In a warm town far away from the hustle and bustle, Li Guihua's death seems to have put a layer of sadness on this place. The air was filled with the fragrance of memories, and whenever the breeze blew, it seemed that you could hear the kind laughter and kind words of your cousin Li Guihua.
"She's such a good person," Old Li Tou stood against the door, looking at Li Guihua's residence on the other side of the street, and his voice was full of sighs, "In all these years in the town, I have never heard of her arguing with anyone." "
Wang Daming stood in front of his house, looked at Lao Li Tou from a distance, and sighed softly, but his heart was mixed. He remembered that Li Guihua always smiled and complimented him on the vegetables grown in his family's garden, but unfortunately that garden had interfered with the harmony between them a few months earlier because of a dispute with the Li family.
The surrounding neighbors were preparing for the upcoming funeral, and the women sat in a circle, whispering about the bits and pieces of their cousin's life, and each face was full of grief.
"Sister Osmanthus is so blessed, so many people care about her." A neighbor woman wiped her tears and sighed.
"Yes, we have to take care of her funeral and let her go in peace." Another neighbor said as he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket.
Not far away, children are chasing and playing carefree, as if they are not aware of the weight of life and death. In the sun, the stone pavement reflects a warm glow, as if to tell people that life must go on even if it is sad.
In the backyard of Li Guihua's house, several immediate family members are busy organizing the memorial service, their voices mixed with sobbing, but even the grief makes people feel the closeness and warmth of the family.
"Are these offerings ready?" The cousin's son carefully checked every detail, he knew that his mother had a delicate life, and he wanted to make this last journey perfect.
"Here, everything is ready, don't worry." His wife comforted her, but the tears in the corners of her eyes had not yet dried.
Wang Daming, who was next door, watched all this quietly, and the complicated emotions in his heart made his gaze deepen. He remembered the bits and pieces of his past with the Li family, those hesitant little happy times, and the small frictions that arose later because of the garden.
"Da Ming, what are you thinking? Look at your sad face. The wife noticed that her husband was strange and asked softly.
Wang Daming smiled slightly and shook his head, "It's nothing, I'm just thinking... Can we be kind to others and make the world a little better? "
His wife shook his hand tightly, "Yes, we have to think in a good direction." "
It is these ordinary but true words that make the warmth of this town flow, and it also makes Li Guihua's departure not seem so cold. People's hearts are closely connected, and even if the gloom is shrouded, it can't stop their inner expectations for tomorrow.
As the preparations for the funeral deepened, the atmosphere in the town gradually became tense. Wang Daming's mood is like a pool of stagnant water, no matter how much the outside world tries to persuade him, he can't let go of the disputed land, the garden he once poured his heart and soul into running.
In the evening, several relatives and friends gathered in front of Li's house, discussing the route of the burial. "We should go the old way, that is what Sister Osmanthus loved the most when she was alive," the Li family's brother-in-law proposed.
"But ......" Li Guihua's son stopped talking, his brows furrowed, and he looked in the direction of the old road, which was the direction to Wang Daming's house, and he knew that it would be an unpredictable road.
On the other side, the sound of words came from time to time in Wang Daming's courtyard. Friends advised him not to be too persistent, but every time he mentioned that land, Wang Daming's attitude became extremely resolute.
"Wang Daming, you are also a member of this town, isn't it good for everyone to be harmonious?" A neighbor said with a conciliatory attitude.
Wang Daming replied angrily: "This is a matter of my family's interests, and it cannot be solved by the word 'harmony'." One more look at the disputed piece of land, full of stubbornness.
Time passed slowly, but the friction between the Li family and Wang Daming did not diminish with time. After an autumn rain, the seeds of injustice took root in the hearts of both sides.
The rest of the town's residents began to feel the tension spread, and they were talking under the old locust tree at the head of the village.
"The matter of the Li family is over, what should I do?" This is the question on everyone's mind.
"I think Wang Daming is too stubborn this time, Li Guihua is such a warm-hearted person..." Another neighbor muttered.
The night before the funeral, the Li family gathered all their relatives to discuss countermeasures, and everyone sat around the courtyard, the lights jumping on their determined faces.
"No matter what, tomorrow I must let Sister Osmanthus finish the last journey quietly." Li Guihua's nephew said firmly, with determination in his eyes.
However, things did not go as smoothly as the Li family had hoped. Wang Daming's attitude was still as hard as a stone, and he paced back and forth in his yard, thinking about how to protect his rights.
That night, Li Guihua's son had a dream in which his mother comforted him and told him to keep a kind and humble heart no matter what, and not to lose the harmony with others because of momentary disputes.
In the early morning of the next day, when the first ray of sunlight shone on the town, the crowd gathered in front of the Li family became denser and denser, and although the door of Wang Daming's house was closed, the light and shadow in the window indicated the coming storm.
Although the turmoil in the town did not cause big waves, it also caused ripples, and everyone was looking forward to the final resolution of this dispute.
When the dawn of the burial broke, the gate of the Li family was already full of mourning crowds, and a peaceful atmosphere slowly flowed in the morning fog, just for Li Guihua to send the final farewell. However, as the sun rises, the farewell ceremony is unexpectedly hindered.
Wang Daming stayed awake all night, the anger and hesitation in his heart were intertwined, his eyes were comparable to a cold star, staring closely at the road in front of his house, and he knew in his heart that it was the only way for Li Guihua's memorial procession. He decided to defend his position no matter what. As soon as the day dawned, the neighbors noticed that the old road was unusually unusual, and it was piled up with some debris, and it was not difficult to imagine whose masterpiece it was.
When the people of the Li family saw this scene, they were extremely angry. "How is this possible? Wang Daming, what does this mean! Li Guihua's own nephew asked indignantly.
The people in the village tried to persuade Wang Daming, hoping that he would make way so that the ceremony could go smoothly. "Brother Da Ming, today is a special day after all, even if it's for Sister Osmanthus, you..."
However, Wang Daming was resolute and returned home without saying a word and closed the door. "No one wants to pass in front of my house today." He told himself firmly.
After much effort, Li Guihua's family and neighbors realized that the only option was to take a detour. The mourners regrouped and walked slowly along another road, an additional three kilometers. During this extra trip, everyone's expressions were solemn and complex, some were indignant, some were understanding, and some were looking forward to the harmony of the village.
"It's a lot of trouble now, and it's taken such a long way." The neighbors couldn't help but mutter, "Wang Daming is really making too much trouble this time." "
Xiao Li Tou looked up at the sky and said softly: "Hey, let's go one more step, don't let Sister Osmanthus's soul go down the wrong path." "
On that winding path, the mourning procession became more solemn, and the anger and sorrow in the hearts of the Li family gradually subsided on this winding road. They knew that no matter how tortuous the road was, Li Guihua's soul would be at peace.
And Wang Daming looked out the window at the gradually moving team, remorse and introspection gradually came to his heart, and the door, like the embankment in his heart, began to crack. The residents of the town witnessed this dispute, and each had different feelings in their hearts, but they all hoped that the omissions could be made up and the contradictions could be resolved.
The next day, when the sun once again shone through the streets of the town, yesterday's disputes and tensions seemed to have been diluted by the morning light. Wang Daming woke up and felt unprecedented heartache and sadness. A night of reflection made him re-examine his actions, and he realized that his stubbornness towards the Li family had disturbed the harmony of the entire community.
Standing in front of the mirror, Wang Daming stared at himself and suddenly felt a deep sense of shame. The man in front of him actually caused so much trouble on a day that should have been peaceful because of a dispute over a piece of land.
His wife looked at Wang Daming and noticed that he seemed to have changed. "Da Ming, what's wrong with you today?" She asked cautiously.
Wang Daming took a deep breath and said calmly: "I think I did something wrong. I'm going to apologize to everyone. "
So, Wang Daming began his path of atonement, visiting door to door and sincerely apologizing to every family. Every step is so heavy, and every apology is full of his remorse and sincerity.
"What I did yesterday caused a lot of trouble for everyone, and I sincerely apologize to you here." Wang Daming said to his neighbors.
The neighbors were a little stunned when they heard this, but they still accepted Wang Daming's apology. They know that everyone can make the wrong choice when they are angry, and the key is to be able to repent and correct it in time.
Although the people of the Li family were surprised by Wang Daming's behavior, they were also moved by his sincerity. "If a person is not a sage, he can do no wrong." Li Guihua's nephew said they chose forgiveness.
The residents of the town saw Wang Daming's changes, and they also relieved each other's unhappiness. They believe that even if there is conflict, there is hope for the peace and future of this small community as long as there is understanding and tolerance between them.
Wang Daming returned home and sat in the deserted courtyard last night, with a familiar scenery in front of him, but he had a new understanding in his heart. "Harmony between people is more important than any interest." He thought silently in his heart, as if he had found a new direction in life.
With the passage of time, Li Guihua's departure has also become a memory in the town. The turmoil between Wang Daming and the Li family was quelled in tolerance and understanding, and everyone learned the importance of tolerance in this experience, learned to let go of the past, and welcomed a better future.