Chapter 17: The Daughter's Grave? There were still many figures swaying in the distance, and the sound of crying was coming from there.

  "Damn it," muttered Luo Xiaotong, "it can't be a ghost, let's take another look." Anyway, he thought that if it were really a ghost, it would have entered the building long ago. He had been sleeping like a pig just now, and it would have been easy to kill him, so why bother putting on airs and trying to scare himself?

  Holding the flashlight, I plucked up my courage and opened the door. Originally, I wanted to open it carefully, but unexpectedly, that old door creaked loudly as soon as I touched it. With a slight push, the empty space inside the building seemed even more eerie.

  Luo Xiaotong was already feeling uneasy in his heart, and this sudden commotion made things even worse. In a fit of rage, he kicked the door: "Damn it, I'll kick you flat!" After saying that, he couldn't help but secretly laugh to himself. The door was originally flat anyway.

  The crying sound in the courtyard still exists.

  Luo Xiaotong stood at the door and observed for a moment before confirming that there was indeed someone in the yard.

  Because according to his own judgment, if it were really a ghost, the crying sound shouldn't be the same as a human's.

  Being a human being, why would you come to the town government's courtyard to cry? And that voice is so mournful.

  "Daughter, Mom is here to see you."

  Luo Xiaotong smelled a burning paper smell. It turned out that the flame was burning paper.

  Lu Xiaotong remembered his own responsibility, this big yard currently belongs to him, coming here, should greet him. This silent run, it seems that he is not taken seriously. Thinking of this, a hot flow surged.

  He turned on his flashlight and shone it straight ahead: "What are you doing?" His voice was loud, mustering up courage. The loud voice was also to boost his own morale.

  There are three people there. Two women and one man.

  No one answered him, as if he didn't exist at all.

  Lu Xiaotong was somewhat annoyed and walked over. When she got closer, she looked carefully. An old woman was crying while throwing paper money into the flames, an old man was comforting her on one side, and a young girl, probably in her twenties, stood on the other side, constantly wiping away tears.

  "This is the town government, Auntie, you can't burn paper here." Luo Xiaotong's voice softened a lot. Others are so sad, he can't speak too harshly, or it would be too inhumane.

  The aunt raised her head and gave him a cold look: "Who are you?"

  Although it was at night, the chill of that gaze still made Luo Xiaotong's whole body tremble. The gaze was like a knife, as if to kill someone.

  Luo Xiaotong took a deep breath: "I am the watchman here."

  "Get out of here!" The old aunt spoke rudely. Luo Xiaotong was furious, he had been so polite, but this old woman didn't appreciate it and was about to scold her a few words. But thinking about it, it wasn't suitable, he considered himself a well-educated person and shouldn't stoop to the level of arguing with a woman.

  Just as I didn't know how to react, the girl walked over and said softly: "Brother, don't mind her, my mom is like this because she's sad." Her voice was filled with sorrow.

  Lu Xiaotong's flashlight in his hand was always on, and with the scattered light from the flashlight, he could clearly see the face of this girl in front of him, which was very delicate.

  "I know," said Luo Xiaotong, "but after all, this is the government's main courtyard. You coming here to burn incense and mourn isn't quite suitable."

  His voice was light, infected by the girl. But as soon as he finished speaking, Auntie got annoyed: "I just want to burn paper here, I just want to be here, what can you do about it?"

  Facing the provocation, Luo Xiaotong was somewhat at a loss: "Auntie, you see, I didn't say anything. But I'm the watchman here, taking care of this place is my job and my responsibility. You burning paper here affects many people, it's not good. If the town head finds out tomorrow, I'll be criticized."

  The aunt threw a few pieces of paper onto the flames, staring at the burning sparks, and without even looking at Luo Xiaotong, said: "That's your business, it has nothing to do with me. Scram over there and don't interrupt my conversation with my daughter."

  Lu Xiaotong has never fought with anyone since childhood, and even small things like quarreling are rare. He just reads more books and practices his eloquence in the schoolyard. Seeing Auntie being unreasonable, he didn't show weakness, but instead smiled: "Auntie, look, I'm just doing my job, doing what I should do, how can you say I'm affecting your conversation with your daughter?"

  He didn't expect that one smile would cause trouble. The old aunt suddenly jumped up, and before Luo Xiaotong could understand why she was like this, he had already been slapped in the face. This aunt seemed to have done heavy work, her hands were very heavy, and Luo Xiaotong's eyes were filled with stars. The man next to the aunt, probably her husband, finally spoke up: "Mei, what are you doing? This young man is not easy either, he's alone in the dark, don't make it difficult for him."

  "Shut up." Auntie must be a woman of great authority at home, at least in front of this man: "I don't care if he's young or not, as long as he's obstructing me, it won't do." Her attitude was quite overbearing.

  The man let out a sigh and really shut up.

  The young girl couldn't help but look at Luo Xiaotong, then said to her aunt: "Mom, this big brother seems to not know what's going on, don't do that."

  Turning back to Luo Xiaotong, he said: "Brother, I'm sorry, don't be angry with my mom."

  Luo Xiaotong refused: "Sister, it seems that this aunt is your mother. I don't want to argue with her, but why did she hit people? Now is a society ruled by law, not anyone can be reckless."

  "Who did I hit? I'll tear your mouth apart!" The aunt rushed towards Luo Xiaotong, but fortunately the man pulled her back and the girl blocked their way, so the aunt didn't get to attack. However, she continued to curse nonstop with foul language.

  Lu Xiaotong took a look and felt that the situation was not good. If this continued, he would be at a disadvantage. He couldn't fight with her, even if he wanted to, he wouldn't gain anything from it. Although the other two people didn't agree with Da Shu's behavior, once Lu Xiaotong confronted them, they would immediately become his enemies. After all, family is family. A good man doesn't take advantage of others when they're down, so Lu Xiaotong turned around and went back inside to call Chen Hua. He thought it was necessary to report what had happened here, otherwise he would be criticized.

  On the other end of the phone, Chen Hua seemed to be drunk, his tongue stumbling as he spoke: "It's okay, Luo Xiaotong, just don't provoke them, and they won't make trouble or attack the office building. As long as that doesn't happen, you won't be considered derelict in your duties. Alright, I haven't finished drinking yet, you figure out what to do next yourself." Luo Xiaotong wanted to say more, but the phone had already been hung up.

  Although Luo Xiaotong was dissatisfied with Chen Hua's attitude, he thought that since such a thing had happened, he should have given instructions on what to do next. As the deputy mayor, he should have rushed over immediately. But for these wine sacks, wine was more important than work.

  Lu Xiaotong was indignant, but had nowhere to vent. Anyway, Chen Hua said that as long as they didn't attack the office building, it would be fine, which means allowing them in the courtyard. This can also be considered a guiding spirit.

  It seems that the people in the yard are not easy to mess with. Going out again, Luo Xiaotong stood at the door of the building for a while, calmed down her emotions, and then came back in front of the three people, her attitude changed.

  "Auntie, I'm the new gatekeeper and I don't know how to speak properly, please don't be angry with me, I apologize." Luo Xiaotong learned his lesson and knew that sometimes pretending to be a good person wouldn't hurt. Only by doing so could he appease Auntie and prevent her from taking further action. Auntie snorted in her nose as she burned incense, muttering to herself, seemingly talking to one of her daughters.

  The girl wiped her face, probably wiping away tears. Then she asked Luo Xiaotong gently: "Brother, why did you become a watchman at such a young age?"

  Lu Xiaotong was grateful to her, from start to finish, Little Ye had never been unfriendly to herself.

  "No choice, graduated from university, no job, so I'm temporarily doing this job."

  "Are you a university student?" the girl asked in surprise.

  Lu Xiaotong nodded. The girl actually smiled: "This is rare, a university student as a porter, your book isn't read in vain?" Lu Xiaotong bitterly smiled: "For now, yeah." The girl stretched out her hand, meaning to formally get to know each other, Lu Xiaotong understood and shook hands with her. Feeling that small hand was very tender. With this handshake, all the previous things seemed like they never happened. Lu Xiaotong felt extremely comfortable in his heart, recalling a seemingly philosophical phrase concluded by the boys at school: "For men, women are the best elixir." This sentence, although feeling nonsensical, actually made some sense after careful consideration.

  "My name is Luo Xiaotong, today is my first day on the job."

  "Hehe, I'm Xiao Ye. Little Tong and Xiao Ye, we have a good fate, another day I'll invite you to dinner, also counts as apologizing for my mom's slap."

  There's a girl who actively invited him out, Luo Xiaotong was overjoyed. But he knew not to take it seriously, maybe she just said it casually! So he smiled and said: "Don't say that, when I have the chance, I'll invite you, and it won't be a waste that we've met."

  Unexpectedly, Little Ye's daughter really did: "Good, we have an agreement, I'll come find you in a few days." Unexpectedly, Little Ye was so straightforward and quick, but Luo Xiaotong was at a loss, repeatedly agreeing. At this time, Little Ye's mother had finished burning the paper, watching as the last piece of paper turned to ashes, stood up, looking at Luo Xiaotong: "Next year I'll come again, I'm telling you, as long as I'm alive I'll come, no one can stop me, this is my daughter's grave."

  Lu Xiaotong was startled and didn't understand what the sentence meant. However, she also didn't dare to ask, fearing that it would stir up trouble again, so she remained silent.

  Xiaoye's father supported his wife as they walked towards the gate. After a few steps, Xiaoye's mother stopped and turned around to look at Luo Xiaotong.

  Lu Xiaotong's heart was in his throat, thinking "What is it this time? Don't get me into trouble again."

  "Open the door." It sounded like an order. Luo Xiaotong only then thought of it, the big gate was closed and locked, how did they get in? Thinking about it, he understood that they must have climbed over the gate to come in. No time to think more, obediently went to open the door.

  Xiao Ye walked at the back, turning his head to look at Luo Xiaotong: "Big brother, don't forget our agreement."

  "Definitely, definitely." Luo Xiaotong said repeatedly. Fortunately, the hanging heart was put down, and as for the agreed things, they were not expected.

  Back to the building, the TV was still playing "Painted Skin", angrily turned it off. Couldn't sleep for a while, but suddenly remembered the female town mayor's words, finally understood why she had to be more careful.