camouflage

"what are you doing?"

Shu Xia was extremely angry, rushed over and pushed Mei Ting away, and looked anxiously at Ji Xi, "Is there something wrong? Are you injured? Are you injured? Speak, Ji Xi, are you injured?"

With cries and panic.

Ji Xi hurriedly shook his head to comfort him, "No, no, I just said a few words, nothing happened."

Shu Xia burst into tears, breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed the clothes on Ji Xi's chest, and begged in a low voice: "Ji Xi, can you go back?"

"Shu Xia, what are you doing? I'm your mother, you actually pushed me, you actually pushed me..." Mei Ting sat on the ground and cried like a daze.

A group of people gathered around to watch the excitement.

"Go back, Ji Xi." Shu Xia looked at him, her tear-soaked eyes were full of pleading.

Ji Xi pursed his lips, opened Shu Xia's hand angrily, turned and left, striding forward.

People around looked at him, curious, gossiping, whispering...

Shu Xia looked at his back and wiped away her tears until she couldn't see him, then turned to look at Mei Ting who was on the ground, she wouldn't get up if no one pulled her.

"What are you doing?" Shu Xia growled, "Don't you know what day it is today? Can you stay quietly?"

"He taught you badly, look at what you look like now? Huh? Push me, you bastard...all bullying me...you bastards..." She was full of snot and tears, like a shrew like.

Shu Xia was about to collapse.

What the hell are these days!

"Get up, do you look good like this? Are you honorable?" Shu Xia stood opposite her and didn't pull her, "Do you want Shu Daqing to get up and watch you spoil? Get up for me!"

There were people around who came forward to pull her, and others comforted her.

"Don't make noise, today is only the first day, do you want to make Daqing feel uneasy about leaving?"

"The dead are the greatest, don't quarrel!"

"Shu Xia, you too, she is your mother, how can you push her?"

"Stop making trouble, get up and take a look at Daqing, he hasn't left yet, how can he feel at ease when he sees him?"

"..."

Shu Xia didn't want to see this farce, so she turned and left.

He didn't have the mind to take care of Ji Xi, Mei Ting, and everything. After being tired for a long time, his mind was like a paste, his body was sore, he had a lot of miscellaneous things, and he wanted everything.

Damn, why are you so tired, you're almost exhausted!

He randomly found a stool and sat by the fence, took out his lighter, took out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one.

When I inhaled it, I didn’t accidentally choke on it, and the smell was bad, but I felt better after inhaling it. Looking at the darkness outside, I don’t know if Ji Xi is gone, I must be angry...

But it's better to be angry than hurt.

If you get hurt, if...

Shu Xia didn't even dare to think about it, he put the cigarette into his mouth with trembling hands, if that was the case, he wouldn't regret dying ten thousand times.

At this moment, he suddenly didn't want Ji Xi's light.

Can't protect.

Stay away from him, the farther the better.

However, her eyes were not up to snuff, she kept weeping, more and more, Shu Xia lowered her head, gritted her teeth, not wanting to cry out.

"Shu Xia, the village chief is looking for you." Someone called him.

Depend on!

Shu Xia threw the cigarette on the ground and stamped it out, took out a tissue to wipe off the tears on her face, responded hoarsely, calmed down her emotions, stood up and strode towards the living room.

The living room has become a temporary "meeting" place.

"Shu Xia, let's discuss about the cemetery. The master made a fortune for your father and chose a few seats. Do you think which one is suitable?" the village chief said.

Shu Xia took it and took a look. There were three addresses, one was next to his door, and the other two were on the mountain.

He lowered his head, and said calmly after a long while: "It's just at the door of our house, it's too far away to bother to find him."

"But the one at the door of your house is not good for your Feng Shui. Is it okay to be next to your door?" the village chief asked.

According to the custom in the village, the dead cannot stand next to the house.

"That's it, we don't have to go over mountains and mountains to worship in the future." Shu Xia said.

The location is determined.

"When will the burial be?" Shu Xia asked.

"After four days, there will be better ones, but after the first day, I don't think it's necessary. It's too long." The village chief said.

"Although the days are not very good, it's okay." His grandfather said.

"Okay, that's it, four days later." Shu Xia said.

The time is fixed.

The time and place are determined, and the rest is these few days, eating and drinking, the more beautiful the better.

When Shu Xia went out, he suddenly wanted to see Shu Daqing. From the time he came back to now, he had seen it at a glance, and he didn't even go in.

Just stood at the door and took a look.

I want to see it this time.

People gradually left, and the commotion suddenly fell silent, only a dozen grandma and aunts helped tidy up, people at two tables were playing cards, and some children were laughing and having fun.

The mourning hall is very quiet.

The scent of the incense candle was very strong, his grandmother, several aunts, and Mei Ting were watching over it.

Shu Daqing's relatives are gone.

Poor and pathetic.

It was still the same blanket, the ice coffin was small, square and very quiet.

No one spoke, just sat with teary eyes.

When they were alive, they didn't communicate with each other, but now they cried like they were dead sons, Shu Xia didn't want to see their crying faces, whether it was hypocrisy or real grief, it had nothing to do with him.

Mei Ting was in a daze again.

Shu Xia suppressed her exhaustion, and stood in front of her patiently, "Have you eaten yet?"

"I didn't eat, I didn't eat a bite." His grandmother answered for her, "Poor Ting'er, how will I live in the future..."

Shu Xia turned a deaf ear, turned around and went to the kitchen, filled a bowl of rice, picked up a few dishes, and returned to pass them to her.

"Eat, if you want to send him away in a good way, cheer me up, don't act like someone owes you, eat well, and watch him go." Shu Xia said.

"The date has been fixed. Four days later, the location will be in the field in the backyard. Do you have any opinions?" Shu Xia asked.

Mei Ting looked up at him, "...No, it's fine, everything is fine."

"Then eat. Only after eating can you watch him be buried." Shu Xia handed the bowl to her.

Mei Ting took it, but she didn't have any appetite, she just picked and picked, stuffed a mouthful every minute, her eyes were full of tears, and she was about to cry again.

Shu Xia leaves angrily.

Things have been arranged for tomorrow, and there is nothing to do tonight.

It seems to relax all at once, and I feel so hungry that I have no appetite.

Ji Xi... Ji Xi, are you home yet?

Shu Xia took out her mobile phone, tapped it for a long time, but there was no response, only to realize that it was out of battery.

I looked around and saw that it was nothing to do with him.

He turned and went back to his room, without going through the door, and opened the window again.

As soon as he entered, he saw Ji Xi lying on his bed, looking at the top of the bed.

Shu Xia burst into tears, he walked to the bedside, looked at Ji Xi, he was crying, not crying, but his eyes were red with tear stains.

"Ji Xi." Shu Xia called out.

He came back to his senses, got up and looked at him, his eyes dodged, and he said, "I don't want to go back, I want to be with you."

Shu Xia smiled, and with tears in her eyes, she approached him and hugged him tightly.

"Shu Xia, don't drive me away. I can't do anything. If you drive me away, I'm afraid that if I really leave, you won't want me." Ji Xi hugged his waist tightly and buried him in his chest.

"No." Shu Xia cried, "I won't want you."

"Hmm." Ji Xi said in a muffled voice.

Shu Xia's irritability disappeared all of a sudden, and she gently patted Ji Xi's head. At this moment, she didn't want to do anything, she just wanted to hug him quietly, thinking about nothing, and doing nothing.

Ji Xi's clothes were dirty, stained with dust, and his hair was messed up, not like Ji Xi anymore.

"Your clothes are dirty, go back and change." Shu Xia patted him on the back.

"Shu Xia, I told you, don't say that, I will really get angry." Ji Xi growled, "Do you think of me as your boyfriend?"

"Well, yes, I'll accompany you back." Shu Xia pushed him away, wiped away his tears with a smile, "This doesn't look like Brother Xi at all, why are you still crying?"

"Who is crying, it's just that your body smells too bad, it's smoked." Ji Xi wiped away his tears, lowered his head, and concealed his fragility.

Shu Xia sniffed it, and found that the smell was very strong, with everything in it, and the mixed smell was very strange.

"Let's go back and change our clothes before coming back." Shu Xia said, "I still have to go and bring some clothes back, and it will take another four or five days to finish."

"Are you sure?" Ji Xi raised his head and asked.

"Well, sure." Shu Xia pulled his hand, "Let's go, go back."

Ignoring the curious and puzzled eyes, Shu Xia and Ji Xi drove away.

Gradually, when she couldn't hear the sound or see the light, Shu Xia breathed a sigh of relief, her body was exhausted, she leaned on Ji Xi's shoulder, and hugged his waist tightly with both hands.

"So tired!" Shu Xia sighed.

"Let's rely on me, we'll be there in a while." Ji Xi said, slowing down the speed of the car, and the depression and dullness at Shu Xia's house suddenly drifted away with the wind.

The whole person is much more relaxed.

"Brother Xi, thank you." Shu Xia rubbed his shoulder.

"Why say thank you, there is no need for an apology and gratitude between us, it is what we should be, to bear each other's joys, sorrows and joys." Ji Xi said.

"Don't say thank you, Brother Xi, I like you, very much." Shu Xia sighed.

"I like you too, very much." Ji Xi replied with a smile.

As soon as he got home, Qi Xin called. Ji Xi kissed Shu Xia on the forehead and went to the balcony to answer the phone.

Shu Xia glanced at the messy books on the coffee table and sofa, and found out to read at noon today, and Mei Ting called before she read a few pages.

He turned and went to the bedroom, looking for clothes, and had to take a shower by the way, sweaty, sticky and uncomfortable.

Most of his clothes are in Ji Xi's place, and they don't occupy much space. Compared with Ji Xi's, they are nothing compared to Ji Xi's.

Looking at the unkempt man in the mirror, Shu Xia almost couldn't recognize herself. Her hair was neatly cut, as if it hadn't been washed for more than ten days, and her face was also full of marks. Not to mention her clothes, there were dust, oily smoke, and incense sticks everywhere... It was made of a mixture, like a splashed ink painting, dirty and messy, and the smell was unpleasant.

Her eyes were a little red and swollen, probably from crying too much, Shu Xia poured water on it as if she was scornful, and got drenched. The cold water stimulated her mind like blasting a blocked underground pipe, and it became unblocked and awake.

He quickly took a hot shower, and when he came out, Ji Xi was still on the phone, standing on the balcony, he couldn't hear what he said, but it probably had something to do with him.

After wiping his hair, he went to the bedroom again and had to pack some clothes.

"Shu Xia, Qi Xin and the others want to come and see you, what do you think?" Ji Xi asked as soon as he came in.

Shu Xia turned her head and took a look, "Oh, just look at it." He turned back and found clothes for Ji Xi.

"Go take a shower first." Shu Xia handed him the clothes.

Ji Xi took it, looked at his face, he was quite calm, and couldn't see anything else, "Is it okay?"

"No, anyway, I know everything I need to know." Shu Xia said.

"...Okay." Ji Xi went to the bathroom.

Listening to the sound of running water, Shu Xia sighed, his disguise was gradually exposed after getting to know Ji Xi, there was no difference between one more and one less.

Besides, Qi Xin and the others also have good intentions, after all, they have been playing together for so long.

People come as soon as they say, Ji Xi just heard a slap on the door after taking a shower, Shu Xia asked him to wipe his hair, and opened the door by herself.

"Damn, Brother Xi..." Seeing the wrong person was called, Qi Xin immediately changed his tone, "Shu Xia? Why are you here? Your father... that... please forgive me!"

"Come in, he's still taking a shower." Shu Xia stepped aside to let them in.

"Shu Xia, that...you can't come back from death, you...be strong." Meng Ke looked at him and stammered out a sentence.

"Well, I'm fine, let's all come in." Shu Xia smiled, not wanting to hear these words.

"Then what, we want to visit today, but we don't know your home, so we come here first." Liu Yang said.

"It will pass in a while, and you guys will read it too. I'm fine, don't worry." Shu Xia said.

A few people sat on the sofa awkwardly, afraid of saying the wrong thing, the father who died would be very sad, and comfort was useless, if the wrong thing was said, it would not be comfort but a blow.

Shu Xia looked at it twice, but didn't know what to say.

"Your father... is sick?" Qi Lei asked hesitantly.

"Well, sick." Shu Xia replied.

"Hey, Brother Xi is here!" Qi Xin yelled, breaking the awkward atmosphere, "Brother Xi, you can be a model now, you are so handsome!"

"...too much talk!" Ji Xi rolled his eyes at him and looked at the others, "Do you want to go there?"

Shu Xia stood up and went to her backpack, and fed a handful of fish food by the way. She was so hungry that she hadn't been fed all afternoon this afternoon.

"Go." Qi Xin said, "Is that fish still in stock?"

"Nonsense, didn't you see it a while ago?" Ji Xi said.

Seeing Shu Xia went to the bedroom, Qi Xin nuzzled and said: "...I just adjust the atmosphere, it's too embarrassing!"

"Don't talk nonsense, Shu Xia...just keep your mouth shut." Ji Xi glared at him.

"No, brother Xi, you two are so close that you can come and go from the bedroom at will?" Qi Xin asked gossipingly.

"I like it. Did you take the wrong medicine today? Why are you talking so much?" Ji Xi clicked his tongue and kicked him.

"Do we need to buy anything?" Meng Ke asked.

"Wreath?" Liu Yang said.

"How do we calculate this? What will we write then?" Qi Lei asked.

"I don't know either, and I don't understand the customs here." Ji Xi said.

"It's so embarrassing to buy today, wait for two days, it's so late today, where can I buy it?" Qi Xin said.

As soon as Shu Xia came out, everyone shut up.

"Actually, you don't need to do this. Birth, old age, sickness and death are inevitable. I'm not that fragile, and I'm quite calm, so I can do what I usually do now." Shu Xia said with a smile.

"Ahem, I'm afraid of making you sad, so... shall we go?" Qi Xin asked.

"Let's go!" Shu Xia walked in front.

Shu Xia took Ji Xi's car, Qi Xin took Meng Ke with him on his motorcycle, and Qi Lei took Liu Yang with him in his own car.

Ji Xi walked ahead and led the way.

Shu Xia has already let go, and Qi Xin and the others are no longer restrained, they can talk as they please, but try not to mention Shu Xia's father.

"Hey, isn't this our barbecue place?" Qi Xin said, this familiar environment, that lake, is definitely a barbecue place.

"Well, I'm sorry, I didn't entertain you last time when you came here." Shu Xia got out of the car and said to them.

"It's okay, I wasn't familiar with it back then, but I know it now." Meng Ke said with a smile.

There were not many people left, except for those who played cards, few people spoke, the lights illuminated the entire courtyard, and there was also the mourning hall.

Qi Xin and the others couldn't find anything to say, so they could only follow Shu Xia in, found a seat and sat down, looking at each other.

"You guys sit down first, I'll go and have a look." Shu Xia pointed to the table at the entrance of the living room, "There are cards there, if you want to play, get them yourself."

The living room was full of people, all of whom wrote runes. It is a custom in the village to write the life and wishes of the dead on a piece of paper, and Shu Xia will burn it tomorrow after the Taoist master finishes chanting. It is a blessing to the dead.

Shu Xia took a look, but didn't go in.

I went to the side and turned in through the window sill, but just after I opened the window, I saw a few people sleeping on his bed, his grandmother and aunt.

He pursed his lips, threw the bag in, turned around and left, regardless of whether they were awake or not!

Ji Xi and the others didn't play cards, they just sat and chatted, Shu Xia didn't want to spoil the fun, they had to take his feelings into account when they said a word, this feeling was very tiring and annoying!

There are only two people in the mourning hall, Mei Ting and his second aunt.

It was quiet, no one cried, no one spoke.

Shu Xia found a stool and sat in front of Mei Ting, watching her haggard and lifeless.Sighing, "Mom, don't think too much."

"This result is very good for him and you. He doesn't need to be in pain, and you don't need to wait around all day. Everyone is relieved."

"You and me will be fine in the future."

Shu Xia took a deep breath, looked at the ice coffin, "He has made enough trouble, and he deserves a rest."

Mei Ting didn't say anything, just glanced at him, strange and indifferent, as if looking at a stranger, but also motionless.

"...Go and rest, I'll be watching here today." Shu Xia said hoarsely.

"I won't go...I won't go...I want to watch him here, he is alone, I have to stay here with him..." Mei Ting's voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't opened it for hundreds of years The door opened suddenly, and it was all dull.

"Okay, it's up to you." Shu Xia stood up and pulled her hair.

Looking at the white banners all over the yard, my mind was in a mess, and I didn't know what to think, but I couldn't think of anything.

Qi Xin and the others left after a short stay, and Ji Xi stayed with him.

They sat all night and spent a sleepless night!

……

After finishing the chores on the first day, although there were many remaining things, they were in good order. With the elders in the village watching, the days passed quickly.

Qi Xin and the others sent a wreath together, and Shen Shi also came.

Looking at him with tears in his eyes, those who didn't know thought it was his father who died, and after a while of consolation, he left without even eating.

Ji Xi stayed with him almost every day, only one night when Shu Xia lost his temper and made him go back to sleep, and the rest of the time he walked and followed, slowly learning to help him, receive guests, and ride a bicycle to buy what he lacked... …

After a few days, she lost a lot of weight. Shu Xia didn't dare to say it once she said it once. They are a couple. Blind rejection will only make Ji Xi feel insecure, and will be very tired and frustrated.

The day of the burial was busier than any other day. All the fences were removed, the vegetable plot was requisitioned as temporary land, and the weeds all over the yard were dug up to make it flat.

After a while of mourning, Shu Xia walked in front wearing a mourning cloth, holding Shu Daqing's posthumous photo, and weeping loudly, sending him to the grave.

The sound of mourning and music was louder than ever, the sound of firecrackers continued, the sound of crying kept coming and going, paper money was all over the floor, and wreaths were piled up one after another... Hundreds of people came to watch the ceremony, which was very lively and decent.

Satisfied Mei Ting's scenery and decency.

Shu Xia didn't know if Shu Daqing knew about such a grand occasion, he was such an annoying person, so many people came to see him off.

It seems that all the grievances and grievances dissipated with death.

Most people in the village choose to be buried in the ground, and building a tomb is his home.

When the coffin was opened, Shu Xia went to see it.

Shocked and sad.

The whole face was pale, stiff and motionless, the scar on the face was clearly visible because of the paleness, and it was hideously distorted.

She was so thin that only skin and bones remained, and her jaw bones were clearly visible. She just lay there quietly, never breathing, swearing, or speaking...

"I'm sorry..." Shu Xia sobbed, lowered her head, and squeezed the portrait tightly in her hand, I'm sorry for making him leave such a big scar...

In my ears are the Taoist chanting, life, relatives, Shu Xia's tears were uncontrollable when she heard "15 years old alone".

There were whimpers all around, one after another, crying heartbroken, Mei Ting's calm face disappeared, crying heartbroken as she clutched the coffin board, her mouth was full of their past.

Meeting for the first time, helping her draw eyebrows, getting married, welcoming the first child, naming together, he went to work and she cooked at home...all good memories, she didn't scold him, didn't hate him, didn't complain...

Seeing Mei Ting tidy up for him, cover the coffin, cover it with layers of soil, and pave it with layers of cement, and finally after the deafening sound of firecrackers, all the hatred and disgust in Shu Xia's heart disappeared.

Never see this man again, his father!

After eating the last meal, we left each other, and nothing else mattered.

Busy for a while, Shu Xia didn't feel tired, like a spinning top, burning paper, settling accounts, taking care of things, seeing off guests...

At night, he stopped and stared blankly at the completely changed home. The people, the tables and chairs were empty, and the white banners all over the yard were burnt... Just like that, he sent Shu Daqing away.

Empty, empty house, empty heart.

"Shu Xia, you still have me!" Ji Xi stood beside him, standing side by side, looking at the devastated yard, the fence at the gate, and camellias, all gone, a bare piece, extending to the gravel road outside.

It is full of ruts, and now there are only a few cars left. The bustle of the past few days is like a dream, and now it feels like the building is empty.

"Ji Xi." Shu Xia called out, her voice was so hoarse that she could hardly hear it.

"Well, I'm here." Ji Xi replied.

"What do you want to eat?" Shu Xia asked hoarsely, "I don't want to be idle."

"Noodles, egg and cabbage noodles, the noodles you made for me for the first time." Ji Xi said.

"Okay." Shu Xia agreed.

Mei Ting stayed in the room since Shu Daqing was buried. Shu Xia called several times, but no one answered, and the door was locked.

The kitchen was full of leftover vegetables and oil, and the smell was very strong. Shu Xia had no intention of cleaning up. She was so tired that her whole body ached, but when she stopped, she couldn't help but think wildly, so she could only find something to do.

"Do you want it spicy?" Shu Xia asked.

"Yeah." Ji Xi leaned against the cupboard and looked at him.

"Thank you for your hard work these few days." Shu Xia looked up at him.

"It should." Ji Xi replied.

Shu Xia couldn't help laughing, took out two eggs, washed a few slices of cabbage, watched the water slowly bubbling, "I'm making noodles for you for the first time to thank you, and I'm lazy and don't want to trouble you."

He laughed as he spoke, and he glanced sideways at him, "This time I'm not thanking you, I just do it because I like it."

Ji Xi couldn't help smiling, leaning on the cupboard to relieve the pain in his body, he was so tired from doing nothing, let alone Shu Xialai, who hadn't slept for a few days, his face was as pale as a ghost, and his dark circles were as heavy as a panda's , the whole person is very decadent and exhausted to the extreme.

"Shu Xia, are you... going back tonight?" Ji Xi asked.

Shu Xia paused for a while, then put the noodles in, "I don't know, my mind is full of mud and chaos now."

"It's okay, I'll be with you." Ji Xi sighed, looking at the energy-saving lamp on the top, which was pitch black and covered with dust.

"You haven't rested for a few days, aren't you tired?" Shu Xia looked at him.

"What about you?" Ji Xi looked at his face, "Your face is like white paper, aren't you tired?"

"I'm tired, but I don't want to sleep." Shu Xia looked down at the pot, "I'm full of his shadow, afraid to dream about him."

"Are you afraid or guilty?" Ji Xi asked.

Shu Xia remained silent, as if she didn't hear, she slowly mixed the sauce, cooked the vegetables, fried the eggs, and it was done.

Egg cabbage noodles.

"Eat." Shu Xia called him.

I didn't go to the living room, but in the kitchen, sitting on a small bench, Ji Xi ate it bite by bite, it was delicious, but the taste changed, not the same as before.

"I'm scared, and I'm guilty." Shu Xia sat in front of him, a little absent-minded, "Afraid of dreaming about him, afraid of seeing him, guilty... guilty that I cut him with a knife, leaving traces for a lifetime, and it will disappear when I die. It's all my fault."

He couldn't hold back the tears as he spoke, wiped them with his hands, lowered his head and sighed, "It's still like a dream to me, obviously he's still swearing, causing trouble, and gambling... Now it's gone all at once. , there is always a knot in my heart, which is stuck up and down."

"Shu Xia." Ji Xi held his hand, "Everything will pass, everything will be fine."

"...Mmm." Shu Xia nodded.

His grandmother didn't leave, but his aunts left.

Shu Xia had no place to sleep today, Shu Daqing's room was completely empty, and all his things were burnt.

There are only two beds in the house, one for Mei Ting and one for him. They have been occupied for a few days, and now it is not his turn.

However, he couldn't let it go if he left today.

Mei Ting didn't say a word, and his grandmother also fell asleep.

Only the village head and a few old people came to explain the precautions, but Shu Xia didn't understand much, all she knew was to burn more paper to ensure that he would live comfortably down there...

The entire funeral cost more than 4 yuan, and the recovered favor money offset part of it, which was considered to be the same, but not much.

It is also the only consolation in the past few years, at least when Mei Ting is well, there is no one she should be with, otherwise her only savings will be gone.

The money is still here with Shu Xia, not given to Mei Ting. She is not in the right state now, she seems to be stimulated, and he is afraid that some of her nerves will go wrong again, and a lot of things will be pulled out.

Wait until tomorrow to go to the bank to deposit the money before giving it to her.

……