Free Web NovelChapter 629: Chapter 629: Returning to One’s Roots
Bai Xiqin was worried about the health of Bai Zhengxuan and his wife. After rechecking with her Wood Ability and confirming their strong physical condition, she finally felt at ease.
Throughout the day, Bai Zhengxuan and his wife stayed close to Bai Xiqin. Wherever she went, they followed.
As if Bai Xiqin were a fragile porcelain doll.
Even though this was a safe base, very secure, Bai Zhengxuan and his wife couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
They didn’t mention where they would end up in the future, only saying that everything was settled.
But from their expressions, Bai Xiqin felt they were hiding something.
The night fell.
Bai Zhengxuan didn’t care whose turn it was to cook and merrily ran to the kitchen to show off his cooking skills.
Wanting to prepare a perfect feast for Xiao Niu.
In their memories, life during the apocalypse was not as good as it is now. During the three years they couldn’t find Xiao Niu, she must have had a hard time eating and sleeping.
Liu Jing, who rarely cooked, was also earnestly helping in front of Bai Zhengxuan.
Just wanting to feed their granddaughter until she’s well-fed and healthy.
Watching Bai Zhengxuan and his wife focused earnestly on cooking, Bai Xiqin and others quietly got off the bus.
A little distance away from the bus, Bai Yifan gently placed an iron basin on the ground.
"Sis, Grandpa and Grandma are cooking, let’s start!"
Bai Yifan sneakily glanced towards the bus and lowered his voice deliberately.
Bai Xiqin’s mouth twitched, and she also lowered her voice, "Grandpa and Grandma are still the same as they used to be, they just have an extra memory of the future. They’re not really dead. Are we doing the right thing?"
Saying that, Bai Xiqin wanted to stand up and leave.
"Xiao Niu, this is your grandparents’ ’last wish’. They are alive now, but they truly died, died somewhere unknown, with no one to collect their bodies, and that’s the truth."
Wang Yiyun firmly pressed Bai Xiqin back to the ground, making her and the others huddle around the iron basin.
"But they are the same person now, inseparable."
Leng Yebai’s tall body surrounded the iron basin, looked a bit clumsy, unable to stretch comfortably.
"Anyway, they were four lively people, and now they’re two, and even if they’ve merged, it’s like they’ve died once. Have you forgotten what your grandparents said?"
Bai Anhai silently touched his pure white shirt, his expression solemn, with a touch of sadness.
Bai Xiqin scratched her head, thought for a while, and finally remembered.
Despite grandpa being a teacher and grandma an examiner, their thoughts seemed open, yet some ingrained ideas were deeply etched in their minds.
They didn’t care about things such as the physical form bestowed by one’s parents. What they cared most about was—returning to their roots and mourning rituals.
Mourning rituals couldn’t be realized since the elderly couple was still on the bus. They couldn’t let them see their family mourning them!
Returning to their roots was also out of the question as they didn’t mention where they fell, plus they self-detonated, making it impossible to return to their origins.
—However, burning paper money and burial clothes, they could still do.
In his forties or fifties, Bai Anhai didn’t believe in these things, but his father once instructed him not to forget.
Bai Xiqin glanced at the lights on the bus, her mouth twitched once more uncontrollably.
Her grandparents did die once, but they’re also very much alive. Would they really not get in trouble for burning paper just like this?
"Cough cough, hurry and burn it. If we get found out, it won’t be good. Once we’re done, let’s hurry back."
Bai Anhai coughed lightly and still decided to burn some paper money for his parents.
Bai Xiqin covered her face with one hand, and with the other hand, she took out some paper money and burial clothes from her space, even some small paper figures.
These were things Bai Zhengxuan had asked to be packed away before the apocalypse. Now... they were put to use.
Mr. Bai always believed firmly in materialism, yet secretly stored away some paper money and burial clothes, even a future coffin for himself.
Bai Anhai glanced in the direction of the bus. Even the righteous lawyer seemed slightly lacking in confidence.
Yes, his parents weren’t dead, yet he was burning paper for them, too "filial", indeed.
Bai Anhai let a small flame dance from his fingertip, quickly setting the paper money in the iron basin ablaze.
"At this moment, shouldn’t we say something?"
Bai Yifan watched the growing flames, feeling like something was missing.
The atmosphere felt off.
"There’s no note on who to burn for, you should mention the names of the ones receiving."
Leng Yebai calmly drew a circle with his finger around the iron basin.
Indicating the money was just for Bai Zhengxuan and his wife, not for wandering souls to take away.
"Where did you learn this?"
Bai Xiqin looked at the circle Leng Yebai drew, her face twitching.
Deeply insightful, crystal clear.
"At the orphanage, when kids played house, I learned a bit." Leng Yebai said calmly.
Bai Xiqin: ...
"Grandpa, Grandma, this is your paper money, don’t be frugal. If it’s not enough, just dream and tell Dad, and I’ll burn more for you then!"
Bai Yifan skillfully threw paper money and paper figures inside, mumbling something, looking quite serious.
Bai Anhai also placed some paper money inside, recalling his childhood image.
His parents seemed unreliable, but he never lacked fatherly and motherly love.
As he continued burning, Bai Anhai fell silent, and his heart grew heavy.
According to Xiao Niu and the future parents’ timeline, his parents were elderly, relying on each other through the apocalypse, searching for their only granddaughter in vain, only to witness her self-detonate...
Finally crossing over to the present time, only to sadly self-detonate.
Thinking of this, Bai Anhai exuded a thick atmosphere of grief.
Bai Anhai’s mood quickly affected others, and everyone’s speed of burning paper money...quickened considerably.
Under the starry sky.
In a quiet corner of the safety base, the Bai Family squatted around an iron basin, continuously throwing paper money inside.
The scent of paper money and incense filled the surroundings.
Already an apocalypse, it looked even more eerie...
Uncle Wang and Uncle Liu, found in flip-flops, returned on their green garbage truck, witnessing this scene.
The yellow flames illuminated the Bai Family’s faces, each one of them looking rather mournful.
...Just like when villagers handle affairs.
"What are you all doing?"
Uncle Wang felt a thud in his heart, suddenly sensing something ominous.
Could it be that Old Bai isn’t holding up?
Wasn’t he just extremely sleepy and napping?
Why had it escalated to burning paper money!
"Nothing! Just burning some paper money because we’re bored!"
Bai Anhai looked at Uncle Wang and quietly extinguished the paper money in the iron basin.
It’s quite embarrassing to be seen by others.
"Who are you burning it for?"
Uncle Liu and Uncle Wang exchanged glances, seeing the infinite sadness on each other’s faces.
Before Bai Anhai could answer, the two clever uncles instantly figured it out.
It must be for Old Bai!
Murkiness filled their eyes, and tears rolled down.
The two uncles hugged and cried bitterly.
Mourning the loss of their dear friend!
