Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
After a person dies, everything will disappear, whether it is the cares or the resentments, everything will be gone.
Mr. Tao sat in front of the grave in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about, and suddenly he slapped himself a few times.
Russell wanted to step forward, but was stopped by Uncle Jiu, who then shook his head silently.
This is someone's concern. If they can't get over it and it accumulates in their heart, it will become a big hidden danger.
Men don't shed tears easily, but they do when they are sad.
Russell looked at Mr. Tao crying sadly and couldn't help feeling emotional. No matter what dynasty or era, being a man is always tiring.
It’s okay for women. When they cry, feel tired, or feel wronged, they can still talk to their husbands.
Men can't do that. They cannot shed tears in front of their wives, children or relatives.
Sometimes I would go find someone to cry to and talk for the entire night. I would get 1,000 yuan for each chat, and the treatment was not bad. Some people would provide me with food and lodging, and even give me a pair of silver bracelets.
So miserable!
Mr. Tao cried for a long time before wiping his eyes with his sleeves and sighing, "Master Lin, do you know why I haven't visited my third uncle's grave for so many years?"
Uncle Jiu shook his head and didn't ask any more questions. At this time, perhaps he should listen more.
Looking up, this row of five graves should be the graves of five people from Mr. Tao's uncles' generation.
The other four graves looked like they were regularly taken care of. They were very tidy and there were no weeds.
Only the fourth grave did not even have a tombstone. It was overgrown with weeds, and the big tree in particular was particularly eye-catching.
"My third uncle is a patriotic man." Mr. Tao shook his head, "It's a pity that he was a member of the Boxer Rebellion."
"I don't know how many battles the foreign devils fought, but they didn't get any credit or money, and they even lost their lives."
"Without children, after death, we, the younger generations, won't even dare to erect a tombstone."
Mr. Tao looked up at the sky and said, "I passed the exam that year and was about to become an official, but in the end, it was all gone. All the hard work I put in for more than a decade has turned into a shadow."
"well!"
Russell tilted his head. He had studied hard for more than ten years and was about to make a breakthrough, but because of the involvement, all his plans were ruined.
He looked at the desolate grave, his heart filled with emotion and he didn't know what to say.
Cixi is such a bastard!
"No more, no more." Mr. Tao sighed, "Most of my life has passed. It would seem a bit petty to keep track of these things."
He stood up from the ground and looked at Uncle Jiu, still a little embarrassed, "I made a fool of myself for you, Master Lin."
Uncle Jiu was also silent. When he had just come down the mountain, the country was in turmoil, bandits were everywhere, demons were rampant, and ghosts were rampant. Even he could barely protect himself.
There were even several times when he was trying to exorcise demons, but was almost killed by the demons. If it weren't for his good fortune, he would probably never have come back.
In the face of this trend of the times, everyone's power seems particularly insignificant, and Uncle Jiu is no exception.
He settled in Renjia Town and single-handedly protected the entire Renjia Town and the small villages within a radius of dozens of miles.
This stay lasted for nearly ten years.
He also changed from a handsome Maoshan Taoist priest to the current Uncle Nine.
As he got older and looked older, he naturally felt depressed, but fortunately, he later accepted Wencai.
She is only in her teens, but she looks older than him.
I felt much better immediately.
"Master Lin, let's go!" Mr. Tao walked in front, his expression was very restrained, and there was no sign of crying or sadness just now. "I have to thank Master Lin for what happened today."
"I have asked my wife to prepare the food. It is the secret recipe of the old Tao family. To be honest, I will not hide it."
Mr. Tao said proudly, "My grandfather's grandfather was once a royal chef in the palace. This skill is passed down from generation to generation and can be considered a good one."
Nowadays, if there is a secret recipe passed down from generation to generation, it is a top-notch heirloom that can support countless generations.
When they heard that it was delicious, Uncle Jiu and Russell's eyes lit up immediately. They looked at each other and walked a lot faster.
Once you have walked there, you will naturally be familiar with the route when you return.
Just as Mr. Tao said, the meal had been prepared at home, his son was already waiting there, and the table was set with dishes and chopsticks.
As for the old woman, Mr. Tao's daughter-in-law and grandson, they were naturally not here. They were all in the inner room.
That's the rule.
When guests come, women and children are not allowed to eat at the table.
Except, of course, Russell.
No matter who came, Russell never avoided it, and Uncle Jiu never said anything, because this was his precious little apprentice.
"This is a cold bacon stew."
After Mr. Tao and everyone sat down, he introduced the first dish to everyone with a smile. It seemed that this was his family's so-called secret recipe.
Russell tilted his head and took a look. The meat looked a little strange and did not look like chicken, duck or fish. He looked at it carefully again and suddenly seemed to remember something.
"Is eating cold a frog?"
"Hahahaha, the young Taoist priest really has good eyesight."
Mr. Tao stroked his beard and said, "Shi Leng" is just the local name. Some people call him frog, but most people prefer to call him toad.
He stretched out his hand, his face full of pride, "Master Lin, please have a taste."
Uncle Jiu was not polite. He picked up a piece of meat with chopsticks and put it in his mouth. He chewed it carefully, thought about it for a long time, and finally said two words, "Delicious!"
Russell couldn't help but cover his face. As a big foodie in China, how could he not have any new words in his mind
He picked up the chopsticks, gently took a piece of toad meat and put it into his mouth. Unlike Uncle Jiu, he was a real Chinese foodie.
The cultured kind.
"Well, not bad!" Russell nodded. "It's dark yellow when eaten cold, the meat is tender, the aroma is rich, and the taste is very mellow. It should be raised in a mountain spring. The taste is fragrant and it has been stewed with firewood for a long time. It's quite good!"
Mr. Tao was stunned, and couldn't help but give Russell a thumbs up and praised him, "You are a master in this field."
This is a true connoisseur. He can tell the exact answer just by tasting it.
As for Uncle Nine
Let's talk about something else.
Uncle Jiu felt embarrassed, but he had already developed a thick skin like a city wall, and he remained calm on the surface.
"There is also this dish, fried bamboo shoots with pork." Mr. Tao did not test it, but introduced it in detail.
The host should not make things too difficult for the guests, otherwise it would not be good.
"We farmers live by the mountains and the water. We can only eat wild boar meat and dig some bamboo shoots. They are not good things. I hope Uncle Jiu will forgive me!"
Wild boar meat, bamboo shoots, cold food, and bacon are indeed all farm products.
Russell ate with great relish. He wondered how many years these things would last if stored in the future!