side by side

Uncle Fu left and went to his own room.

Xiao An was the first person to find out, when he gave the white fungus and lotus seed soup, he realized something was wrong, and when he opened the door, Uncle Fu had died long ago.Lying flat on the bed, the quilt neatly covers the shoulders, there is no sign of struggle, no pain or disaster, it still seems to be in a dream.It's just that this dream was really too long.

The funeral was organized by Mr. Liang himself.The person who was discovered in the afternoon was ready to be buried the next day.The ready-made paper flowers, paper figures, paper chariots, and horses that were just bought covered the entire Liang family in white. It seemed that winter had entered overnight. Bo.

Kneeling tremblingly beside the coffin, Xiao An, dressed in sackcloth and filial piety, was keeping watch for Uncle Fu. He curled up on the mat, his eyes were closed tightly, and he looked frightened.Suddenly, his shoulder was touched by something, Xiao An cried out in a loud voice, and leaned on the mat to become a shrimp.

"Xiao An, go back to sleep." It was Mr. Liang who came, and he patted Xiao An on the shoulder. "I'll have a conversation with Ah Fu, and I'll see him off for the last time."

Xiao An shook into a dustpan, trembling so much that he couldn't speak, he even crawled and bowed to the master a few times, as if he was pardoned and left the mourning hall, he was really terrified.From the main hall back to the room, there were not many lights on the way, Xiao An walked all the way in silence, and suddenly saw a light in front of him.He was overjoyed, he hurriedly walked a few steps, finally he was not so afraid after seeing the light, he couldn't help but heaved a long sigh, he felt relieved a lot.

This place of light is the back kitchen of the Liang Mansion.It was late at night, but Qin's mother was still busy preparing for the food for the porters in the morning.Xiao An timidly slammed on the door and called Qin's mother, "Qin's mother, can I sit here for a while?"

Qin's mother was a bit night-blind, so she listened until she found Xiao An standing by the door.She cheerfully patted her chubby belly, rushed to the door, pulled Xiao An's arm and pulled him closer to the kitchen, "Xiao An and Qin's mother are so polite, are you scared today, are you hungry? ? Qin's mother will cook a small stove for you later, let's eat something warm, and you will have a good sleep when you are full. "

Xiao An obediently sat on the small stool and helped Qin's mother.Qin Ma was chubby, her eyes were not very good, but her workmanship was sharp; her round belly was pressed against the stove, rising and falling rhythmically with the spoon being thrown.She cut the pork belly with a small knife, sliced ​​it into large slices with a hob, and evenly placed them on the plate. She chopped another half of the big winter white radish, cut it into round thin slices, and tore the yellow leaf cabbage into large slices. There was a billowing heat.

Putting the small bowl on, scooped two tablespoons full of green and red chili sauce from the porcelain urn, Qin's mother rubbed Xiao An's head affectionately, "Eat, little guy, eat something hot, don't catch a cold."

Xiao An was holding the bowl, couldn't help patting it and shedding tears again.

"Look at how delicate you are, a boy." Qin's mother couldn't help laughing again, "you will make Qin's mother worry."

"Mother Qin," Xiao An lowered her head and bit her lips, as if she had made up her mind, "Uncle Fu's death..."

"Hush!" Qin's mother suddenly stretched out the root food and pointed it out, and pressed it against her lips. In the rising mist, she pretended to glance out of the door inadvertently, and deliberately raised her voice, "Xiao An, You don’t have to feel guilty when you feel scared. Young people are always afraid when facing life and death. You just said that Uncle Fu passed away very peacefully. Fate is fate."

Xiao An frowned, not knowing why, but when she saw Qin's mother tugging on his sleeve secretly, she understood it and stopped talking.Qin's mother babbled and read for a while, after a long time, she stopped suddenly, took two steps towards the window, closed her eyes and listened carefully, and finally breathed a sigh of relief, she became that carefree and warm-hearted woman again Mother Qin.

"Xiao An," Qin's mother moved closer to Xiao An's ear.Xiao An rubbed her hands a little uneasily.

Qin's mother lowered her voice, "You were in that room, did you hear that thing?" Qin's mother curled her hands in front of her chest, stuck out her tongue, the shape of her mouth changed from small to large, and softly uttered 'Wow' .

Xiao An stood up in a jerk, got up too hastily, tripped over the stool, and fell to the ground in a daze. He stared at Qin's mother with wide eyes, with an expression of disbelief.

"Hey, look at your child, why are you so anxious?" Qin's mother knelt down to help him, but Xiao An subconsciously avoided it. Qin's mother clapped her hands helplessly, and even sat on the ground with her buttocks, talking to him in a low voice Muttering, "Mother Qin, you don't have good eyesight, but you have good ears. Today, I heard it too."

"Not long after you left, I remembered the two bowls of sweet-scented osmanthus and lotus seed soup I gave you. The master's bowl was without sugar. I rushed out and didn't catch up, so I thought of taking a shortcut and guarding you at the door of Steward Fu," Qin's mother sighed, "When I was still a little away from this door, I heard a dog barking from inside Fu Guan's house. I was familiar with that sound. It was the big black dog from before. Then I heard your voice."

"Let me go. I don't understand the matter of Mrs. Madam, but I know that this matter is not visible. Just now when we were eating, there was someone squatting in the corner outside the door. I listened," Qin's mother touched Xiao An With a cold forehead, he wiped his sweat, "That's why I stopped you from talking, for fear that you would cause trouble."

"Mother Qin," Xiao An suddenly took two steps forward, with a look of horror on his face, "Mother Qin, when I entered, Uncle Fu was still alive! He grabbed the eaves of the bed and made no sound. I rushed over to save him. He, he stretched out his hand and pushed me away, he shook his head fiercely not to let me say anything, he...he!"

"I watched him suddenly tilt his neck and hit the wooden bed couch hard. There was a hole in his head, and blood gushed out. His expression was painful, and his neck was twisted even more. It was so big that it didn't look human. But, it seems to have been broken by an unknown force," Xiao An was lying on the ground trembling, his expression extremely painful, trembling and leaning towards Qin's mother, Qin's mother hurriedly scooped him into her arms , After a long pause, he calmed down a little, "I watched the flesh on his neck being torn apart little by little, first blood was seen at four symmetrical points, and then closed, the wound was torn apart and stretched, revealing the twisted Twitching muscles and throbbing pulses."

"The wound on Uncle Fu's head didn't bleed much at that time, and all the blood in his body seemed to have drained from the hole in his neck." Xiao An suddenly shivered, "I shouldn't have looked at him for the last time. , I may never forget his expression at that time." Xiaoan held Qin's mother tightly, "Qin's mother, he is smiling, he is smiling! He made a mouth shape for me, and he made me laugh I'm going."

The soup pot on the table was bubbling hot, and it was surprisingly similar to the bitten neck.

The door was suddenly knocked open.

Xiao An couldn't help shivering again, as did Qin's mother who was holding him.

tbc.