Before noon.
Inside of the crematorium memorial hall.
Above the black and white photograph of Dong Xuebing is a black banner with white characters. “In remembrance of Dong Xuebing.” The coffin surrounded by flowers does not have a body. Instead, some of his personal belongings were placed inside, and the host, Su Jia, is giving a eulogy in tears. In front of her are Dong Xuebing’s friends and colleagues. His mother and family members, including Xie Huilan, were standing on the relative side.
Almost 100 people were attending this memorial service.
The atmosphere is solemn, and many people are weeping.
Luo Haiting, Lin Pingping, and a few others from the Investment Promotion Agency were sobbing. Liu Dahai, Deputy Team Leader Feng, and other guys’ eyes were all red.
No one had expected Chief Xiao Dong to pass away like this, and his body cannot be recovered.
Chief Dong was only 24 years old and is at the peak of his life. But he is gone just like this.
It’s been more than a dozen days since the crash, and everyone accepted it. When they heard of the crash, most of them know the chances of him surviving is slim. They know no one can survive after the plane exploded upon impact on the coral reef rock. Luan Xiaoping had cried countless times and knew why Xiao Bing asked her to take care of herself in that phone call.
Luan Xiaoping doesn’t believe her son is dead, and Huilan and Yunxuan kept consoling her that Xiao Bing will be back.
But one day passed….
Two days passed….
Ten days passed….
The plane had crashed into the coral rocks, exploded, and everyone on board was dead. Luan Xiaoping finally caved in and accepted it.
Her son is dead.
He is dead.
Luan Xiaoping covered her mouth as her tears roll down her face.
Xie Huilan held her arms. “Auntie…”
Luan Xiaoping cried. “Xiao Bing… my Xiao Bing…”
“Cousin… sob… sob….” Tang Jin and Dong Xuebing’s second aunt were also wiping their tears.
Suddenly, Yu Qianqian could not hold back and cry out loudly. “Uncle! Sob…. Sob… Uncle!”
Yu Meixia sobbed as she hugged her daughter. Her face is covered in tears, and she had lost count of how many times she cried in the last two weeks.
The crying spreads and affected more people. Xie Jing, and Xie Hao, who had rushed over from Beijing this morning, wiped their tears. Luo Haiting, Guo Panwei, and other staff from the Investment Promotion Agency, Deputy Party Secretary Cao Xupeng, Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee Huang Li, Deputy Mayor Geng Yuchao, Mayor’s Secretary Hu Silian, and many others, sighed and wiped their tears. Even Su Jia, could not continue. She held the microphone and sobbed.
It had become more solemn.
But Xie Huilan did not cry. She stood there emotionlessly.
Hu Silian noticed her and is worried. Everyone knows Dong Xuebing is Xie Huilan’s boyfriend, and his passing is a severe blow to her. But she did not cry or show any emotions and had made lots of mistakes at work these few days. Hu Silian saw her return to Dong Xuebing’s apartment after work every day and leave in the morning. It’s been almost two weeks since she had proper rest and food.
Many people are sad over Dong Xuebing’s passing.
But some are happy.
For example, the Finance Department Chief, Ding Li. He is standing in the Memorial Service Hall with a sorrowful expression but is laughing in his heart. He hates Dong Xuebing to the core. Dong Xuebing had embarrassed him during the ball, created a chaos at the Finance Department, and almost cause a fire there.
The Education Department Director, Yu Zhengzhi, is also feeling the same as Ding Li.
This guy had created havoc in Yan Tai County for so long, and he is finally gone. This is terrific!
Although Ding Li and Yu Zhengzhi are gloating, they did not show it openly as Mayor Xie is there. They don’t want to infuriate the mourners there.
Luan Xiaoping’s cries become louder and could not be stopped. “Xiao Bing is only 24… 24 years old… how am I going to live without you…. Xiao Bing….”
Xie Huilan held Luan Xiaoping’s hand. “Auntie, Xiao Bing is not around, and I will be your daughter-in-law in the future. I will be your daughter.”
Luan Xiaoping shook her head. “You are still young… I cannot let you… Xiao Bing will also want you to… to find someone….” Luan Xiaoping likes Xie Huilan, but she doesn’t want to disrupt her life after Dong Xuebing is gone.
“Auntie…”
“Stop it. Xiao Bing will not allow you….”
“Didn’t Xiao Bing tell you about that?” Xie Huilan smiled. “Before he went to Japan, we had held the wedding ceremony at my house, but we have not registered our marriage. Xiao Jing, right?!”
Xie Jing bit her lips.
Xie Huilan turns to her. “Xiao Jing!”
Xie Jing nodded. “Yes. We held the wedding ceremony.”
Xie Hao cried. “That’s right. I had attended!”
“Sorry for not informing you.” Xie Huilan held Luan Xiaoping’s hand tightly. “I should address you as Mum!”
Luan Xiaoping knew Xie Huilan is lying, and her tears continued to flow.
“Mum.” Xie Huilan called again softly. “I will continue to call you if you don’t acknowledge me as your daughter-in-law.”
Luan Xiaoping kept quiet.
“Mum.”
“…….”
“Mum.”
Luan Xiaoping finally relents. “Good girl! I acknowledge you!”
Xie Huilan smiled and wiped Luan Xiaoping’s tears.
What she did had touched many people. No one had expected Mayor Xie to go to this extend.
Su Jia wiped her tears and announced. “Let’s observe a three-minute silence for Comrade Dong Xuebing! Rest in peace! Your spirit will always be with us!”
Everyone bowed their heads and closed their eyes in front of Dong Xuebing’s black and white picture.
The next moment, Dong Xuebing appeared at the entrance of the Memorial Service Hall. He had heard everything from outside and was touched to tears.
