Whether inside the space or outside, Ling Jiang and Qiao Qiao couldn't stop crying. Lan Jin really couldn't bear to watch.
Earlier, when they hadn't heard the two crying, it was still manageable. But now that the sobs filled the air, Lao Gao and Huang Jinghe couldn't hold back. They pushed open the master bedroom door and stepped inside.
Lao Gao looked at everyone in the room, but the words on the tip of his tongue suddenly got stuck. He didn't know what to say to comfort them. It was Huang Jinghe who finally broke the silence after a long pause. "Lao Gao, talk about what happens next. Captain Zhang will be here any minute."
"Oh, right." Lao Gao turned his head slightly, forced down the grief, and said, "Captain Zhang mentioned that the Capital city base has lots of elderly folks, so their policies for this sort of thing are complete. In a bit, he'll send someone to take her to the mourning hall, then she'll be cremated.
But there's another service. The Capital city base can turn the ashes into keepsakes, so the family can wear them. He asked if Sister Lan wants that. If she does, then after cremation it can be done right away..."
Before he even finished, all their eyes were fixed on him. Honestly, the service was pretty good. It had existed long ago, but most people only used it for pets. Doing it for humans? That was almost unheard of.
Ling Jiang immediately shook her head. "No need. I'm sad, but it's the apocalypse. Grandma was already so old. I just thought after drinking so much of Lan Jin's spirit spring water, she could've stayed with me longer, just a bit longer..."
It was too sudden. She couldn't accept it. Grandma Ling was her only family. She and Lao Gao had done plenty of bad things, but when it came to their own kin, there was still love. Even Qiao Qiao, who'd only been with them for a year, was crying so hard. If she didn't react at all, wouldn't that make her less than human?
While everyone was still trying to calm down, a knock came from the front door. "Lan Jin, Ling Jiang, it's Captain Zhang. Are you home?"
Huang Jinghe, standing by the bedroom door, quickly answered, "Yes, yes!" Then he rushed over to open it.
Captain Zhang stood outside with several camo-clad squad members, clearly base staff.
Huang Jinghe hurriedly welcomed them in, but before he could say a word, Captain Zhang asked, "She was fine before. How did this suddenly..."
"We're just as shocked."
And so...
...
After some discussion, they took Grandma Ling to the Capital city base's public mourning hall.
Before the apocalypse, the rule was three days of vigil, no matter what. Now it was just one day, then cremation. The base didn't set up spirit tablets, and there was no place to store ashes, which was why they offered keepsakes instead.
When she heard there'd be no spirit tablet and the ashes would just be scattered, Ling Jiang's heart twisted again. But it was normal. Too many people died every day. And who could guarantee the base would last? If something happened and everyone had to evacuate, they couldn't let attachments to the dead slow them down.
Thinking it over, Ling Jiang finally decided to turn Grandma Ling's ashes into a necklace. At least she'd have something to hold onto, and she believed Grandma would want to stay by her side anyway. The choice was made naturally.
They'd only just arrived at the base and didn't know anyone. They thought Grandma Ling's mourning hall would be deserted, but when the news spread, the team members who had traveled with them all gave up their rest to come pay their respects.
They weren't exactly close, but not strangers either. Showing up was already a kindness.
One day passed quickly. After the vigil, staff immediately took Grandma Ling for cremation.
The crematorium wasn't far, just behind the base's back gate, built by the Capital city base. Lao Gao learned it was used often. Of course, not all the dead were elderly. Plenty of young people died too, some from sickness, some on missions.
Basically, the place was always busy.
Once cremation was done, they collected the ashes. After registering with Ling Jiang, she was told she could pick up the keepsake in two weeks. That wasn't long. She could wait. But after everything, grief and exhaustion crushed her. The moment she stepped back into their unit, Ling Jiang collapsed at the doorway, unconscious.
Lao Gao rushed to support her, panic in his voice. "Sister Lan, Sister Lan, what's wrong?"
Lan Jin quickly said, "Take her to the infirmary."
So they'd just come home, only to leave again right away.
Ling Jiang stayed unconscious for two whole days. Thankfully, it wasn't serious. Lao Gao refused to leave her side the entire time, not even closing his eyes, until she finally woke up. He looked utterly worn down. He already had a big beard that made him look older, but now he seemed downright aged.
When she first opened her eyes, Ling Jiang almost didn't recognize him. "Lao Gao, Lao Gao, how did you end up like this?"
Lan Jin explained, "You were out for two days. He stayed by your side the whole time and didn't sleep. He didn't rest before this either. Of course he looks old." Honestly, the bond between the two was touching.
Hearing this, Ling Jiang scolded him gently. "You fool, what could possibly happen to me? Enough, go rest. I'm awake now, no need for you to watch me."
Lan Jin added, "Lao Gao, you go home and rest. I'll stay here with her. There's food at home. Heat something up before sleeping, alright?"
He studied Ling Jiang, saw she really did look fine, then finally nodded. "Alright. I really can't hold on anymore. I'll head back."
"Mm."
After he left, Ling Jiang turned her head and muttered, "I'm starving. Got anything to eat?"