Chapter 305 - 220: Roots_3
"Hahaha!"
Everyone burst out laughing. Granny Liu laughed with particular delight, revealing her neat set of dentures. They all knew Zhao Wendong was just kidding. The sight and smell of the dishes alone were proof enough that the meal would be delicious.
"Dongzi, say a few words!"
Third Master Zhao suddenly called out, and everyone else chimed in with agreement.
Zhao Wendong didn’t decline. He poured a bowl of seaweed soup, stood up, raised it, and spoke.
"The liquor isn’t done steeping yet, so this year, I’ll use soup in its place. I’m not sure what to say on such short notice."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his family, one by one.
"I, Zhao Wendong, was spoiled by all of you. I ate the most food, wore clothes with the fewest patches, and did the least amount of work. I just messed around all day, but none of you ever held it against me. Now the famine years are here, so what? I will make sure no one in our family ever goes hungry again."
His gaze passed over his mother, who had been on a hunger strike, and then to Little Tuanzi. In his past life, Little Tuanzi had writhed on the kang for three days and nights before starving to death. But now, the little girl was looking right at him, her eyes sparkling.
"That we’ll never be in danger again."
Zhao Dashan’s face was filled with relief. Zhao Wenjun, Song Xiaoyu, and Zhao Wenwu also watched him with intense, smiling eyes.
"That we can live happily in this world."
Zhao Wendong’s gaze swept over everyone else present. ’In my past life, everyone here died within two or three years, following the original course of events. Only Shitou, Yadan, and I survived, though their whereabouts eventually became unknown.’ For a moment, Zhao Wendong felt dazed, even a little afraid. ’Was I really reborn? Or did I just die of old age and am now reunited with my family in the afterlife?’
"To our family’s health, and to a better and better future for us all!"
’I don’t care if this is a rebirth or the afterlife,’ Zhao Wendong thought. As long as he could be with his family, he was happy. Shouting the last line, he raised the bowl in his hand and drained the seaweed soup in a single gulp.
"Hear, hear!"
"Well said, Dongzi!"
"To a better future!"
Everyone couldn’t help but applaud and cheer. For some reason, many felt their eyes begin to sting, as if a grain of sand had blown in. For many years to come, none of them would ever forget this moment, this home, or this family.
The New Year’s Eve dinner lasted for over two hours. By the time it ended, everyone was stuffed to the gills. Zhao Wenwu clutched his swollen belly, groaning dramatically.
"That’s it, I’m pregnant! Look at this belly, I’m about to give birth!"
"Hahaha!"
Everyone howled with laughter at Zhao Wenwu’s antics. Jin Xiuying shot him an exasperated look, but then couldn’t help smiling herself. ’This husband of mine,’ she thought, ’how can he be so adorable?’
After dinner, custom dictated they go up the mountain to burn joss paper for the ancestors. Zhao Dashan’s leg was broken, and Zhao Dahai was lying down, playing dead. With Zhao Dajiang and Zhao Dahe both gone, the duty fell to Zhao Wendong’s generation. However, they couldn’t identify all the ancestral graves, so in the end, Zhao Chuanhe had to lead the way himself.
"You old fool, you’d better walk slowly once you’re on that mountain!"
"Oh, stop nagging."
Ye Qingmei voiced her concern, but Zhao Chuanhe just found her fussy. He kept hurrying his five grandsons, appearing quite impatient. It seemed he’d gotten stir-crazy from being cooped up at home all winter.
"Let’s go, let’s go! Hurry up."
Villages built against mountains usually had their ancestral graves in the hills, and Dragon King Pond was no exception. Zhao Wendong hitched up the brigade’s horse-drawn sleigh, and the five brothers surrounded Zhao Chuanhe, who was bundled in several layers of clothing, afraid he might fall off.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Zhao Wenwu carried Zhao Chuanhe on his back, accompanied by Zhao Wendong and Zhao Ergou. Zhao Sanwa and Zhao Wenjun stayed behind to watch the sleigh. Fearing potential dangers on the mountain, they had all brought their guns.
Thankfully, the trip up was uneventful. These days, there were very few wild animals on the mountain’s periphery; some were even hunted to local extinction. During the famine, any family with a hunter would come to the mountains to try their luck. As a result, in the areas you could reach and return from in a single day, even the cute little chubby birds had disappeared. As adorable and meatless as those little birds were, many had been eaten.
Once they arrived, Zhao Chuanhe pointed to a snow-covered earthen mound ahead and spoke to Zhao Ergou.
"You recognize it, don’t you?"
"Yeah."
Zhao Ergou nodded. With supplies and food so scarce, they skipped the usual incense and offerings. First, Zhao Ergou cleared the weeds and branches from the grave mound, then added a fresh shovelful of dirt before starting to burn the joss paper.
"Dad, it’s New Year’s. I’ve come to see you. I’m burning lots of money for you, so spend it however you like down there! Dad, these are famine years. We nearly starved to death. It was Brother San who saved our whole family, and he saved my older sister, too. You have to watch over us from the afterlife, and watch over Brother San!"
After Zhao Ergou finished his prayer, Zhao Wendong took out three small firecrackers he’d broken off a larger string and lit them. The BANG echoed through the silent mountain forest, carrying far into the distance.
"Third Uncle, rest easy. I’m here for the family now. Just watch over everyone and keep them safe."
After speaking, Zhao Wendong pulled Zhao Wenwu and Zhao Ergou down with him to kneel and kowtow three times to Zhao Dahe. Zhao Chuanhe stood to the side, his old face etched with sorrow. ’My third son cut ties with the family all those years ago,’ he thought, ’and my wife and I shared some of the blame. But now he’s dead from illness. There’s no point in bringing it up again.’
After the three had paid their respects to Zhao Dahe, Zhao Chuanhe pointed to Zhao Dajiang’s grave beside it. "Burn some for your Eldest Uncle, too. He had no children, so he has to rely on you nephews."
"Alright."
The three of them added soil to Zhao Dajiang’s grave, set off firecrackers, burned joss paper, and kowtowed. As they did, Zhao Chuanhe suddenly boomed from the side.
"Eldest! Look at this nephew of yours! Our family has produced someone even more capable than you! You can rest in peace now. This nephew of yours isn’t just resourceful, he’s got incredible luck, too. Even the Elder sent him a piece of calligraphy! You have to watch over your nephew and our family from the afterlife, you hear? If anyone causes trouble, you go after them just like you used to. Blow ’em all away, got it?"
There was no reply, only the whistling north wind carrying Zhao Chuanhe’s words into the distance. Zhao Wenwu, who had come along to pay respects, was also exceptionally quiet. He did whatever was asked of him without a single complaint, his expression solemn.
Their eldest aunt had gone missing, so no grave had ever been made for her. After they finished with Zhao Dajiang and Zhao Dahe, Zhao Chuanhe began leading his grandsons from one ancestral grave to the next, identifying each one. He had four or five full brothers himself, not to mention all sorts of cousins. Zhao Wendong completely lost track of which grave belonged to which grand-uncle.
They visited more than ten graves in a row, setting off dozens of firecrackers, before finally reaching the grave of their great-grandfather at the very back. Its location was easy to remember, set apart from the others and seemingly sheltered by them. Once all the respects were paid and they were heading back down the mountain, Zhao Chuanhe spoke leisurely from his perch on Zhao Wenwu’s back.
"Eldest Grandson!"
"Yes?"
Zhao Wendong answered quickly. A look of longing filled Zhao Chuanhe’s eyes as he spoke.
"This branch of our family... our ancestors are from Zhaojiazhuang, in Cangying County of Lai Prefecture, Shandong. When our part of the family moved here, some relatives stayed behind. My younger brother—your grand-uncle—and my older sister—your great-aunt—they both remained there. If one day you’re able to go back, Eldest Grandson, go and see it for me."
Zhao Wendong turned to look at Zhao Chuanhe, his gaze lingering for a moment on the old man’s deeply lined face. He smiled. "Grandpa, what do you mean, ’see it for you’? When the time comes, I’ll take you back there myself."
"Oh, get outta here with that nonsense. These old bones of mine don’t have many years left."
"Who says? You’ll definitely live to be a hundred! I’ll give you ginseng wine!"
Zhao Chuanhe froze. He’d misheard again!
"What was that? ’Feed me to the dogs’?"
"Why, you little brat! Wenwu, put me down! Let me at him! I’m going to beat the living daylights out of this punk! Dongzi, you’re getting arrogant! You think your grandpa can’t lift his cane anymore, is that it?!"
"Whoa, Grandpa, you misheard me! I said ginseng wine! GIN-SENG WINE!"
"Hahaha!"
Zhao Wenwu couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, gloating at his brother’s misfortune. Zhao Ergou started laughing too. Only Zhao Wendong wasn’t laughing. He hadn’t been fast enough to get away and had taken two whacks from his grandpa’s cane. ’This is so unfair,’ he thought, feeling utterly helpless.