Three Women in the Cage

After passing through winding mountain roads, the team finally reached the halfway point of the mountain. With a shout of "Release", the team stopped.

The funeral music was still playing shrilly, the crying was still going on, and a group of people were gathered around a pit that had been dug at some point halfway up the mountain, whispering and discussing something!

Then people in twos and threes worked together to tie the soaked mahogany coffin with ropes and gently placed it into the half-sized pit. After it was laid flat, a group of people next to it used shovels to sprinkle yellow soil on the mahogany coffin little by little. After a while, the pit was gradually filled up, and a half-high mound was slowly built on it. The yellow soil was bright and dazzling, and it was just like that in the drizzle, quiet and deserted!

After the mound was built, someone brought in bunches of brightly colored wreaths and placed them neatly around the mound. When everything was ready, circles of red firecrackers were set around the mound. A group of people stood about ten feet away, watching the red firecrackers "crackling" and ringing through the sky, the deafening sound surrounding their ears!

Tian Yun was standing not far away with a few children. She and the children had already burst into tears. Hearing the sound of firecrackers resounding through the sky, she knew that this was the last farewell for him!

Looking from afar at the yellow earth pile in the drizzle, surrounded by colorful wreaths in groups of three or two, the sound of firecrackers ringing nearby seemed like his final farewell. From now on, they would go their separate ways and never see each other again!

Everyone stood there waiting for the firecrackers to finish. No one left. They all silently let the rain slowly soak their clothes and stood there quietly. After an unknown amount of time, the sound of firecrackers finally stopped, the funeral music stopped, the crying stopped, and everything became quiet!

This final journey ended here. Having arrived here, there was no need for the group to stay, so they all quietly dispersed. After everyone else had dispersed, only Tian Yun and Yang Yu and their relatives were left standing there, unwilling to leave for a long time!

When his feet finally became numb, Yang Ming was the first to speak, "Let's go! Big Brother has been properly taken care of, let him rest in peace!"

Then he pulled Tian Yun, who was crying uncontrollably, and several children and walked down the mountain!

The way up the mountain is always so fast, but the way down the mountain is so long, it seems like a century has passed before finally reaching the old house!

Looking at the desolate scene inside and outside the courtyard, Tian Yun sat down on the ground dejectedly as if her soul had been sucked out. She didn't know how to face what was going to happen next!

After Yang Ming took the lead in tidying up the house and outside, he called everyone together for a family meeting. He wanted to make some simple arrangements for these things before leaving!

So when everyone gathered around, Yang Ming was the first to speak. "Sister-in-law, I've promised my brother that I'd take good care of the two old people. So, when I go back this time, I'll take my parents with me and let them go with me. Then, this old house foundation, as well as those fields, will be left to you and the children. I know it's hard for you to take care of several children, but I can't take you away, so I can only ask you to stay. But don't worry, Ma Mei and I have discussed it, and before I leave, I will leave you some money. With this money, you can take good care of my brother's children. If you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to call me and I will do my best to help you! What do you think?"

Ma Mei had reminded him before that he could not take on the heavy responsibility of his eldest brother and his widowed mother, so Yang Ming did not dare to ignore his wife's warning and could only let them down. However, Ma Mei agreed to give him some money. Although it was not her original idea, it was not bad. At least he could give an explanation to his eldest brother and them!

Ma Mei thought of giving them some money, just to clear the score with them and not rely on them anymore. She didn't want to drag things out and get entangled in a tangled mess if it could be done in one go, so she generously gave them some money!

Although Tian Yun wanted to rely on them, she knew it was impossible. Now, as an outsider, she could get the old house and the land for free, without having to support the elderly, and she could also get some money. She thought to herself, she was not too disappointed. There was nothing she could do except accept it. So, with red eyes, she said, "What can I do? I am an outsider, so of course I will listen to your arrangements. If you think it's okay, then I can't say anything. Whatever you say is what it is!"

Yang Yu and Yang Su had no objection. Since she had given birth to two sons for their eldest brother, they wanted to give her a place to stay. They just hoped that she could raise the two children well!

After the agreement was reached, Ma Mei took out a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills from her purse, pulled out a few, and stuffed the rest of the money into Tian Yun's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, take it, that's all! Take good care of the children, and you have to forgive us. We have a heavy burden now. Two old people are with us, and there is a child at home, a few more mouths to feed. Even though we have a few cents in our hands now, it is spent like water every day. There is not much money to help you now. Don't blame us. We all have our own difficulties! Please understand..."

Ma Mei knew Yang Ming couldn't say it, and wouldn't say it, but she couldn't give him a way out, nor could she give Tian Yun any hope. She could only make it clear! Otherwise, in the future, she would have to ask them for money for every little thing. They weren't a bank, so how could they possibly be her free money bag? Besides, they gave her all the family property, didn't ask her to support the elderly, and didn't care about the other people's children she brought up. She was already kind and righteous, and she couldn't compromise and become a philanthropist! So, let her be the bad guy who spoke out!

Tian Yun had never seen so much money in her life. It was true that rich people didn't care about such a small amount of money. They just gave it to her without hesitation! She was a little surprised. She had wanted to rely on them before, but now seeing so much money, her heart was overjoyed. She thought to herself, "Even if I rely on you, you won't necessarily give me so much money. Now that you give me so much money at once, it can be considered as help. I and my children can use this money to live a happy life for a long time." The more she thought about it, the happier she became. Even the sadness she had been feeling over her husband's death instantly disappeared!

She suppressed her inner ecstasy, not wanting them to see it. She still showed a sad expression, tightly holding the money while echoing, "Yes, yes, you have difficulties too. It's rare that you still care about us like this. Now that you have given us so much money, how can I thank you? You are my saviors. Without you, I don't know how to live. Oh, thank you so much, Third Brother's wife!"

As she was about to kneel down and kowtow to Ma Mei and Yang Ming, Ma Mei quickly stopped her from kneeling and said in a serious tone, "Hey, get up quickly, don't do this. We are doing this for your sake, big brother. As long as you remember it, it's fine. Anyway, we've already said that we will do our best to help you. But in the future, don't spend it recklessly. Use this money to live a good life!"