Rebooting 60, let's go on a rampage with the orange cat!

Shi Renmei was quite unhappy because her sister-in-law, Wu Yue'e, had caused a scene at her home last year when she came to borrow money during the first month of the lunar calendar.

He also made several phone calls to his younger brother Shi Renli to inquire about his condition. First, his nephew Shi Yaozu answered the phone at the commune and told him that his father's leg was better and that his uncle could rest assured. Later, at the end of the year, Shi Renli's younger brother answered the phone and said that his father was in good health and that Shi Renmei should come home for the New Year.

Shi Renmei hesitated for a moment and said, "I'll cover for my colleagues during the Spring Festival, and then go back to sweep my parents' graves during the Qingming Festival."

Before the Spring Festival in 1961, Taozi took out all 300 yuan he had earned from repairing the leaky roof and gave it all to his elder brother for his wedding. After several rounds of discussions with the in-laws, the Yu family decided that the groom's family would buy a bicycle, a watch, and a radio, while the bride's family would provide a sewing machine as part of her dowry. Yu Liang also borrowed 100 yuan from Zhong Hanzhe, and finally they had enough for the dowry to hold a lively wedding before the Spring Festival.

The Shi family also followed suit, gifting a quilt cover with a dragon and phoenix pattern and a pair of enamel basins with a floral design symbolizing wealth and prosperity, which were considered quite valuable among the neighbors.

To make room for his older brother's wedding, Taozi insisted on setting up a bed in Zhong Hanzhe's living room. Zhong Hanzhe was a generous man and didn't charge him any rent.

Although Taozi is a few years older than Zhong Hanzhe, he is extremely loyal to Zhong Hanzhe. After the start of the semester, Zhong Hanzhe was so busy that he was completely overwhelmed, so Taozi took care of all the work of cleaning up the mess.

After more than half a year of acupuncture and massage, Grandma Zhang is now able to get out of bed and walk, and her facial paralysis has returned to normal. She is still unable to do any housework, but she can barely take care of herself. The Zhang family is extremely grateful for this, otherwise, the days of having to defecate and urinate on her body would be too distressing.

Sometimes, Grandma Zhang would sunbathe in the yard and chat with Aunt Yu, and she couldn't help but feel sad: "When you get old, you're useless, and old trees are only good for firewood. Now I'm not even as good as firewood..."

Aunt Yu advised, "Don't say that. Raising children is for old age security, isn't that what you're protecting now? Otherwise, what's the point of going through all the trouble of raising children? You take care of them when they're young, and they'll take care of you when you're old."

Grandma Zhang sighed deeply, feeling frustrated. "Sigh... Don't laugh at me, but I used to be able to help them with housework. Now they have to go to work, do housework, and take care of this useless old woman. I feel terrible, and my daughter-in-law..."

Aunt Yu said, "Your daughter-in-law is just an ordinary person, it's normal for her to have some complaints. Don't be too sensitive. When you're recovering, you should try to relax. 'If you're not mentally impaired, you can't be a good father-in-law.' Every family has its own messy accounts. My eldest son emptied our family's savings to get married, but what could we do? Every family goes through this. Who can laugh at anyone else? Try to think positively..."

Grandma Zhang sighed, "Yes, if it weren't for An'an saving me, I would probably be buried by now..."

That year, Qingming Festival fell on a Wednesday. According to the custom in the countryside, there is a saying that Qingming Festival falls three days before and four days after. Because they did not want to delay Huai'an's schooling, Shi Renmei's family set off early Saturday morning, April 1st, to go to the countryside to sweep the tombs.

In the countryside, it is believed that tomb sweeping is best done before noon, mainly because the yang energy is at its peak when it can suppress the yin energy of the cemetery and prevent unclean things from appearing.

People used to believe that 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. was the time when yang energy was at its peak, and that sweeping tombs at this time could avoid the influence of yin energy and ensure the health and safety of those sweeping the tombs.

According to folk beliefs, after noon, the yang energy gradually weakens while the yin energy rises. Sweeping tombs at this time may be detrimental to health and also disrespectful to deceased relatives.

As soon as they got off the train, Shi Renli and Shi Yaozu, who had been waiting at the station for a long time, rushed to greet them. They brought shovels and carrying poles. Shi Renli, with a big smile on his face, took the heavy bag from his elder brother's hands while talking to him, and carried it on his shoulder with concern, asking, "Brother, sister-in-law...you must be exhausted from this journey, right?"

Standing to the side, Shi Yaozu quickly stepped forward and said, "Uncle, Aunt! An'an, come, let me help you carry these things." After saying that, he quickly took the items from An'an's hands.

An'an smiled sweetly and said, "Hello, Uncle. Hello, Yaozu." Duoduo, the orange cat, also poked its head out of her bag.

Yaozu looked at the chubby orange cat and couldn't help but laugh and exclaim, "Wow, you even brought a cat with you! It's so fat!"

Duo Duo meowed in protest, and Huai'an stroked its fluffy head to soothe it, saying, "It's cuter when it's chubby~"

Xiuzhi smiled and looked at Shi Yaozu, saying gently, "Yaozu, it's really kind of you to wait here for so long."

Shi Yaozu scratched his head and replied with a smile, "Auntie, it didn't take long."

At this moment, Shi Renmei raised her wrist to check her watch, and then said, "Let's talk slowly on the way. Right now, it's more important to hurry up and get on the road." Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.

“That’s right, we need to hurry. An’an, the path down the mountain will be difficult, so be careful.” Shi Renli replied, then picked up his bag and strode ahead to lead the way.

Huai'an smiled and quickly said, "I can do it." Duoduo also jumped out and ran forward.

The group followed closely behind, hurrying together towards the ancestral graves.

The sky was overcast, as if shrouded by a huge gray curtain.

A fine, misty drizzle continued to fall, but no one seemed to care. Wearing raincoats or carrying umbrellas, they trudged along the winding, rugged mountain path, their steps uneven and uneven. Weeds grew rampant on both sides of the path, and thorny brambles occasionally stretched out their thorny branches, trying to hinder their progress.

After walking for about an hour, we finally arrived at two graves overgrown with weeds. A thin stone tablet stood upright in front of the graves, engraved with the names of our ancestors. This was the resting place of our deceased elders.

Many of the graves here are overgrown with weeds, and some don't even have tombstones...

The two Shi brothers and Yaozu worked together, first carefully pulling out the weeds in front of the grave one by one, then picking up shovels and carefully shoveling up and piling up the soil around the grave to make it more solid. After their efforts, the originally desolate and dilapidated gravesite looked much neater.

After everything was ready, the family began the sacrificial ceremony at the grave. Xiuzhi took out offerings that had been wrapped in oil paper beforehand from a bag—apples, steamed buns, a roast chicken, and so on—and arranged them one by one.

Shi Renli and Yaozu were quite surprised to see the sacrificial offerings, knowing that ordinary families would be reluctant to kill a chicken at this time. But they didn't say anything, thinking that perhaps city people didn't see anything wrong with it.

Then, everyone lit incense in turn, bowed three times devoutly, and inserted the lit incense into the ground.

Wisps of smoke rose, carrying the longing of family members to distant places, and solemnity and reverence were written on everyone's face.

As the sacrificial ceremony drew to a close, the Shi brothers took out a small string of firecrackers and lit the fuses. The crackling sound of the firecrackers instantly shattered the tranquility of the mountains, echoing through the valley.

As the final cannon shot faded away, the simple yet solemn sacrificial ceremony officially came to an end. Although the rain continued to fall, everyone felt a profound sense of peace at that moment.

Before leaving, Shi Renli carefully packed the offerings into his bag, saying, "Don't waste these offerings. The ancestors have already enjoyed them, so the children can eat them. They'll be more obedient if they do." Everyone smiled slightly and walked back.

Here, offerings made after tomb sweeping during the Qingming Festival can be taken home, as long as they are clean and uncontaminated. Many elders will share the offerings with the children in the family, believing that this will bring them the blessings of their ancestors.

Back at Shi Renli's house, Xiaoyan was sweeping the floor with a bamboo broom at the door. When she saw them arrive, she called out, "Mom, Dad has come to pick up Uncle and the others."

As she spoke, she warmly went to greet them and helped carry their things. Duo Duo jumped into the house first, and Xiao Yan, overjoyed, ran to hug her: "Meow meow, don't run away, let me hug you..."

Wu Yue'e had just come out of the kitchen when Duo Duo rushed over and almost tripped her. She couldn't help but curse, "Where did this damn cat come from? Get it out of here!"

Upon hearing this, Duoduo turned around and ran towards Huai'an. Huai'an said, "Duoduo, go play outside. There are too many people here."

Xiaoyan cried out in disappointment, "Let me pet the cat..."

Duoduo lightly leaped onto a jujube tree outside and disappeared. Wu Yue'e saw that it was the cat Huai'an had brought, so she couldn't scold it anymore. She could only smile awkwardly and greet them, "Big brother and sister-in-law, An'an, come in and sit down."

Shi Renmei and Xiuzhi smiled politely and nodded as they entered. They knew that life in the countryside was difficult, and that their own family had undergone tremendous changes thanks to An'an Space, but they wouldn't flaunt their wealth in front of outsiders.

This time when they returned to their hometown, they would be staying at their younger brother's house for another night, so they generously took out four pieces of trendy fabric, a bunch of pastries, biscuits, canned goods, malted milk powder, milk powder... and even gave Yaozu and Xiaoyan a pair of white sneakers.

Seeing that they had brought a lot of things, Wu Yue'e's face relaxed a bit, and she said sourly, "Oh my, you brought so much stuff, that's too kind of you."

She touched a piece of red plaid fabric and said, "The fabrics in the city are so much prettier. We can't buy such nice patterns in the countryside."

Xiuzhi smiled and said, "Yes, I thought this piece of fabric would look great as a coat for Xiaoyan, so I bought it."

Xiaoyan said happily, "Thank you, Auntie, this cloth is really beautiful."

Just as Xiuzhi was about to speak, Wu Yue'e said, "Isn't life better in the city? Your aunt is so kind, why don't you go to the city with her..."

Everyone was speechless with embarrassment. Shi Renli frowned and said, "Is the food ready? I'm starving."

As Wu Yue'e turned to go to the kitchen, she said, "Haha... I was just joking. Look how scared you all were. The food has been ready for a while. Xiaoyan, hurry up and get the bowls and chopsticks."

Xiuzhi quickly stood up and said, "We're all family, no need to be so polite, let me do it..."

Wu Yue'e served several dishes: pan-fried tofu, stir-fried eggs with chives, spicy grass carp, stir-fried greens, and stir-fried pickled vegetables; Shi Renli also took the roast chicken he brought back as a sacrificial offering, heated it up, and served it on the table as well.

It was nearly 2 p.m., and everyone's stomachs were rumbling. Faced with the steaming dishes on the table, everyone could no longer suppress their hunger and picked up their bowls to eat. Shi Renmei directly gave two chicken legs to Yaozu and Xiaoyan.

Renli hurriedly said, "Give it to An'an."

Shi Renmei picked up another chicken wing and gave it to Huai'an, saying, "It's alright, we often make it for Huai'an at home, you guys eat it."

Huai'an also said, "I like to eat fish." As she spoke, she took a piece of fish and started eating it. Everyone laughed and enjoyed the meal.

In the blink of an eye, the food on the table was completely devoured, as if a gust of wind had swept away the clouds, leaving nothing behind.

Xiuzhi praised, "Yue'e's cooking is really delicious. Thank you for your hard work today, making so many dishes."

At this moment, Wu Yue'e said sarcastically, "We live in a poor, remote area, what good food do we have? We didn't even kill a chicken for the New Year this year! This chicken is thanks to you all. Unlike An'an at home, who has delicacies every day. This dish is a bit vegetarian, please don't mind!"

Looking at the mess on the table, she turned to Xiaoyan and said, "Xiaoyan, go wash the dishes! Country girls can't compare to city girls. If you're too lazy, you won't be able to get married in the future."

"Hmm..." Xiaoyan was a little reluctant, but she didn't resist in front of the guests, so she responded and quickly gathered up the tableware and headed to the kitchen.

The adults sat around the dining table and chatted. Wu Yue'e put her things inside, and Shi Renmei asked about things in the village. Shi Renli then began to tell stories and interesting tales about the village, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

While everyone was chatting happily, Xiaoyan had already washed all the dishes and arranged them neatly.

She came out of the kitchen and saw Huai'an calling Yaozu to go out and play, so she smiled and asked, "Where are you going? Take me with you!"

"Let's go find Duoduo." Huai'an led the two of them out to play happily.

After a while, Wu Yue'e came out and sat down to listen to them talk.

After a short while, she nudged Shi Renli with her elbow, winking at him, "Renli, didn't you have something to say to your elder brother?"

Shi Renli's expression stiffened for a moment, then he smiled to cover it up, saying, "There's no rush. My brother and sister-in-law are tired and need to rest. Our matter is easy to discuss; we can bring it up later."

Xiuzhi was taken aback and looked at Shi Renmei. Shi Renmei frowned and said in a deep voice, "Why are you being so mysterious? Just say what you have to say."

Shi Renli scratched his head and stammered, "Hehe...it's nothing. We just thought Huai'an was a good girl, pretty, clever, and a good kid...we wanted to..."

Seeing that he hadn't gotten to the point, Wu Yue'e interrupted her husband and said with a smile, "Brother and sister-in-law, it's like this, our Yaozu and An'an are not young anymore. I was thinking of arranging an engagement for them first, to strengthen family ties. What do you think?"

Shi Renmei and Xiuzhi exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised. After a moment of silence, Shi Renmei slowly said, "This is indeed a good thing, but the children are still young, so it should be up to them to decide."

Wu Yue'e nodded quickly, "Of course. If both children are willing, then let's find an auspicious day to get engaged and settle this matter. What do you think?"

Shi Renli nodded in agreement.