi pretended to be surprised, but a mischievous smile flashed across his face, and he raised his voice and replied: "But we have already made it a done deal."

"You bastard! You fucking—"

Ruan Tianli's roar instantly rose, but before the second half of his angry curse could be heard, Lin Yi was quick to hang up the phone, holding back his laughter, and muttered:

"I have escaped a disaster."