Chen Dalong and Chen Dasheng came over, and each gave him a slap across the face. Chen Lin then tearfully told them everything.
"With the New Year approaching, my father started thinking about our ancestors who died while fleeing disaster, and he couldn't sleep night after night. My mother's heart ached for him, so she suggested we invite our ancestors over to receive some incense offerings. She thought that once they saw how capable their descendants were and how well we were living, they could finally rest easy. Then my father would feel better, too."
As soon as Chen Lin said this, the crowd in the courtyard showed a mix of expressions. It was impossible to tell how much they believed, but no one spoke up to stop him. Their silence was an invitation for him to go on.
