Su Congwen stopped and stood quietly looking at the big tree.
The centuries-old tree has withstood countless winds and rains, but it still stands here. With its intricate roots and lush branches and leaves, it opens a huge green umbrella. Under the umbrella, generations of people have lived here. People, they were enjoying the cool under the umbrellas and chatting about their families...
This tree has listened to countless voices and witnessed the history here, and still stands silently for a long time.
Su Congwen looked at the tree and seemed to understand why Brother Zhang had to bury himself under this tree. Because as long as he saw this tree, he would know that he had gone home and be buried under this tree. ?It seems that he can have the same tenacious vitality as him.
"Uncle, what are you looking at?" A childish voice next to him recalled Su Congwen's thoughts.
Su Congwen turned his head and saw a little girl with braids. She was small and wearing a flowery skirt. Her face was flushed and she blinked her big eyes, looking at him curiously.
"I'm looking at this tree." Su Congwen smiled.
"What's so good about this?" The little girl was puzzled. "Why do you adults like to look at this tree?"
"Both?" Su Congwen smiled again, "Who else likes it?"
"My mother." The little girl replied seriously, "When she is not working, she likes to come here and sit and look at this tree. I really don't know what is so good about it."
Su Congwen looked at her cute little face and couldn't help but pinch it. Sui Huan from the eldest brother's family should be about the same age as this little girl now, right?
?The little girl was pinched and stared at him.
"Ahem." Su Congwen felt guilty, "Uncle, can I ask you something?"
"What's going on?" The little girl's attention was easily diverted.
"Is there a family named Zhang in your village?" Su Congwen asked the little girl where Brother Zhang's home was.
"That's a lot." The little girl thought for a moment with her little eyebrows tangled, then clasped her hands and counted, "Zhang Biebo, Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhang, and the second uncle..."
The little girl married several people with the surname Zhang in a year. "In our village, many people have the surname Zhang."
"My surname is Zhang too."
Su Congwen was startled, looking at the little girl's features, and suddenly took out the photo that Brother Zhang gave him from his bag. Looking at the face of the little girl on the photo and the little girl standing opposite, Su Congwen My heart tightened, anticipating something, and asked: "Little girl, tell uncle, what is your father's name? Is it Zhang Qingshan?"
The little girl's eyes widened when she heard this. Before she could answer, an anxious voice came from behind her.
"Huahua! Who are you talking to? Come here!"
Su Congwen turned around and saw a young woman running over in a hurry, taking the little girl's hand and asking her to hide behind her, and then looked at him warily.
Huahua? Su Congwen's heart trembled.
The woman looked like she was no more than 20 years old. Her facial features were very beautiful, but the wrinkles and fatigue on her face made people ignore her beauty. Her clothes were also very simple.
"Who are you? Who are you looking for in our village?" The woman saw that Su Congwen was a stranger, and when she saw the injuries on his face, she took two steps back.
"Mom, uncle is here to see daddy." The little girl called Huahua spoke, and she looked at Su Congwen with excitement.
Zhang Qingshan left home when she was only one year old. In her memory, there was no father at all. Many children in the village laughed at her for being a child without a father. Every time, she came home crying. At this time, her mother loudly told them that her father was a glorious soldier who was fighting outside to protect the country. She was the daughter of a soldier and should not cry and be strong.
So later on, Huahua would tell the other children exactly what her mother said. As time went by, her longing and expectation for her father increased day by day. She looked forward to his return every day, so she often stood at the entrance of the village and looked around. Waiting for her father to come home wearing a majestic military uniform and a big red flower as her mother said.
Su Congwen mentioned her father's name, and Huahua thought that her father was coming back, so she was extremely excited.
"Who did you say you were looking for?" The woman couldn't believe it, "Looking for Qingshan?"
"I..." Su Congwen didn't know what to say for a moment. He was not looking for Brother Zhang, but brought Brother Zhang back.
"Is Qingshan coming back?" The woman was so happy when she thought of this possibility, and her eyes were filled with anticipation. "Is the battle over and he is coming back?"
"Are you Sister-in-law Xiufang? I am Brother Zhang's comrade. My name is Su Congwen. I have something to do here this time. Can I go to your house to talk about it?" Su Congwen still couldn't bear to tell them cruel things here. The truth of the matter.
"Convenient and convenient, of course it's convenient." Li Xiufang agreed repeatedly and said to Hua Hua, "Hua Hua, call me uncle."
"Hello, uncle!" the little girl shouted loudly with a clear voice.
"Be good." Although Su Congwen was smiling, his eyes were sad. He didn't know how he would face the mother and daughter later.
Li Xiufang and Huahua led the way, their steps brisk and impatient.
Su Congwen followed the two of them, his steps heavy, and his heart became more and more depressed.
Finally arrived at Zhang’s house.
Li Xiufang gave Su Congwen a glass of water, "Are you tired from the journey? Drink some water quickly."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Su Congwen finally took a sip and mentally organized his words.
"What on earth were you talking about just now?" Li Xiufang looked at him expectantly.
Su Congwen put down the cup and was silent for a long time. Then he stood up and knelt on the ground\/
"What are you doing?" Li Xiufang was startled and quickly went to help him, "Get up quickly and tell me if you need anything."
Su Congwen didn't move, and Li Xiufang couldn't pull him. She just watched as he took out a square box from his bag.
Seeing the box, Li Xiufang felt a thrill in her heart, and a bad premonition came to her. Looking at Su Congwen's hesitant face, she seemed to realize what he would say next.
"Sister-in-law, Brother Zhang died on the battlefield five days ago." Su Congwen said painfully, "Brother Zhang died because he saved me. It's my fault. You can hit me and scold me if you want."
"These are his ashes I brought back, please keep them."
"What did you say?" Li Xiufang felt dizzy instantly. His body was unstable and he fell to the ground.
"Mom!" Huahua screamed and pulled her up, "What's wrong with you?"
Su Congwen quickly helped Li Xiufang up and asked her to sit down on the chair, "Sister-in-law, don't get excited."
Li Xiufang's eyes were dull and she couldn't hear clearly what Su Congwen was saying. She only knew that her husband was gone and the father of her child was gone. For women, it is a devastating blow.
Three years ago, Qingshan stood under the yellow horn tree, said goodbye to her and her daughter, picked up his luggage and left home, saying that when he came back from the war, they would live a good life and he would never leave them again. .
So she waited and waited. No one could imagine how difficult a woman's life would be with a child.
Whenever she couldn't hold on anymore, she would go to the yellow horn tree and sit blankly, hoping that the next second, the person she cherished would stand under that tree again.
