Between lines

Xu Shaohua felt very strange that there was no regular meeting this morning.

Generally speaking, there will be meetings every Monday and Friday morning. Not only was the meeting canceled today, it seems that the high-level executives are not there.He got up and talked to another colleague while he was going to print the document: "It seems that the director and the others are not here today, what's the matter?"

Because the management is not there, everyone relaxes a lot.The colleague who was questioned took a sip of coffee, glanced left and right and said in a low voice: "Don't you know? The boss' wife passed away, and today the leader and the others went to offer their condolences."

Boss wife?Isn't that Chen Tingbai's mother?Chen Tingbai is only thirty, and the boss is not very old, so her wife should be still very young, why did she die suddenly?

Xu Shaohua shook his hand, and the printed document fell to the ground, spilling a large piece of it.He hurriedly squatted down to pick it up, and the colleague also bent down to help him clean it up, and whispered: "I left two days ago, it would seem that our boss is still in the neighboring city. It's a pity if you talk about it. After finishing this graduating class, I will retire."

Xu Shaohua frowned and asked, "So why did he die? It doesn't sound like he's sick."

Although it is said that no one can say clearly about natural disasters and man-made disasters, but no one will feel flustered when hearing such news.What's more, Xu Shaohua and Chen Tingbai had such a relationship not long ago.

The colleague handed the arranged documents to Xu Shaohua, thought for a while and said: "In fact, Mr. Chen's wife has always had high blood pressure. Maybe she is under a lot of pressure in the third year of high school. She is too tired. If I Maybe it has something to do with Mr. Chen’s son. You don’t know. Mr. Chen’s son was paralyzed in a car accident a few years ago. Such a job is not tiring. Don't look at Boss Chen's calm face on the surface, then you came late, and your hair has turned gray a lot in the first two years... Hey, why did you go?"

Xu Shaohua casually put the materials on the colleague's desk, and walked out without looking back, saying: "I have some urgent matters at home, and I need to ask for leave."

The person died on the day Mr. Chen was on a business trip, so where was Chen Tingbai at that time?Could it be that Chen Tingbai is the only one at home?

When Xu Shaohua and Chen Tingbai were together, he could eat meals made by his mother every night in the words. From Chen Tingbai's words, he could also hear his respect and love for his mother.How painful would it be if Chen Tingbai faced his mother's death alone?

At this time, you must go and see it.As a subordinate, as... Chen Tingbai's friend.

In the municipal funeral home that Xu Shaohua went to first, none of them was surnamed Chen.Xu Shaohua went to the Provincial Funeral Parlor, and finally found the farewell hall run by Chen Tingbai's family.

Mr. Chen and a few relatives greeted those who came to express their condolences at the door. At first Xu Shaohua thought of a lot of reasons to explain to Mr. Chen why he appeared here, but he didn't expect to be in front of him, but he couldn't squeeze out a word.

On the contrary, Mr. Chen, who is usually vigorous and resolute, looked much older. He patted Xu Shaohua on the shoulder and said slightly: "Thank you."

Teacher Lu was full of peaches and plums during his lifetime, and many students came to express their condolences, some were silent, and some cried uncontrollably.No matter how hard-hearted Xu Shaohua was, seeing such a scene made him feel very uncomfortable, and felt that he was in a panic.

Xu Shaohua saw Chen Tingbai at a glance. He was sitting in the innermost part of the mourning hall, with his mother's coffin behind him.Chen Tingbai was wearing a black suit, holding his mother's portrait in his arms.

It has only been two or three days since we met in Zili last time, but Chen Tingbai is already emaciated beyond recognition. His skin is already fair, but now his face and lips are even bloodless. The only color on his face is The two dark circles under the eyes.

The current Chen Tingbai is too thin, and the normally well-tailored suit will look too big on him, making his body even more stooped.Especially with a long piece of sackcloth on top of his head, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he looked haggard.

Chen Tingbai just sat quietly, holding the portrait of his mother, and the relatives and elders who mourned would always come to him and bow their heads to say a few words of comfort to him, but his eyes were dull and did not respond, like a statue statue.Such Chen Tingbai and Xu Shaohua couldn't bear to approach him, for fear of disturbing him or alarming him.

It was Xu Shaohua that Chen Tingbai saw first, and Chen Tingbai subconsciously wanted to sit upright.It was only because he had been sitting for a long time that he moved slightly, and his legs, which were resting quietly on the wheelchair pedals, began to shake, which was a sign of convulsions.At this moment, Xu Shaohua could only bite the bullet and walk towards Chen Tingbai, squatting down and helping him hold up his two legs and give him a simple massage to calm them down.

Xu Shaohua raised his head and saw that Chen Tingbai was also looking at him. He didn't know what to say, so he held back for a long time and said, "I'll come and see you...as long as you're fine..."

Chen Tingbai didn't speak, but just looked at Xu Shaohua fixedly.

No one knew what was going on in Chen Tingbai's mind during the short few minutes of staring at each other.

"It's good that you're fine, then I'll go first, take care of yourself and don't think too much, take care of your health." Xu Shaohua, who is usually good at talking, didn't know what to say at this moment.Let alone say something, he doesn't even know where to put his hands.After thinking about it for a while, he felt that he was really out of his mind to appear here. Seeing that Chen Tingbai was fine except for losing weight, he planned to go back.

Chen Tingbai suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Shaohua's clothes corner, Xu Shaohua walked forward and almost brought Chen Tingbai down.Fortunately, Hu Cong next to him supported him, and Xu Shaohua also reacted in time: "Oh, ancestor, what are you doing, you almost fell."

In fact, Chen Tingbai has no strength at all, but he is the only son of Mr. Lu, if he falls down, there is no one in the family who wears sackcloth and filial piety, and it is only because of this idea that he can still sit in front of the mourning hall .Almost his entire upper body was lying on his lap, and it was almost impossible for him to sit up by himself.Xu Shaohua and Hu Cong supported him and helped him sit still. After he sat still, the first thing he said was: "Fortunately, the photo frame didn't fall out."

Xu Shaohua held his forehead, sighed and said to Chen Tingbai: "It's this time, you still care about the photo frame, have you not had a good rest these days, do you know that you look very bad now? Let Hu Cong help you Let's hug, you can rest next to me." After speaking, he started to take the photo frame from Chen Tingbai's arms.

Unexpectedly, Chen Tingbai was protecting it tightly with both hands, not to mention taking it, he couldn't even pull it away.He guarded it tightly, probably because of too much force, even his voice changed a bit: "I don't, this is my mother!"

I don't have a mother anymore, so I will hold up her portrait no matter what I say.

Xu Shaohua didn't dare to use any force, for fear of knocking Chen Tingbai down again, he let go of his hands to comfort Chen Tingbai: "Okay, don't rest, you sit still. You said that if you fell here today, the old lady I'm afraid I won't be safe if I leave."

... and did not speak, and Chen Tingbai did not speak.

The embarrassing thing was Xu Shaohua again, this time he really planned to leave.

"...Just stay there when you come, it'll be over in a while, stay a little longer." Chen Tingbai really didn't have the heart to go around in circles.

Most of the people who came here were friends from his father's generation and students from his mother. He had no friends these years, and the only ones standing in front of him today were Hu Cong and Lu Heng who had been helping outside.

Xu Shaohua nodded and stood quietly by Xu Shaohua's side.Chen Tingbai really couldn't sit still anymore, he was about to cling to the photo frame tightly with both hands, with almost no support, his body was slowly sliding down.Knowing that he is stubborn, I don't say anything anymore, just help him to sit up when he can't sit still.Just when his body moved, his legs would tremble slightly, and sometimes his left hand would tremble along with it.Xu Shaohua had a terrible headache, how could there be such a stubborn person.

After the condolences were over, Father Chen and Zhang Luo, the master of ceremonies, accompanied the family members to the cemetery.The person who arranged to raise the portrait at the end called Hu Cong.Chen Tingbai was so tired that he couldn't hear any sounds at all, and kept his head down all the time without any reaction.Suddenly he raised his head and opened his eyes wide and asked his father in disbelief: "Why is it Hu Cong, isn't it always me?"

Father Chen bent down, with a sad look on his face but he tried to force himself to be calm.In this accident, his grief was no less than that of Chen Tingbai, but this time he had to comfort his son who was paralyzed in a wheelchair: "Son, listen to Dad, you won't go there in a while. The cemetery is on the mountain. You can’t go up. You still have to be cremated, the time is too long, and your body can’t bear it. I’ll have someone send you back to rest in a while.”

Chen Tingbai held his father's hand, and his tone was full of pleading: "Dad, I beg you, I can let them carry me, right? Xu Shaohua, you can carry me." Then he turned to look at Xu Shao Hua. "There is also Lu Heng, Lu Heng can do it too. Really, I can hold it, I can hold it."

If it is just as simple as memorizing, there is nothing wrong with it.It's just that when it comes to the cemetery and the cremation ground, who will take care of him.His current physical strength can be said to be at the end of his strength. If there is any accident on the road, should he be busy taking care of him or dealing with Mr. Lu's funeral.For a while, no one dared to agree to him, but his eyes were so painful and humble.

Chen Tingbai has never felt so disgusted with his disability at this moment.

Lu Heng bravely ignored his gaze and knelt down to persuade him: "Xiaobai, be obedient, there are still many things to do in a while. If you go, we will not be able to deal with auntie's affairs at ease. Besides, you haven't been there for a long time. Close your eyes and rest, you go home and rest, otherwise Auntie will be angry. You definitely don't want to see your mother unhappy."

Chen Tingbai didn't need to do anything, as long as he took care of himself, that was enough.

All he can do is take care of himself.

After a long time, so long that everyone thought he was determined to go, when Xu Shaohua had already started to unbutton his jacket and was about to carry him on his back, he suddenly spoke again: "Xiao Cong, come here."

Hu Cong walked up to Chen Tingbai, and Chen Tingbai let go of the photo frame and handed him: "You have to hold it properly, and hold it upright, not crooked. My mother walks upright all her life and sits upright, so the photos must be taken alright."

Hu Cong nodded and stretched out his hand to pick it up, but found that Chen Tingbai still held it firmly.

After a long stalemate, Chen Tingbai's white fingertips slowly loosened, and he cherished the portrait of Mr. Lu to Hu Cong.The moment the portrait was handed over to Hu Cong, Chen Tingbai seemed to lose his strength. The nerve that had been tense since the night when Mr. Lu stopped breathing suddenly loosened like a string that had not been tuned for a long time.

He leaned down visibly with the naked eye.

Because Chen Tingbai was inconvenient to move, Hu Cong could only help with many things. The young man who used to be energetic now also has messy hair, with two locks drooping on his forehead.

Chen Tingbai stretched out his hand to help Hu Cong straighten his hair. He twitched the corners of his mouth, squeezed out a bad smile and said, "You went for me. If someone asks you to kowtow, please do it for me. Don't be shy, I will Mom has treated you very well these past few years, so you can treat her as one of your elders. Come back... I will give you a red envelope when I come back. "

"Don't worry, master, I will."

"Please, please."

I am incompetent, there is no way to send my mother to the cemetery myself.It's me who is causing trouble to everyone, I don't want my mother to be her burden at the last moment, so I can only ask you.

After the funeral procession left, Xu Shaohua was going to send Chen Tingbai home.

Turning his head, he found that Chen Tingbai was crying, there was no sound in his throat, just big drops of tears fell down, flowed down his cheeks to his chin, and fell on his trouser legs.