For the past two days, the younger kids, who were all around the same age, played together, Tong Tong included.

Lin Feng was in charge of everyone's meals. He cooked for Lin Dahu and delivered the food to the hospital, a round trip that took nearly an hour, or an hour and a half with delays. He spent the rest of his time with his wife and daughter, exploring everything Meicheng had to offer.

Three days later, the eldest son returned, travel-worn and exhausted. He slept for the entire afternoon, and after dinner, he went with Lin Feng to the hospital.

In just a few short days, Lin Dahu had grown so haggard that he could only stomach the food Lin Feng prepared. Despite this, his spirits remained optimistic. He had come to terms with his situation.

The older generation still held some traditional beliefs. "Keep the children away from the hospital from now on," he said. "Best to avoid the unhealthy air."

Lin Feng prepared some hot pear juice and brought it to him. Lin Dahu sipped it slowly. He used to be able to finish a small bowl, but now he could only manage a few mouthfuls.

"Save it," he whispered. "I'll have more later…"

Third Aunt, standing nearby, turned away to secretly wipe her tears, her shoulders trembling.

The weather outside was pleasant. Lin Feng smiled as he saw his daughter, Xiao Bao, running toward him.

"Daddy, Xiao Bao wants an ice pop!"

Zhang Yuxi followed close behind her. "We already split one earlier, and now she's getting cravings again."

Lin Feng picked up his daughter. "No, you can't. You've already had one today, so no more!"

"Then let me choose between pudding and an ice pop, Daddy."

What a little smarty-pants, pretending to give me a choice.

"Alright, let's go home, and Daddy will make you some pudding."

Originally, Yu Zheng and the others had planned to leave on the third day after the eldest son's return. However, Third Aunt told them what the doctor had said: her husband probably wouldn't make it through the month. After a brief discussion, they decided to stay for the time being, figuring anything important could be handled via video call.

That night, a strong wind began to howl outside, and soon after, rain started to pour.

Standing by the window, Zhang Yuxi remarked, "It's going to be even hotter once this rain stops."

In the middle of the night, the phone rang. It was Zhou Cuilan, calling to say that Third Uncle had passed away twenty minutes ago.

It all happened so suddenly that Lin Feng was momentarily stunned.

Zhang Yuxi asked groggily, "Who was that?"

"Third Uncle is gone."

Zhang Yuxi was instantly wide awake. "Gone? When?"

"Twenty minutes ago."

She was speechless for a moment. "So, what should we do now?"

"I'll have to trouble you with the kids for a few days, honey. Please look after Xiao Bao and the others. I have to go help with Third Uncle's funeral."

Zhang Yuxi nodded.

"You should get some more sleep. I'm going to the hospital to see what's happening."

"Drive safely."

At the hospital, they were already discussing funeral arrangements with Third Aunt and Lin Rui. There were still many formalities to handle. Everyone who could make it had come. Lin Daan and Lin Dashan were on their way, but they hadn't been able to see him one last time, a fact they would always regret.

Lin Dahu had never moved his household registration to the city. He always said that when he got old, he wanted to return to the earth and be laid to rest in the ground. In past conversations, his brothers, Lin Daan and Lin Dashan, had agreed that they preferred cremation. Lin Dahu, however, had wanted to pick a place with good feng shui to be buried. Their paternal aunt's funeral, for instance, had been a simple cremation. That process was straightforward: paperwork, transfer to the mortuary, arranging the cremation, and placing the ashes in a cemetery plot with little fuss. A traditional burial, on the other hand, required choosing an auspicious day for the interment.

There were people in their old hometown who knew how to calculate such things, and the date was set for four days later. In those four days, they needed to select a grave site. The village was mostly home to the elderly and children now. Lin Feng occasionally went back to the countryside with his parents during festivals to pay respects to his grandparents. Many people in the village often asked Lin Dashan and his brothers for help, and they always did what they could. So, when Lin Feng's group came to the village to pick a site, many relatives came over to see if they could lend a hand.

Once the money was paid and the plot was chosen, the body had to be transported to the countryside. Nowadays, if you paid, people would handle everything for you. The hearse wasn't an ordinary vehicle, and red envelopes had to be given for the journey there and back, accompanied by the setting of firecrackers.

These affairs were typically organized by the men. Now that the burial was taking place, everyone who could come came to pay their respects. Even Jiang Anmin and other distant relatives attended.

Dressed in somber black or white, the mourners gathered as the coffin was buried on a bright and sunny day.

Slowly, the sound of weeping filled the air.

Third Aunt cried the hardest, her sorrow finally erupting into loud wails. "I always thought I would be the one to go first! I figured you'd drive me to an early grave one day!

"I never imagined you'd be the one to leave first... But that's alright. That's alright…"

After these few words, all that remained was the sound of her crying.

Lin Xiaolan was also weeping heartbrokenly. Now that he was gone, the words that had been so difficult to say in life came pouring out. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I was so immature before, and I made you worry so much. From now on, I promise I'll live a good life with Tong Tong…"

Beside her, Lin Rui choked out, "Dad, rest in peace. I'll take good care of Mom and my sister!"

Lin Dashan wiped a tear from his eye. "Second Brother, go in peace. I'll burn offerings for you every year. If you need anything, just send me a dream."

Lin Daan echoed his sentiment. "Me too. We brothers will all come to visit you…"

The adults stood at the front, with the younger generation behind them. They were all deeply saddened and crying as well.

Zhang Yuxi held Xiao Bao in her arms at the back, her heart aching. Xiao Bao didn't understand what was happening. She wrapped her little arms around her mother's neck and said softly, "Mommy, don't cry. Sisters, brothers, don't you cry either."

Zhang Yuxi hugged her daughter tightly, breathing in her familiar scent. Infected by the somber atmosphere, Xiao Bao let herself be held, remaining quiet and well-behaved.

As the time for farewells came, people began to leave, one after another.

Lin Feng, carrying Xiao Bao, walked halfway up the hill and glanced back.

An inconspicuous spot now held a new grave. A gust of wind blew past…

The atmosphere was heavy. Third Aunt had cried several times until she had no tears left. She fell silent, speaking no more.

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