Chapter 33 Snow White's Cemetery (3)

I was anxiously waiting for my mother and brother to come back soon. This kind of waiting was as uncomfortable as pushing my heart.After a while, the younger brother opened the door first and came back, holding a bamboo basket full of bowls and plates in his hand.He looked a little happy, and he put the bamboo basket in the corner and walked over to me mysteriously and said: "Our mother wants to celebrate the New Year, and she went to the warehouse to pack the things for the New Year." I was relieved.Sure enough, mother came in from the door very quickly, with a bag of flour in one hand and a bundle of raw onions that had been frozen white and straight in the other, and she put them in front of the pot, A posture that will be busy for a long time.

I quickly filled the kettle with water, turned off the hob, and sat the kettle on.I know that the most indispensable thing in a busy year is warm water. This sensible approach will comfort my mother. My mother called us sisters together and assigned us work for the busy year.The younger brother is mostly engaged in "buying" because of his legs, and he buys all things such as soy sauce, vinegar, chopsticks, incense, eggs, pork, etc. Steaming rice cakes, frying peanuts and melon seeds, etc.; although I am a girl, I am not good at fine work, so I can only do rough work such as carrying water, pouring dirty water, cleaning the yard, chopping seeds, and putting away the sundries in the warehouse .Fortunately, I have the strength of a whole body, and I am the least afraid of the cold, so these outdoor activities are still a reward for me.Once my mother is alive, so are we.There was still a round spot of red embedded in her left eye when her mother gave orders, like a red bean, which had grown suddenly in her eye when her father died.I always feel that it is my father's soul, and my father really knows how to find a place.My father's soul is red, and I'm sure he inhabits my mother's eyes now.

After setting up the homework, the mother said to the younger brother: "The firecrackers, hanging money, couplets and paper lanterns that were bought in previous years will not be bought this year." "I know." The younger brother lowered his head and said solemnly.The family of the dead master must avoid showing off these things that are too festive within three years. We have known this unusual custom since we were young.It seems that there is a difference between having a father and not having a father. My heart suddenly became desolate, and my nose was sore again. I couldn’t cry in front of my mother. The snow in the cemetery and the indescribable tranquility.My expression must have caught my mother's attention. She called me by my baby name, and then said to us: "From now on, no one is allowed to shed a single tear. I have lived with your father for more than twenty years, and our relationship has always been very close." Well, it’s more worthwhile to be together than other people’s families for a lifetime, and I’m satisfied. Sadness is sad, but when someone dies, he can’t be recruited back, so let him go. You are all grown up, you don’t need your father Now, you have to walk your own way in the future. Your father treated you well when he was alive, and it’s not that he has never received father’s love, so he should be content." After her mother finished speaking, she went back to work in the kitchen.The three of us, siblings, glanced at each other and acted quickly.

I carried the metal bucket and walked towards the well.The water well is in the northwest of our house, and the nearest route has to go around seven or eight houses to get there.The snow on the road is not as rich and complete as that in the garden. Due to people coming and going, the snow is sticking to the road in pieces like patches, and there are livestock manure and debris left by others on the road. wood chips.Walking on such a road, there is a feeling of boredom in my heart.The sky was very pale, and if it was not until dusk, even the faint sunset glow in the western sky could not be seen.I walked with my head down, because I was so familiar with the route in this area that I could walk with my eyes closed. Occasionally, I ran into two or three older aunts and aunts. Most of them called my baby name and asked straightforwardly: "Your mother Do you want to celebrate the New Year?" "Yes." I looked up at them a little, then walked forward with my head down.When I went around to the well platform, I found that there were more people carrying water there than before.Most of the water carriers were men, and they lined up consciously, but when they saw me coming, they all enthusiastically let me hit first.I stubbornly declined, because I felt that they were pitying me for having lost my father. I was unwilling to accept this kind of sympathy, so I refused to stand at the forefront.I stood behind these men and lined up silently. There was thick ice under my feet, and the ice had a creamy yellow color. It was like stepping on a large piece of cheese.I dare not look at the faces of these men because they remind me of my father so easily.When his father was alive, he was also one of the members behind them.At that time, these men talked and laughed together, but now because I am behind in line, they are all silent.I only heard the sound of creaking and splashing water, and the subtle rubbing sound of many men's footsteps moving forward like ants. The rest I felt was the hidden danger hidden under this monotonous turmoil. Deep silence and cold.It's been a really long winter.I recalled the fresh red bean in my mother's eyes again.At this time, the two buckets at my feet suddenly made a gushing sound. It turned out that the person in front had poured water into my bucket first, so I had no choice but to withdraw from the team and staggered away from the well platform with the two buckets.When I was far away from the crowd, I dared to cry.I cried because they pitied me so badly, I couldn't stand it.Because of crying, my stubbornness was raised, and once the stubbornness came up, my strength became stronger, so I walked to the door of the house very quickly.I carried the water into the kitchen, which was foggy with steam, and my mother was washing dishes in a large basin, while my sister stood on a chair with a kerchief on and swept the dust.My mother told me to pour water into the jar and bring some firewood in, because the fire in the stove was running low.I responded nasally.The mother asked: "You are worthless, and you secretly went out to cry again?" "They insisted that I fetch water first, I can't stand it." I said. "They won't be like this after the new year. What's more, you must have seen them keep silent, that's why they pity you." The mother said lightly.