Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 920 - 916: Xiulan

After everyone got on the bus, Grandma glanced around the compartment and found that only Shen Siyuan, Taozi, and Ruan Hongzhuang followed, which surprised her. She asked in confusion, "Si Yuan, where are your parents? Did they get lost in the crowd just now?"

Shen Siyuan quickly explained, "No, Grandma, we’re splitting up today. My parents went somewhere else, and we’ll meet up with them later."

Upon hearing this, Grandma immediately frowned and said with certainty, "This must be your mother’s idea. She thinks I have trouble walking, that I’m slow, and that I can’t keep up with her, right?"

Shen Siyuan couldn’t help but find it both amusing and frustrating.

He quickly changed the subject and called to the driver in front, "Sir, we can go now."

This driver was arranged by the Special Affairs Bureau, not only was his driving skill excellent, but he also knew the roads of Xiajing like the back of his hand.

The car drove all the way and eventually stopped near Luo’er Alley. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Although Luo’er Alley is also within the second ring of Xiajing, it’s far less famous than Nanluogu Lane, and there are hardly any tourists here usually, so it’s not as commercialized. The entire alley is particularly quiet, filled with the unique charm of old Xiajing.

However, the only unsatisfactory thing is that the houses on both sides of the alley look quite dilapidated, with mottled marks on the walls.

After getting off the car, Grandma looked at the rundown houses in front of her, her eyes full of astonishment, and couldn’t help but say, "How can such a big city like Xiajing have such rundown places?"

Shen Siyuan smiled and explained, "Grandma, these houses are basically protected historical buildings, which can’t be demolished and rebuilt, only simply repaired. Over time, it’s inevitable that they would appear old. However, it’s precisely because of this that they have the feel of old Xiajing."

Grandma muttered softly, "Old is old, don’t talk about feel, I think living in a cowshed has more ’feel’."

Although she didn’t speak loudly, both Ruan Hongzhuang and Taozi next to her heard it and couldn’t help but smile secretly, their shoulders trembling slightly.

Hearing Grandma’s words, Shen Siyuan didn’t argue with her. Instead, he went along with her words and said, "Hehe, Grandma, when we go back to Bin Hai, we’ll build a cowshed next to your house for me to live in, and I’ll accompany you every day."

These words immediately amused Grandma.

"You kid, already getting married, yet still so unserious! You live in a cowshed, are you going to let your wife live in a cowshed with you?"

Ruan Hongzhuang quickly took Grandma’s arm and said with a smile, "Of course not, I want to live with Grandma and let Si Yuan live in the cowshed by himself, feeding the cows every morning."

As for who the cow is, it goes without saying.

Taozi also rushed over, holding Grandma’s other hand eagerly and said, "And me, and me! I also want to live with Grandma..."

"Haha..."

Hearing this, Grandma laughed even more happily.

At this moment, her heart was filled with unprecedented joy and happiness, feeling as if she were surrounded by the warmth of the whole world.

-----------------

The morning light of spring always carries a gentle and unhurried warmth.

At five-thirty in the morning, when it was just barely light, the courtyard deep in Luo’er Alley was still immersed in a quiet stillness, but Liu Xiulan was already awake.

She didn’t get up immediately but lay on her side, her eyes falling on the empty pillow next to her.

It was the cotton pillowcase that her late husband, Zhou Mingshan, had used for decades. It was washed pale, yet the edges remained neat.

She stared blankly for a long time before she slowly sat up with steady movements.

She walked to the wardrobe, where clothes hung neatly inside without a crease, showing her attitude towards everyday life.

She took out a set of clothes to change into, and while washing, Liu Xiulan looked at herself in the mirror.

Her hair was mostly grey, but meticulously combed, held back with a black hairband. Although it looked cheap, she wore it with a distinct air.

At six o’clock sharp, Liu Xiulan walked out of the courtyard.

The alley was already stirring with some activity.

To the east, Uncle Zhang carried a birdcage, with a thrush chirping crisply inside.

To the west, Aunt Li, wearing practice clothes and carrying a sword bag, hurriedly prepared to go to the park for morning exercises.

A few young people jogging in sportswear passed her by at a brisk pace.

Liu Xiulan greeted Uncle Zhang with a smile, her gaze falling on the birdcage.

She teased it for a while before unhurriedly heading towards Shichahai Park.

She had walked this route for nearly ten years, starting from the year she retired, almost never missing a day regardless of wind or rain.

She knew every tree and every road along the way as well as the lines on her hands.

Under the third old locust tree, there used to be a small stall selling roasted chestnuts in winter, which her late husband loved to buy and carry in his arms to warm her hands.

In front of the fifth doorstep, there was a lost little boy last winter, whom she helped find his way home.

In Shichahai Park, there were already many people exercising in the morning.

Elders performing Tai Chi, their movements flowing smoothly.

Middle-aged women dancing in the square, with lively but not noisy music.

Young parents pushing baby strollers, softly humming lullabies.

Liu Xiulan found a corner near the willow tree, put down her cloth bag, and began doing her "health exercises."

Her late husband had learned these during his youth in the army and later taught them to her. After retiring, the two often exercised here together.

She raised her hands, bent over, and turned around, her gaze occasionally falling on the lake, where the morning light reflected tiny golden sparkles on the water.

She thought of the scene of rowing on the lake when she first got married to her husband,

Just graduated from the Foreign Language Institute and assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with her husband serving as a staff officer in the army, they rarely saw each other and cherished every date.

Thinking of this, Liu Xiulan couldn’t help but smile slightly, and her movements slowed down a bit.

When the morning exercise ended, it was already half past seven.

Liu Xiulan picked up her cloth bag and went to buy some groceries.

The nearest market is too far, and she didn’t feel like going. There used to be a market in the alley, but it was identified as an illegal structure and completely closed down.

So now they either have to go a few kilometers away to buy groceries or shop at a nearby supermarket.

The supermarket offers fewer varieties, and the prices are noticeably higher.

But now she lives alone, with modest expenses, and her pension is quite high, so she doesn’t mind these things.

On the way back after buying groceries, she ran into acquaintances, who greeted her warmly.

After all, having lived here for decades, she’s very familiar with the neighbors.

"Sister Liu, when is your son coming back?"

"I’m not sure, it’s been a while since I’ve seen him."

"Oh, then let me know when he’s back. My son is planning to study abroad, and I want to consult him."

"He’s gone to work, not to study. What could he know?"

"I just want to ask about the current environment abroad. I always feel uneasy about my child going alone."

...

Chatting casually with neighbors along the way, Liu Xiulan headed home.

By the time she returned to the courtyard, it was already half past eight.

Sunlight filtered through the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, creating dappled shadows.

This pomegranate tree was planted the year her husband retired, and now it has grown lushly, filled with red pomegranates every summer.

Liu Xiulan put down her cloth bag and first sorted out the groceries in the kitchen, with every step methodical. The work habits she developed over the years had seeped into her bones, pervading her life.

But at this moment, she suddenly realized she had forgotten to buy salt, and the salt jar at home was empty.

Thinking of this, she sighed, realizing she was getting old; she wouldn’t have made such a mistake in the past.

But now, in retirement, she has plenty of time, so she went out again.

However, she didn’t go to the supermarket where she bought the groceries earlier but bought a bag of salt from a nearby shop.

While she was walking back with the bag of salt, she encountered a few people coming towards her.