I'm The Hard Rice King

Chapter 426 Let time give the answer

"Happy New Year, Happy New Year~"

"Haha, yes, Fengfeng is at home...want to see Yilan? Come on, welcome."

Although with the development of the times, the flavor of the New Year has become less and less, the New Year after the lifting of the lockdown is definitely more flavorful than the three years of the mask period put together.

Because the gloom overhead has dissipated, Ningyuan has lifted the ban on setting off fireworks and firecrackers in some areas of the city, and the movement of relatives and friends is no longer restricted.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Qiyuan and Yu Huizhi's mobile phones were not stopped, and the calls for New Year's greetings came one after another. But this time they were not student colleagues, but mostly relatives of the two.

Nowadays, Writer Li has a successful career and is well-known. When they heard that he was coming home, many more relatives wanted to visit him. Those who called either wanted to be guests or invite their family to have dinner at his home.

Li Qiyuan and Yu Huizhi discussed it and simply planned to call each other's family members to have a reunion dinner together today.

In addition to Li Peifeng's close relatives and elders such as his grandfather and grandmother, there are also aunts and uncles who are Li Qiyuan and Yu Huizhi's brothers and sisters.

Li Peifeng didn't like such a messy occasion, and he felt that he was going to Hangzhou tomorrow on the second day of the Lunar New Year, so there was no need for such a large-scale dinner party, so when Li Qiyuan and Yu Huizhi proposed this plan, they politely expressed their opposition, but The reasons listed by the second elder Luo were very sufficient and successfully convinced him.

"Not only do you think it's troublesome, your mother and I also think it's troublesome. The key is that you are now prosperous, and tomorrow we have to go away again. We may not be able to come back when. It doesn't make sense that we won't even see our relatives during the Chinese New Year. There are also Grandpa You and Grandma and the others, they are the real protagonists of this meal... In this world, one meeting is missing, and a family's meal is missing one meal."

"Your grandpa is still in good health, but he doesn't like to cook much this year. From time to time, he asks your second uncle to take care of food, clothing, and daily life. He even came to live with us for a while before. Your grandpa and grandma's health is even worse. In previous years, I can still work in the fields, but this year the land has been reserved. In the future, I might end up sleeping like your grandma... so you must eat this meal!"

…

"Come on, dinner is ready. Dinner is ready."

"I still need a pair of bowls and chopsticks...here they are!"

"Xiaoxia, stop playing poker and come to eat!"

At noon that day, all relatives and friends gathered at Li's house. The uncle's family is three, the second aunt's family is three, and the third aunt's family is three. Second uncle, eldest aunt, second aunt... In short, all the relatives of Li Qiyuan and Yu Huizhi are here.

There were twenty-five people, men, women, old and young, and three tables were set up in the living room and kitchen.

The sounds of adults talking, the excited shouts of children playing cards, and the various movements of the range hood in the kitchen made the house lively.

"Here comes the chicken soup~"

"Xiao Feng, are the dishes ready? Then you, the birthday girl, should sit down and eat quickly."

"I suggest that everyone first propose a toast to the two chefs. They are very busy today."

"You're right, let's toast them together."

The uncle poured wine and raised glasses. He still remembered Li Peifeng’s insignificant birthday and bought a cake before coming to the door. Others talked about hard work or happy birthday, so they raised glasses to Li Peifeng and Li Qiyuan. Father and son.

"Haha, as long as you are satisfied with the meal."

"Happy New Year, cheers."

After a glass of wine, the dinner party officially began, and the volume of conversation did not get much lower. The children were shocked at the deliciousness of the dishes and praised them endlessly. The adults' topics mainly revolved around the pregnant women Li Peifeng and Zhao Qingge.

Because of their teacher-student status and age gap, Li's family was not optimistic about this relationship at first. However, Li Peifeng's parents were very supportive, and the young couple successfully married and had children, so they could only express their blessings and concern.

Second aunt: "Qingge, are you tired after being transferred to Yan University? You need to pay more attention to your pregnancy. It's better to take a leave and concentrate on raising the baby."

Zhao Qingge lowered his eyebrows and said, "I'm not too busy at work, and after I got pregnant, I told my boss that I would basically work from home."

The second aunt nodded: "That's okay. You must not be tired. You have to be careful when walking. It's not a joke if you fall a little. I was thirty-two years old when I had my second child. I couldn't wait to have 24 hours a day. They are all lying on the bed to raise them...Hey, you have to listen to your mother-in-law in this regard, she is too experienced."

Yu Huizhi answered with a smile: "You should pay attention, but you should not be too nervous, otherwise the mood will be very depressed and it will not be good for the baby's health."

The second uncle asked: "By the way, Peifeng, why didn't you appear on TV this year? The grand ceremony program last year didn't seem to be broadcast this year."

Li Peifeng explained: "The kind of annual meeting co-organized with TV stations is not held every year. This year's terminal annual meeting is not open to the public. It is just a gathering of writers to have a meal and then award some works. Last week I just came back from the Shanghai Stock Exchange to hold the annual meeting."

The second uncle was curious: "Did you win the award?"

Before Li Peifeng could answer, his cousin immediately said, "Of course I won the award, the annual Golden Keyboard Award... Only the novel with the best performance and the greatest influence can win this award."

The second aunt patted her daughter and said, "Why are you so well-connected?"

"I've been following the updates... By the way, brother, I saw in the news that Sword and Sorcery seems to be developing a mobile game. When can we start testing it?"

The second aunt laughed and scolded: "I just didn't study hard in my sophomore year and focused all my attention on novels and games. Do you think you are your brother? If you can write like your brother, let alone make a lot of money with this, as long as you have enough The monthly pocket money, then I will burn high incense..."

My cousin mustered up the courage: "Mom, please stop saying a few words. I'm writing...it's already more than 30,000 words. Brother, can you help me guide it later?"

"no problem."

Li Peifeng smiled and said: "If you write well, I can even give you a chapter recommendation after it is released."

"That's great...but I feel like my writing is very poor. I spent more than two weeks writing the first 30,000 words." The cousin was happy but guilty.

"Take your time, no one writes like a god the first time they write."

The second aunt and second uncle work as workers in a swimsuit factory. The couple earns more than 10,000 yuan a month and live a relatively comfortable life. However, their daughter Ding Xueran attends a second-level agricultural school, and they have always been worried about their daughter's employment.

The second uncle didn't understand what Zhang Tui meant, but seeing his daughter's joy, he thanked Li Peifeng for his help, and then encouraged his daughter: "This time we can't fish for three days and dry the net for two days. Since you want to write, just come up with it." Come with persistence, don’t let your brother’s help go, maybe you can adapt the work into a TV series and make a lot of money.”

Ding Xueran looked resentful and remained silent, thinking to herself, parents, you think too highly of me, are you still adapting it for film and television? I'm afraid it will be difficult to even sign the contract.

The aunt at the other table interjected with a smile: "Pei Feng, the TV series "Devil President" was really good, and it seems to be quite popular... Do you have any other works that have been put on the screen in the future?"

"There are currently no plans for film and television, but there are two cartoons that should be released this year."

"Really? What work is it adapted from?"

"..."

As a married person with a child and a successful career, Li Peifeng does not have the embarrassing worries of contemporary young people who are urged to get married and asked about salary when they go home to celebrate the New Year and chat with relatives.

The topic at the dinner table centered on him, and everyone chatted about it, chatting here and there, and the atmosphere was harmonious and harmonious.

"Dingling bell~"

Halfway through the meal, amidst the chaos of conversation, Grandpa Li Tiancheng received a call on his cell phone. He thought it was a relative or friend coming to pay New Year greetings, so he answered it with a smile. However, after chatting with him for a short time, his smile disappeared. He hung up the phone with a calm expression.

"who?"

Li Qiyuan next to him vaguely heard the content of the call, and his expression became solemn.

"Brother Liang, your uncle may only live for a few days, and he may not even be able to survive fifteen."

Li Tiancheng whispered: "After dinner, you will drive me to Sandao Township. I must meet him before he leaves and stay in his hometown for a few days... Sigh."

Although the voice was low, everyone at this table heard it.

Li Qiyuan's uncle, that is Li Peifeng's uncle, Li Tiancheng's brother... is going to die?

It was at this moment of joyful reunion that when I suddenly received this kind of news, the topic of conversation among my relatives inevitably turned to this.

"This New Year's Eve, it's really..."

"How old is he this year?"

"Is there any physical illness? Have you been to a major hospital?"

Li Tiancheng took a sip of his wine and pondered: "My elder brother was originally in good health. He often went to work in the fields when he was in his seventies, but since he was hit by an electric car the year before last, he became ill. Speaking of which, seven Thirteen, eighty-four, the King of Hell will not take me there. After the New Year, he will be eighty-five, which is considered a long life... Let’s not talk about this, everyone continues to eat.”

After finishing speaking, Li Tiancheng poured a glass of wine to respect everyone, and then the old man took the initiative to change the subject and asked Li Peifeng if he had given his great-great-grandson a good name, as if he had completely forgotten about the phone call just now.

“I have a few alternative names, but I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

While Li Peifeng was answering, he observed his grandpa's trembling right hand just now when he was pouring wine, as well as the reluctance and sadness hidden under his smile. He couldn't help but understand more about his parents' insistence on making this party happen, and even suddenly remembered his grandma's death. that day.

There is a horse in a sigh, a fire in a stone, and a body in a dream.

People's cognition of time, perception of life and death can only sprout after experiencing a near-death state, or seeing their parents' gray hair and withered face, or experiencing the death of their loved ones.

Every time you experience it, you will have new thoughts about life.

What impressed Li Peifeng the most was the time when his grandmother died of cerebral infarction caused by diabetes during the winter vacation of his sophomore year.

It’s not particularly sudden, because my grandma has been troubled by diabetes in her later years. Her lower body is paralyzed and she is bedridden all year round. Sometimes she is awake and sometimes confused, and she needs grandpa to take care of her.

A week before my grandma died, her condition worsened and she had been lying in the hospital. The family had been mentally prepared in advance.

"The death certificate just came out... This old lady didn't say anything to me, she didn't even say thank you, and left without saying a word."

After the family rushed to the hospital ward, grandfather Li Tiancheng immediately complained to his wife in front of them, waving the thin piece of paper in his hand.

He didn't shed tears, no sadness or pain, and his tone was like his children came to eat at home when his wife was still alive. He was complaining that he changed grandma's diapers three times today.

But grandma herself was lying peacefully on the bed with a natural and kind expression, as if she was sleeping soundly.

The juniors who were present seemed to understand Li Tiancheng's reaction. It wasn't that the old couple had a bad relationship, it was just that grandpa was a little bit resentful for serving patients all year round. On the other hand, grandma had just passed away. My wife is still here.

The gap between life and death is not the sadness that pours out in an instant, but after returning to the daily bits and pieces, it is found that that person really does not exist.

The second uncle chatted with his father about his mother's funeral, and he woke up like a dream when Li Qiyuan reminded him, snatched the death certificate, and drove his grandfather away from the hospital.

The old man's funeral must not be attended by his wife.

Handling one's spouse's funeral affairs with one's own hands is a kind of torture. Even though Li Qiyuan is inexperienced, he subconsciously wants his elderly father to avoid it.

Even he just glanced at his mother's face and then shifted his gaze with a slight trembling.

As my grandma's most beloved eldest grandson, Li Peifeng and his aunt put on the prepared shroud for my grandma in the hospital bed. Because he was young and strong, Li Peifeng carried her from the ward to the car and pulled her back. At home.

Encoffining, mourning in the temple, breaking filial piety, setting up mourning hall, eating banquet, keeping vigil, cremation...

Li Peifeng participated in every step, and personally carried the coffin to send grandma into the hearse of the funeral home. Finally, she followed her father and put the urn into the storage room of the funeral home.

Li Peifeng didn't shed any tears or even feel sad during the whole process.

He just felt that grandma's body was so heavy, and it was difficult to walk from the ward to the car.

Even though Li Peifeng's deadlift of 200 kilograms was just like playing at that time, he almost lost his weight several times while holding his grandma for less than 100 meters.

It was not because of the fear of corpses, but because of the confusion caused by suddenly discovering that death was so close to oneself.

The night after all the arrangements for grandma's funeral were settled, the family of three drank some wine. Li Qiyuan chatted a lot with Yu Huizhi, and after getting tipsy, he confided in Li Peifeng.

"The death of parents will divide the lives of children into two halves. Because no matter how old a person is, as long as their parents are still alive, they are still children. When no one stands between them and death, children will suddenly realize that life How short it is, how random and meaningless life is, and being happy in the present is the most important thing.”

"Fengfeng, I hope you won't be like me and your mother, who only really wake up at this age. You must realize that death is chasing you as early as possible. Don't think that everything is too late. Only by maintaining an urgent mentality can you clarify your goals in this life. Figure out what exactly makes you happy.”

"It is something that is real and has no utilitarian color. It is the answer to why you live. Once you think about it, do it boldly. Don't hesitate, because death is watching you coldly from behind."

Since then, the couple has traveled more and more frequently. What they want is to travel to the Qingshan Mountains, where the scenery is unique and beautiful.

Li Peifeng is trying to make more female friends. What he wants is to eat enough meat and drink all the wine, to spread love and exhaust all the romance.

After all, time is the most unpredictable thing.

The wind blows in the daytime, and the scenery flows westward.

Finally, it was the day of departure on the second day of junior high school. Li Peifeng and others packed their luggage, picked up Wu Wenyue, and drove to the capital. According to the original idea, Mr. Li would send Zhao Qingge home, then meet up with Xu Manying, and the five of them would fly from the capital to Hangzhou.

After everything was done, Li Peifeng took his two elders back to the capital to meet and have dinner with Zhao Qingge's parents to keep in touch with the two families.

According to Li Peifeng's idea, this would take care of Zhao Qingge's feelings to the greatest extent and would not delay the original trip to Hangzhou. After proposing this plan, Zhao Duoduo agreed without saying anything.

But before he, his parents, and Wu and Xu's two daughters boarded the plane to Hangzhou, Lao Zhao sent a WeChat message that made his heart skip a beat.

"We are on the eternal journey of life, running through ups and downs, and achieving nirvana through setbacks. Our whole body is filled with sorrow, and pain is everywhere. We are tired, but there is no way to stop; we are miserable, but there is no way to avoid it."

Li Peifeng: "Honey, don't scare me with "One Hundred Years of Solitude". I'm scared. We had a good chat last night... If you have any new ideas, just tell me and I'll listen."

Zhao Qingge: "You won't listen. You think you have successfully completed the emotional challenge, but you have ignored that there are still some unavoidable disasters in life. It will definitely give you a piece of cake at unexpected and reasonable moments. A little shocked... I really want to see what you would do at that time, do you have an answer?"

"..."

"It seems you haven't either, so I'll wait and see."

Li Peifeng fell into silence, and Zhao Qingge actually said a little leisurely: "Let time give us the answer."

(End of chapter)