Chapter 86 Chongquan Chongquan

"No, I will never agree to this." As the village chief of Yuexi Village, Su Wenhui is actually a very kind person. He is willing to discuss things with others even when encountering problems, but at this time he frowned.

If the person who came to ask for help was not Su Fengzhang, the most outstanding scholar in their village, Su Wenhui would probably have started cursing.

Su Fengzhang didn't give up directly. Instead, he continued, "Uncle, Changqing is my best friend. I really can't bear to see him buried in the wilderness, in such a desolate state."

The village chief sighed and advised, "If you can't bear to bury him in the wilderness, just buy a piece of land and find someone to look after him. It won't cost much, but Yuexi Mountain is absolutely not an option."

When the people of Yuexi Village were young, most of them were buried on Yuexi Mountain. That area is the location of the villagers' ancestral tombs.

Seeing that he was about to speak, the village chief raised his hand to stop him and said, "You know, Lin Changqing died a violent death. Not to mention that he wasn't from Yuexi Village, even if he was, I don't agree with burying him in Yuexi Mountain."

"The burial of someone who died suddenly has its own particularities, which can easily destroy the Feng Shui of a place."

"Erlang, even if you don't want to think about the future, you should at least think about yourself. Burying him on Yuexi Mountain will affect the feng shui of this area. What if that affects your career?"

"Since he's your closest friend, if he knew about this, he certainly wouldn't want to implicate you in this matter, Erlang. Isn't that right? You've already been imprisoned for this, so how can it affect your future?"

Su Fengzhang said, "It's precisely because I know he's a good friend that I'm not afraid. Changqing has a kind heart. If he can be buried in Yuexi Mountain, he will only protect the villagers here. How can he be harmful?"

The village chief still shook his head: "That's true, but even if I agree, the elders will not agree, and the villagers will not agree. Let's not mention this matter anymore."

Su Fengzhang suddenly lifted the hem of his skirt and knelt down with a thud.

The village chief hurriedly tried to help him up: "Erlang, what are you doing? A man's knees are made of gold. He should kneel to heaven, earth, and his parents. You are trying to shorten your uncle's life!"

Su Fengzhang looked up and said, "Uncle, I don't need to be buried near the villagers' ancestral graves. I just need a place that's not too remote. Please help me this time."

"Scholars have their own integrity. Changqing has been vindicated and he is not buried in the Su family's ancestral tomb. It will not affect the feng shui of this place."

"When the time comes, I will invite a high monk to perform a ritual to reassure the villagers. Uncle, I just don't want him to have a hard life and not even have a decent place to rest after his death."

Seeing him begging desperately, even kneeling down, Su Wenhui couldn't help but feel a little shaken. He thought that since it was not the ancestral grave and was in a remote place, maybe it really wouldn't have any impact.

"It can only be on the west slope, and not near the villagers' graves." Su Wenhui said finally.

Seeing this, Su Fengzhang said repeatedly: "Yes, my nephew knows that it will never affect the villagers."

When he stood up and left, the village head's wife, who had heard the noise, came out and frowned, saying, "Boss, are you just going to agree to this? Lin Changqing wasn't from Yuexi Village, and he died on New Year's Eve. It's really unlucky."

Su Wenhui didn't really want to do this, but he sighed and said, "Erlang is determined to do this. If I don't agree soon, I'm afraid he will have to kneel forever."

The village head's wife also said, "This child usually behaves well, so why is he so serious this time? He's already dead, so it doesn't matter where he's buried. Lin Changqing has no children, so sooner or later his family line will be cut off."

After hearing this, Su Wenhui said, "You can't say that... Erlang is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. He can devote all his heart and soul to a friend. This is a good thing."

The village head's wife asked, confused, "What's so good about it?"

Su Wenhui looked at her without saying anything. In fact, after observing her for the past few years, Su Wenhui also discovered that Erlang seemed to be polite to everyone, but the only people he really cared about were those in the Su family.

Before, he was worried that Erlang was not close enough to his tribe members, and even if he became successful in the future, his protection would be limited. But now it seems that he was overthinking it. If Erlang can be so caring towards his friends, he will definitely care even more about his tribe members.

Su Fengzhang didn't know that the village chief would reluctantly agree for these reasons.

As soon as he came back, Su Arong shouted, "Erlang, the village chief doesn't agree. In fact, it doesn't matter if he doesn't agree. Let's look for a good place for Lin Xiucai."

Su Fengzhang said, "He agreed, but we still need to discuss what to do with Changqing's funeral."

"Agreed?!" Su Arong exclaimed in surprise.

Even Zhang San was surprised and said, "It seems that the village chief of Yuexi Village is quite understanding. If that's the case, then a difficult problem has been solved. I'm sure the charity cemetery can also rest assured."

Lin Changqing died on New Year's Eve, and his body has been kept in the charity cemetery for ten days. If it weren't for the cold weather, his body would probably have smelled. If he hadn't had the title of scholar, the charity cemetery would have disposed of him long ago.

When Su Fengzhang arrived at the charity cemetery, there was only a middle-aged man watching inside. After hearing their purpose, he quickly said, "Finally you're here. If you don't come soon, you won't be able to see it again."

Su Fengzhang followed him inside, and Su Arong followed behind, his face pale. He whispered, "Erlang, it's so chilly in this charity cemetery. It's creepy just to look at."

The old man at the gate heard it and laughed, "That's right! This is where the dead live. How can it not be creepy?"

"Okay, right here. Take a look and see when to raise his head."

Naturally, there would be no coffin included in the charity cemetery. In fact, coffins were precious items in those days and were very expensive. People in the countryside usually made their own coffins, otherwise they could not afford them.

Lin Changqing was lying on a wooden board, covered with a white cloth, and only his figure could be vaguely seen.

Su Fengzhang slowly approached and reached out to pull away the white cloth.

Su Arong grabbed him and said, "Erlang, let me do it."

Su Fengzhang shook his head and slowly pulled open the cloth with his own hands.

Under the white cloth, Lin Changqing's face was bluish-gray. Probably because it had been cleaned, there was no blood or scars, but this color was cold and could chill people's hearts.

Su Fengzhang suddenly thought of the day when he first met Lin Changqing. That day was his first time going to the county school. He was surrounded by several students in the school, talking to them. Lin Changqing was sitting at the very back, reading a book without even raising his head.

What was he thinking at that time? It seemed like he wanted to go over and say hello, but the person disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Who would have thought that a few months later, they would become best friends, and the person who would argue with him about which word was best to use in a poem and would be grateful for other people's kindness would be gone forever.

"Erlang, are you okay?" Su Arong asked with some concern. Su Fengzhang's expression at the moment was really worrying.

"I'm fine." He wasn't the one in trouble... Su Fengzhang stretched out his hand to close the white cloth, then said to the old man, "I'll have to trouble you to take care of him for a few days. I'll come pick him up when I'm ready."

"Why would you care for a dead man? Just remember to come and take him away." The gatekeeper added, not knowing what he was thinking, "Come early, or the body will stink and it will be difficult to deal with."

Su Fengzhang didn't let Lin Changqing wait. After going back to discuss with Su Zhaoshi, he came to pick him up the next day.

Su Zhaoshi actually didn't want Lin Changqing's funeral to be held at home, but the village chief had already agreed. She knew the friendship between her son and Lin Changqing, so she had to agree in the end.

Su Fengzhang also felt guilty about this. These days, unless the funeral is with one's family, it is considered unlucky. Even when holding a funeral, one cannot casually borrow someone else's place for fear of being affected by bad luck.

Su Zhaoshi agreed to this simply out of love for her son and because he was the real head of the Su family. However, this matter caused quite a bit of controversy in the village.

Although everyone had some taboos in their hearts, the funeral was still carried out smoothly. According to the rules of Yuexi Village, the body was kept for three days before the burial. Su Fengzhang invited monks to chant sutras for the deceased, but did not hold a funeral banquet.

Lin Changqing had no relatives or friends, and his clansmen didn't even plan to take him back, and Su Fengzhang had no intention of notifying them.

The people of Yuexi Village had never met Lin Changqing before, so naturally they would not come to his house to eat the tofu meal. Su Fengzhang simply did not prepare it, but only offered food every day, and he himself burned paper and kept vigil in front of the spirit.

Su Zhaoshi was reluctant to let her son suffer so much, so she served him some food and said, "After you finish eating, go to sleep for a while. I will keep an eye on you. Don't worry, I will burn paper money properly."

Su Fengzhang finished his meal and then said, "Mom, let me do it. This is all I can do."

Su Zhao sighed and said, "Haven't you done enough? Mr. Lin's death has nothing to do with you."

"I know." Su Fengzhang would think of the spiritual spring water he didn't feed him that night from time to time. He swept away the vague guilt and said, "I just wanted to see him off for the last time and do my best."

"Forget it, mother won't persuade you. Just remember not to hurt yourself and don't make me, your mother, worry, okay?" Su Zhaoshi felt a little relieved when she saw that he could still eat well.

Su Fengzhang originally thought that no one would come to pay their respects, but on the second day, scholars came one after another. Some were classmates, and some looked unfamiliar. They were probably not students of the county school, but came to pay their respects just because they heard about this.

Liu Xiong and the others simply stayed to burn paper with him, saying, "When he was alive, he was so talented and everyone praised him. I never thought he would end up like this. It's all because of that cruel guy."

Su Fengzhang didn't want to mention that name in front of the spirit, so he just said, "What's the point of saying this now? If Changqing could hear it, he probably wouldn't like it."

Liu Xiong also sighed after hearing this.

On the morning of the third day, the sky was gray and the cold wind made people feel cold to the bone. Su Fengzhang paid a high price to hire people to carry the coffin. He himself carried a basket of paper money and scattered it along the way.

Even many years later, Su Fengzhang still remembered the feeling of scattering valuables. The rough feel of the valuables made him feel disgusted. They fell freely in the wind and could not even bring him a little comfort.

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The author has something to say: Everyone is reluctant to give up Changqing

But let me clarify again, this is Changqing's fate when I wrote the outline.

Maybe this is also the fate of most farmers in ancient times. Not everyone can make a comeback. Luck is also a very important part of life.