After telling Hu Zhou her concerns, Zhi Xia didn't plan to completely cut off his business, she just reduced the supply amount.
Although Hu Zhou was a little disappointed, he also expressed understanding, which made Zhi Xia feel much more at ease.
Zhi Xia packed some dates she had picked for Hu Zhou to take away. The rest of the days continued to be overcast and rainy.
With this weather, the fabric business had to stop. It was impossible to still do business in the rain. Too much accumulated fabric not only pressed costs but would also become damp and mildewy.
After school, looking at the waterlogged road outside the school gate, Zhi Xia called Guo Momo, “Why don’t you lock your bike at school first. Take advantage of this momentary break in the rain and I’ll give you a ride home so we can wrap up PingAn to avoid him catching a cold from the rain.”
Although the weather wasn’t very cold, it was still somewhat cooler on overcast, rainy days compared to normal.
PingAn was already born prematurely, his health was weak, although he had improved a lot recently after recuperation, and could now walk a few steps independently, he still couldn’t compare to a normal child.
Actually, he should be staying in PingAn's dormitory, but PingAn had wet the bed yesterday, and the quilt wasn't dry either, so he couldn't sleep and could only go home in the rain.
"Then I'll have to trouble auntie, I’ll still have to trouble you to come pick us up tomorrow." Guo Momo was also a little embarrassed.
"Get on," Zhi Xia didn't say anything more.
The puddles on the road were already deep enough to cover feet. Fine rain continued to fall from the sky. It wasn't heavy but you could clearly feel the sensation of the drizzle hitting your face.
After passing this stretch of waterlogged road, Zhi Xia dared to go faster.
When they arrived at Guo Momo’s home, their clothes were already drenched and stuck uncomfortably to their bodies.
Pei JianGuo had just gone out with an umbrella and saw them coming back.
He took PingAn over and Guo Momo quickly said, "Auntie, come in and rest for a bit. Go back after the rain stops."
Zhi Xia looked at her own wet clothes and declined, "No need, I’m wet already anyway. I’ll just go home and change. You guys go in quickly and give your kid a hot bath, don’t catch a cold."
Compared to when they first left school, the rain was obviously heavier now.
By the time Zhi Xia got home, Sister Zhang had already cooked.
The sky was dark. Zhi Xia went to take a bath after telling Sister Zhang to eat first with the kids, and go home earlier after they finished eating.
The next afternoon, the weather suddenly cleared. When Zhi Xia came back, she heard bad news as soon as she entered.
Sister Zhang called to her, “Zhi Xia, your uncle came this afternoon. Your grandma has passed away.”
Zhi Xia’s body stiffened. She decisively turned her bike around, “Sister Zhang, I’m going to the An family to ask about the situation. Please stay a while longer today.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on things here.” Sister Zhang quickly replied.
The road was still wet, and there was a faint rainbow at the edge of the sky.
As soon as Zhi Xia entered, she saw Zhou Nan crying in the yard, hands covering her cheeks, not daring to let go, with Liu Ling accompanying her but also not daring to speak.
What she needed now was catharsis rather than comfort.
An JingZhi told her that Granny Zhou had tripped and fallen while checking the drainage ditch in the fields. By the time she was carried back she had already passed away.
An Zhiren’s side had already been notified. He was in the capital city and would take two days at the earliest to arrive. An Zhiqing had rushed back but wouldn’t make it in time for the funeral. An ZhiXian couldn’t even make it back.
It was said that Pei Jing and An ZhiAng had gone to the countryside for flood relief and they couldn’t contact them at all right now.
Zhi Xia comforted Zhou Nan a few words, then went to tell Guo Momo to help ask for leave from school tomorrow before returning home.
Early next morning, after giving Sister Zhang instructions on things at home and asking her to help pay more attention these two days, Zhi Xia hurried to the An family.
Due to the recent rains, the buses could only go as far as the town. So the children weren’t allowed to go. The regards of the elderly couple could only be passed on in their stead.
Looking out the window along the way, the crops in the fields were chaotic, large areas were lying flat on the ground.
The four people, An JingZhi and his wife, Zhi Xia and Liu Ling, all wore rain boots. After getting off the bus they continued walking, one foot deep in mud and the other shallow.
Both the fields and roads were filled with people, digging drainage ditches to drain water, and it was unknown how much of the crops could be salvaged.
At the low-lying end of the fields, the road had been dug apart. A one-yard wide drainage ditch had a wooden board laid over it barely enough for a person to cross.
Fortunately the children didn't come. Otherwise they probably couldn't even get there.
They finally arrived at Zhou Village after getting mud spattered on their pants. But there were more pressing matters than keeping clean right now.
The funeral hall had already been set up. Zhou Nan threw herself on the ground crying uncontrollably.
Carefully calculating, the last time An JingZhi and Zhi Xia had brought Granny Zhou over, it turned out to be the last time mother and daughters spent time together.
The sisters-in-law rolled her over to get her up. Both Liu Ling’s and Zhi Xia’s eyes were red but Zhou Nan just couldn’t be pulled up, crying with snot and tears covering her face.
In the main hall, they put on mourning clothes and Zhou Zhi Zhi and Zhou Yuanyuan led them into a room to rest.
Everything was handled by the elders. They only needed to cry when mourning.
Zhou Nan was severely impacted. When she came in she had to be supported by one arm. Zhi Xia secretly gave her some life water, afraid she wouldn’t make it through the funeral.
The burial would only happen tomorrow. They could only stay here for the night.
Zhou Zhi Zhi and the others didn’t go back either, bringing their families along, plus other relatives, there really wasn’t space in the house to accommodate more people.
Beds were given to more distant relatives who couldn’t handle hardship. Those with closer ties like them could only lay bedding on the floor. Even the quilts were borrowed from neighbors.
After lights out at night, Liu Ling lifted her quilt, using her jacket over her belly, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
Zhi Xia also didn’t want to use this unknown quilt borrowed from someone else’s home. It even faintly smelled damp and moldy. But without sufficient coverage, mosquitoes kept biting her.
Zhou Nan didn’t seem to mind such an environment at all. She spoke up to comfort Liu Ling and Zhi Xia, “Bear with it for one night you two. We’ll send grandma off tomorrow then go back.”
Liu Ling softly hmm-ed, using the despised quilt to cover her legs.
Zhi Xia took out mosquito coil incense and placed one in each corner of the bedding. After a while, she finally couldn’t hear the buzzing sound anymore but her legs were already bitten multiple times and kept itching.
Just like that they passed the night. Even more relatives came to pay condolences the next day.
Zhou Nan’s voice had gone hoarse from crying, evidencing her grief.
