Math professor returns to routine

Chapter 520 Cemetery

The next day.

The clouds are light and the breeze is gentle; the morning sun is bright.

A little sparrow landed on the stone slab in the front yard, looked around, chirped and sang, then suddenly spread its wings and flew away, disappearing into the woods.

Lu You walked down the stairs, one hand on her waist, and moved slowly along the corridor.

Yesterday, Chanshan was already exhausted, and Tang Wan squeezed him out of his body three times, almost causing him to fall into a deep sleep.

Lu You walked into the living room yawning, then froze.

Five people were sitting on the sofa: Grandpa, Uncle, Lien Chan, and two young men I didn't recognize.

One was rather muscular, the other was slightly thinner.

Lu You was debating whether to greet him and how to do so when her grandfather spoke up.

"What are you standing there for? Call for help!"

My mood, which was initially okay, suddenly turned sour.

Lu You was unwilling to get close to her grandfather because she hadn't done anything wrong, but was scolded simply for not doing what he wanted.

"Good morning."

Lu You gave a perfunctory greeting, too lazy to pour hot water, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and turned to go back to her room.

"Honestly, such a grown man, and he still doesn't know any manners!"

The thin young man just smiled and didn't respond to his grandfather's question, "Was that your grandson just now?"

Grandpa picked up his teacup and nodded.

"He's very handsome. What grade are you in now?"

Grandpa downed his tea in one gulp and put the teacup back on the table. "I'm a freshman now. I participated in some math competition a couple of years ago and won an award, which got me early admission to the Capital University."

The thin young man's eyes widened, and he gave his grandfather a thumbs up, saying, "You're so lucky, old man."

"Hey, what's so lucky about him! All he knows is studying, he has a terrible temper, he doesn't like to be in a group, I don't know what he'll do when he enters society!"

Regardless of what her grandfather thought, Lu You couldn't hear it.

Back in her room, Lu You placed the bottled water on the bedside table, lifted the covers, and crawled inside.

Tang Wan was fast asleep with her eyes closed.

In her dream, she was a pink dolphin, swimming freely and carefree in the boundless blue sea.

Suddenly, a blue dolphin appeared without warning.

With its sharp eyes, agile body, and streamlined physique, it's clear at a glance that this is definitely a female dolphin killer.

Tang Wan remained rooted to the spot, her eyes filled with love.

The instinct to reproduce drove her to the past, while her feminine reserve made her stop.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, hesitant and unable to make a decision.

While Tang Wan was struggling with her decision, the blue dolphin swam over with an air of nonchalance.

The longsword was drawn and thrust forward.

The dream collapsed with a crash.

Tang Wan instinctively let out a muffled groan and slowly opened her eyes.

As the vision gradually cleared, Lu You's face dominated the entire field of vision, so handsome it was unreasonable.

"you……"

Just as Tang Wan was about to ask a question, an index finger sealed her lips.

Lu You leaned down and whispered in Tang Wan's ear.

"Don't speak, don't ask, just feel it with your body."

The hot breath hit her neck, and Tang Wan couldn't help but tremble. Then she closed her eyes and slowly wrapped her arms around Lu You's neck.

……

Half an hour later.

Lu You and Tang Wan walked out of the room, and the two, who were of different genders, displayed completely different mental states.

One was radiant and full of energy, like a worker who received an extra bonus at the end of the year; the other was staggering, with muddled eyes, like a programmer who had been working overtime all night and was on the verge of sudden death.

"Honey," Tang Wan said, linking her arm with Lu You's, her smile alluring, "why did you think of giving me extra food this morning?"

Lu You took a deep breath, straightened his back, and forced a tough posture, saying, "I've always been strong and energetic. A simple extra meal is nothing to me!"

"Honey, you're amazing!" Tang Wan leaned against Lu You like a little bird. "Then from now on, just keep this frequency when you're feeding me!"

Lu You's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly pulled his arm back and moved away from Tang Wan. "Woman, I have no grudge against you, why do you want to kill me?"

"You rascal!" Tang Wan persisted, clinging to Lu You again, her eyes filled with resentment. "You took away my innocence that I've guarded for eighteen years in one night. Isn't that resentment? Or are you saying you don't want to take responsibility?"

"Madam, please be more open-minded! What era are we living in? If it's just a casual fling, why would you need to be responsible for it for a lifetime?"

"I don't care! I'm determined to have you, and nobody can get rid of you!"

The two bickered and lingered in the hallway for a while before slowly making their way to the living room.

Of the five people who were originally on the sofa, only Lu Buyu remains, watching the news and sipping tea.

Lu You looked around and asked, "Uncle, where are the others?"

Lu Buyu gripped the handle of the kettle, tilting it downwards. Steaming hot water gushed out, falling into the dark teapot and releasing a rich aroma of tea.

“Your grandfather is in the vegetable garden in the back. Lien Chan went back to see his parents and grandfather.”

Lu You thought of the two young men, one strong and one thin.

Who went back with him?

"His father's colleague."

It turns out he was a frontline soldier.

Lu You felt a little regretful. If she had known their identities earlier, she wouldn't have been so willful and given them such a hard time.

Seeing the tea leaves unfurl in the teapot, Lu Buyu put the kettle aside, put the lid on the teapot, and said, "There's breakfast in the pot. Find it and eat it yourselves. Once everyone's here, we'll set off."

"it is good."

Around 9:30.

The Lu family members were all gathered and set off by car.

Unlike yesterday, when the car was laden with paper money and hoes, today they traveled light, with only people and a few bouquets of flowers in the vehicle.

The traffic jam followed the mountain path, climbing mountains, going downhill, crossing bridges, and passing through forests. When they met acquaintances, they stopped to chat for a bit before continuing on their way.

After walking for half an hour, we arrived at a parking lot.

After parking their cars and taking their belongings, everyone decided to walk.

After traveling a short distance on the main road, we turned onto a side road leading uphill.

After walking for about ten minutes, a low-key yet dignified tomb suddenly appeared.

Calling it a tomb is not quite accurate; the walls were paved and hardened with cement, then covered with white mortar, and in the center were two side by side stone slab mounds.

In front of each burial mound stands a stele with gold lettering on a black background, inscribing the origin and name of the deceased.

Grandpa walked to the grave, clasped his hands together, and bowed twice.

"Dad, Mom, I've brought the child to see you."

No one spoke; everyone watched quietly, including the two children: Lu Jingshu, who was being led by Lu You, and Lu Yanxin, who was lying on Lu Chun's back.

After a brief silence, Grandpa assigned tasks to everyone.

Lu You was doing what he always did: carrying an iron bucket in his left hand and a bag of paper money in his right, he walked to the grave mound.

First, take out two bills, crumple them into balls, light them, and throw them into the bucket as a starter. Then, throw the rest in in batches.

Golden flames rose, and the heat wave rushed straight to my face, melting the ice that had frozen my memories.

At this moment, Lu You truly realized that sweeping the graves of people you know and sweeping the graves of people you don't know are two completely different feelings.

Each time a stack of paper money is burned, a scene from the deceased's life will appear in the flames.

Lu You considered her relationship with her great-grandfather to be so-so, but memories still flowed out like a mountain spring.

From barely being able to take care of themselves, to needing someone to take care of them 24 hours a day, from being the center of the family, to gradually becoming marginalized, from a vibrant life, to a silent white marble altar.

The flames burned not only the paper money for sacrifices, but also the longing of future generations.

From the very beginning, Tang Wan stayed by Lu You's side.

Noticing that Lu You was in a bad mood, she wisely shut her mouth and silently helped burn paper money.

Halfway through the fire, Shen Yuyin came over and snatched a stack of 100 million yuan bills from Lu You's hand.

"You two usually have so much to talk about, why are you so quiet today? Did you have a fight?"

Lu You scattered a handful of paper money, causing the flames to flicker. "If not talking means arguing, then does that mean you and Dad have to get a divorce?"

"How can that be the same? We've been married for so many years, and you've only been married for a few years?"

Seeing that the fuse was about to burn the powder keg, Tang Wan quickly extinguished it.

"By the way, Auntie, have you ever met Great-Grandma?"

"Don't talk about me." Shen Yuyin raised her chin slightly and pointed at Lu Jianyan, who was busy working. "He never even met his father. He passed away very early."

This was the first time Lu You had heard about her great-grandmother, and she was filled with curiosity.

"He died of illness?"

“Your grandfather mentioned it once, saying that he had six brothers, but only one of them survived in just a few years. It was a huge blow to him.”

The two were speechless for a moment.

For a mother, the greatest pain in the world is for a parent to outlive their child.

Once is already heart-wrenching, but five times in a row is no less than cutting open one's chest, taking out one's heart, throwing it on the ground, and trampling on it repeatedly.

After the paper money was burned, the offerings, incense, and fresh flowers were also arranged properly.

Grandpa called everyone to gather.

The Lu family, consisting of more than a dozen members, arranged themselves according to seniority and took turns to perform the ancestral worship.

Grandpa and Grandma went first. They stepped forward, bowed three times, then knelt down and kowtowed three times respectfully.

The grave contains the remains of my grandfather's biological parents, so it is perfectly reasonable to kneel and pay respects.

Next, it was Lu Jianyan's turn. There were five siblings in total. The process was the same as that of his grandparents: bowing three times and kneeling down to kowtow.

In the early years, my grandparents worked hard away from home, and my great-grandfather raised almost all of them. He acted as both father and mother to them, and although he wasn't their parent, he was better than their parent.

At the very end of the line were a group of younger members, led by Lu Chun.

According to the rules, Lu Yanxin should belong to the new generation, but he is too young, so his grandfather did not insist.

Put your hands together, bend over, and bow three times.

After finishing everything, Lu You stepped aside and quietly looked at the tombstone.

There was no sadness, no grief, just a gentle remembrance.

It has been said that death has two processes: first, life comes to an end, and then one is forgotten.

Great-grandfather's ashes lie buried underground, but the Lu family still remembers him, his past, and a part of his life, which continues to live on in the world in an unconventional way.

After the ceremony, everyone left behind two bouquets of flowers and a pile of confetti from the firecrackers, and then tidied up the rest of their belongings.

Grandpa gazed at the tombstone for a long time before leading his family down the mountain the way they came.

Back in the parking lot, the group didn't linger, got into their cars, and headed to their next destination.

……

It's about the drive of one class period.

The Lu family arrived at the foot of a mountain, where a stone staircase, nearly eight lanes wide, led to the top.

Flower beds are placed on both sides of each step, with red flowers in full bloom, accompanying you all the way.

Tang Wan poked Lu You's kidney with her index finger and asked softly, "Honey, where is this?"

"You can't read?"

At the end of the steps, on a large platform, lies a large stone with several large red characters written on it, the last four of which read "Martyrs' Cemetery".

"I know, what I want to ask is, who are you here to visit?"

Lu You paused for a moment, then replied, "In our terms, he should be called Uncle."

Tang Wan recalled what Shen Yuyin had mentioned earlier about the reason for her great-grandmother's death.

"Grandpa's brother?"

“That’s right.” Lu You nodded.

Grandpa led everyone up the mountain.

Along the way, we frequently passed by elderly people who were about the same age as my grandfather.

They wore old-fashioned dark green military uniforms, most of them walking with difficulty and hunched over. Several elderly men had badges hanging on their chests, which gleamed in the sunlight.

Lu You held these people in the highest esteem.

Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today.

After walking along a tree-lined path, the view suddenly opened up.

A gently sloping hillside, with tombstones arranged in rows and columns, interspersed with red flags fluttering in the wind.

The group continued on their way and stopped in front of a row of tombstones.

Unlike my great-grandfather's tombstone, the tombstone here is grayish-white, with a red five-pointed star in the center at the top, and a blank space below it, with the unit and name engraved from top to bottom.

That empty area was where the photos were placed; Lu You had only seen them on a few tombstones.

Grandpa's expression turned serious. He took the flowers from Lu Buyu's hand, bent down and placed them in front of the tombstone, took a small step back, straightened his posture, and gave a military salute.

Tang Wan was a little lost as it was her first time there.

Grandpa saluted, should I salute him too?

In her panic, Tang Wan secretly glanced to the side out of the corner of her eye.

Seeing that everyone was watching quietly and doing nothing, Tang Wan felt relieved.

While following the crowd is not good, it does make it less likely to make mistakes.

The silence didn't last long before it was broken by Grandpa himself.

"Your great-uncle is buried here."

These words were spoken to Lu You's generation.

"Back then, he followed his great-grandfather..."

Grandpa kept talking, walking step by step to the next tombstone, placing a bouquet of flowers and giving a military salute.

"This is your second great-uncle..."

Five people, five tombstones, five bouquets of flowers, five stories, starting from the War of Resistance against Japan, then the War of Liberation, the suppression of bandits, and finally stopping at the northward march to fight against the plague, spanning the time before and after the server launch.

Tang Wan pricked up her ears, listening with great interest.

She was not unfamiliar with the history before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China; it was covered in her history classes in junior and senior high school, and in her ideological and political education classes in university.

The history you learn from books and the history you hear from those who experienced it firsthand are two completely different experiences.

The former is a grand narrative, stiff and rigid, while the latter is real daily life, vivid and lively.

As the saying goes, even a speck of dust in the era can become an unbearable burden on an individual.

In contrast, Lu You seemed rather uninterested.

There was no other reason than that Lu You had heard his uncles' stories far too many times.

From childhood to adulthood, whenever there are holidays involving the country, soldiers, or commemorations, my grandfather would always mention it in some way.

When I was little, I didn't understand why my grandfather kept telling the same few stories over and over again, and I found it annoying.

Now that I'm older, I can understand my grandfather's good intentions.

Chinese civilization is a history spanning thousands of years, a history of inheritance.

Grandpa repeatedly told stories simply in the hope that future generations would remember them, understand their spirit, and pass them down.

After paying respects to his five great-uncles, Grandpa led everyone to visit some of his comrades-in-arms.

They stayed at the cemetery until almost 1 p.m. before heading down the mountain to go home.

……

The rapidly receding scenery was reflected in Lu You's dark pupils through the car window, just like his turbulent thoughts.

These pioneers, who once shed their blood and gave their all for this land, left behind not even a single photograph.

What can I, as a newcomer, do?

Join the army and go to the front lines?

Lu You quickly dismissed the idea.

To be honest, he was afraid of hardship and death, and couldn't shoulder the responsibilities of a soldier.

However, everyone has their own area of ​​expertise.

Lu You admitted that he wasn't very resolute, but he was quick-witted.

He may not be able to make a contribution in the military, but he should be able to be a pillar in the fields of basic scientific research and higher education.

At that moment, Lu You felt someone tugging at the hem of her clothes.

Turning his head, he met Lu Jingshu's round, big eyes.

"Brother, what are you looking at?"

Lu You smiled and ruffled Lu Jingshu's hair, saying, "I'm admiring the beautiful landscape."

"Mountains and rivers?" Lu Jingshu tilted her head, her little face full of confusion. "What is that?"

"What you see with your eyes, hear with your ears, smell with your nose, touch with your skin, and feel with your heart—all of these combined constitute mountains and rivers."

Lu Jingshu frowned, her face serious and earnest.

After a moment, he shook his head.

"don't know."

"It's alright. As you grow up and experience more, you'll naturally understand." (End of Chapter)