Chapter 5: Hand over the person to me

  Feng Ai Jun arrived at Longguan Village when the sun was already setting, the lush green fields were empty, the rapeseed flowers were in full bloom, a vast expanse of light yellow, gently swaying with the breeze, the sunset dyed them golden. The evening glow was like fire, elegantly displaying its beautiful luster on the horizon.

  Beauty is eternal, the sun that rises and sets every day can't control the tragedy of human world. If it's windy and rainy at this moment, Feng Ai Jun's mood might be a little better. The jeep arrived at the ancestral hall first, there were many people surrounding the entrance, seeing a soldier getting off the car and walking in, they automatically made way for him.

  Feng Ai Jun entered the ancestral hall, where white couplets and white flags filled his vision. The elderly villagers stood guard beside Ying Ji Cheng's coffin, while Ying Ji Cheng's funeral altar had been set up, with photos displayed and incense smoke wafting through the air, accompanied by mournful cries. Another patriarch of the Ying family had passed away, plunging the entire Ying clan into deep sorrow. Why couldn't such a good person live a long life?

  He died a miserable death, being suffocated to death by someone who is still at large. However, news has been circulating that the person responsible was shot in the ***, rendering him infertile and childless, which can be considered his best retribution.

  No need to ask, everyone knows who fired this shot.

  Feng Aijun came to the mourning hall of Ying Jicheng with a heavy heart and knelt down. As an elder, kneeling in front of another elder was not a shameful thing. Feng Aijun and Ying Tianlong were as close as brothers, and Ying Tianlong's father was like his own father. He had met Ying Jicheng when he came to Longguan Village to receive troops, and remembered him as a kind and gentle old man with a sturdy body, bright eyes, and an air of elegance. Holding Feng Aijun's hand, Ying Jicheng said: "I'm entrusting Tianlong to you now. No matter what happens to him in the future, he'll have to walk his own path. At critical moments, I ask that you give him a strong push."

  That scene is still vivid in my mind, but now things have changed, and we are separated by heaven and earth. The father and daughter should have passed away together, but the woman was not allowed to enter the ancestral hall. Heaven is unfair, and even in death, the father and daughter are still so far apart.

  Feng Ai Jun shed tears.

  After discussing with the elder in charge of the village, it was found that there is only one relative left in the Ying family, namely Ying Tianlong.

  The body can't be exposed to the open air, it should be buried in the ground. Ying Long was detained at the police station, and Feng Ai Jun said that I am now Ying Bo Bo's son, I will take charge of the funeral. Bury them together, so they can accompany each other on the road to the underworld.

  No one expressed opposition, and it was passed unanimously.

  The next morning, preparing for the funeral, Feng Aijun mentioned that when it's time to nail the coffin, a real family member is needed to smash the basin, which I couldn't replace. You wait, I'll guarantee with my own character and bring Ying Tianlong back. He said, getting into the car and heading towards the town.

  Feng Ai Jun's car crashed into the town government building at the same time when the county public security bureau's police car was just about to depart, and they bumped into each other.

  Feng Aijun jumped off the car and blocked the police car, saying: "I'm looking for your director."

  Director Lu said: "It's Commander Feng, what's the matter, just say it."

  Feng Ai Jun asked: "Where is Ying Tian Long now?"

  Director Lu answered in the police car.

  "Feng Ai-jun said: 'Director Lu, Yang Tian-long is a military personnel, even if he has committed a crime, it's not up to you to take him away. The army has its own military court, we will handle it ourselves, please hand the person over to me.'"

  Director Lu replied more succinctly: "Ying Tianlong was instructed by higher-ups to be taken away, I'm just executing the order from above."

  Feng Aijun also said resolutely: "I am also carrying out the orders of my superiors, you can't take him away."

  Director Lu said: "Prefect Feng, I don't want to be your enemy, please step aside."

  Feng Aijun said: "I don't want to be an enemy with you either, please hand over Ying Tianlong to me."

  Director Lu said: "What if you don't agree?"

  Feng Aijun said: Unless your police car runs over me.

  The atmosphere became tense as swords were drawn and bows were stretched.

  At this critical moment, the two people almost simultaneously received a phone call. Director Lu's expression was serious, and he only said "Alright, I will execute the superior's instructions and hand the person over to the troops immediately."

  Feng Ai Jun replied, "Yes. I'd like to delay for a day and wait until the funeral of General Ying's family is over before bringing back Ying Tian Long. I guarantee with my personal integrity that there will be no problems at all." He stood up straight: "Thank you, sir, for your understanding."

  Tian Long was brought down and handed over to Feng Ai Jun, who removed his handcuffs and foot chains. Feng Ai Jun didn't tie him up either, but instead looked at him with concern: "Tian Long, I've guaranteed to the leader that you won't run away."

  "Commander, what are you talking about? I'm a man of my word, once I give my promise, it's worth a thousand pieces of gold. Whether I live or die, I will not betray my comrades."

  Feng Aijun said: "Good, even if you go back and get shot, you have to stand up straight and face the bullets, right?"

  Ying Tianlong replied, "Twenty years later, I'll be a good man again, what's there to fear?"

  Director Lu listened to their conversation on the side, wanting to laugh but unable to. What kind of soldiers were these? Describing them as "regarding death as a return" was not enough. "Regarding death as a return" was after all seeing death and sacrificing one's life for righteousness. But they didn't put death in their eyes at all. At this moment, they still cooperated so tacitly, and the question-and-answer process revealed their deep friendship, which had transcended any emotion.

  Feng Aijun came over to Director Lu: "Director Lu, thank you for your understanding and care. You've all worked hard too."

  Director Lu smiled: "Commander Feng, don't be polite, you've won, the man has been taken away by you, and it's much better than returning to the county town. I'm also a salary earner, there are some things that I am powerless to do."

  Feng Aijun said goodbye after understanding each other.

  The two shook hands and said goodbye. Director Lu got into the police car and said drive.

  Feng Aijun also got on the car and replied to Tianlong, "We are going back to Longguan Village."

  As the car approached Longguan Village, Ying Tianlong's face became increasingly gloomy, his teeth clenched with a cracking sound. As they were about to arrive at the village entrance, Ying Tianlong suddenly said: "Captain, please stop the car for a moment, I want to get out and take some fresh air."

  Feng Ai Jun stopped the car: "Get off, I'll wait for you in the car."

  Ying Tianlong didn't respond, opened the door and jumped out of the car, walked a few steps forward, suddenly squatted down, hugged his head with both hands, and remained silent. After a long while, he suddenly stood up and ran away quickly, running aimlessly, darting back and forth, and soon disappeared from sight. The driver said, "It's not good, he really ran away."

  Feng Ai Jun sat steadily in the car and said, "He will come back, he is just venting his emotions. Once he has finished venting, we won't have any trouble when we enter the village."

  As expected, half an hour later, Ying Tianlong returned, sweating profusely, his footsteps heavy, but his complexion much better. He opened the car door and got in, saying: "Battalion Commander, let's go."

  The car drove directly into the village and stopped in front of the ancestral temple in the center of the village.

  Ying Cheng's coffin was placed at the entrance of the ancestral hall, with Ying Fengju's coffin on one side. The two coffins were lined up together, surrounded by a sea of villagers from Longguan Village and surrounding villages who had come to pay their respects. The crowd was silent, without a sound.

  A white wreath covered the two coffins, on which were placed the portraits of Ying Jicheng and Ying Fengju. Ying Fengju stood in the field, with a blue sky and white clouds as background, wearing a plain dress, facing the camera with a smile, beautiful to the point of breathtaking.

  Ying Jicheng was also laughing, his mustache shaking with laughter. This was a smile that came from the depths of his heart, and he looked so happy.

  Ying Tianlong didn't dare get out of the car anymore, Ying Tianlong hid in the car, his legs went soft and trembled, several times he wanted to step out, but couldn't.

  People are waiting for him, the only living person in the family to get off the bus. In front of the coffin on the ground, a black ceramic basin is placed, shining with light under the sun, representing the black color of death, and relatives will pick it up and throw it down, which is the signal for the funeral procession to start.

  The person who smashed the basin is hiding in the car and refuses to come out.

  No one said a word, no one was impatient, the woman couldn't bear it anymore, lowered her head and began to wipe away tears with her sleeve, the men clenched their fists in grief and indignation.

  Feng Aijun said to Tian Long, "Brother, you're a man. At this time, your legs can go soft, but I absolutely won't come to support you. I want you to walk out by yourself. If you can't walk out, kneel down and crawl, you must crawl out for me."

  Ying Tianlong's whole body shook, and he suddenly pulled open the car door and got out of the car. After getting out of the car, Ying Tianlong did not walk over, but instead knelt down with a soft thud, his two hands supporting himself on the ground, crawling up step by step, moving slowly towards the coffin, without tears or expression, like a piece of wood that could move.

  The villagers were all watching, holding their breath, looking at this young man who walked into the army from Longguan Village, made meritorious deeds and received awards, becoming an elite in the military. His photo wearing a military uniform had been passed around among the villagers of Longguan Village, Ying Fengjiao had gone door-to-door to spread the good news of his meritorious deeds and receiving awards, Ying Jicheng had set up a banquet to invite the villagers to share his joy. These things seemed to have happened just yesterday.

  How did yesterday's joy turn into today's sorrow so quickly? Can a young man bear such a severe blow?

  Heavenly conscience, where are you? This is a furious cry in the hearts of all fellow villagers.