She didn’t know if it was just Mrs. Chen’s sensitivity, but she always felt that Wang Ying was hiding a lot of things in her heart, and no one could see through her. How could she be close to someone who was so unpredictable?
Now that she knows he's gone, Old Mrs. Chen is filled with indescribable sorrow.
I don't know what sins the Chen family committed, their son married two wives, and yet they both died so young.
The thought of her poor son brought tears streaming down Old Mrs. Chen's face.
Grandma Chen slapped her thigh and burst into tears, "My son! My poor son! Why are you so unfortunate!"
Grandma Chen wailed and cried, occasionally blowing her nose and wiping it on her trouser leg.
Xu Xinning was a little confused. Wasn't Wang Ying gone? Why was she crying about Chen Ping?
When Mrs. Chen started crying, Mrs. Xu also started wiping away tears.
Those who came to watch the spectacle never expected that Xu Xinning and the others had returned to see Wang Ying off.
Everyone feels a pang of sadness when they think of Wang Ying, and they can almost hear her gentle and refined voice.
Wang Ying is a teacher, and she has taught many children in the village, so she has had quite a bit of contact with them.
When Wang Ying disappeared, everyone thought she was definitely gone. Unexpectedly, the Chen and Xu families really did say she was missing. If they had found her sooner, things might have been different.
Oh! How could such a young life be gone so suddenly?
Many onlookers joined Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Xu in wiping away tears.
Yang Chunqin arrived quickly. She had a lot of work to do today; otherwise, she would have gone to the village entrance to pick up her daughter.
She missed her daughter terribly after not seeing her for so long.
Just as she was basking in the joy of seeing her daughter, she suddenly heard that Wang Ying had been found, but was now gone again.
Yang Chunqin's heart was like a rollercoaster, going from happy to sad in an instant.
When Yang Chunqin arrived, Chen Jianguo had also been found, along with Xu Laosan, Mu Jingshu, and Xun Shichou.
The group was originally fishing for shrimp and fish for Xu Xinning in the river when they heard someone running to find Chen Jianguo, saying that something had happened to his family. So the group of friends rushed back without even leaving their things.
Upon arriving at the Chen family home, the children were stunned to see the newly erected mourning hall.
Funerals in the countryside are all the same. Normally, when someone is having a funeral, the children would rather watch from afar than get close.
Who doesn't know that funerals are unlucky? Children are no exception.
The Chen family is small, and now that a funeral is being held, the children are bound to have all sorts of wild thoughts.
When Yang Chunqin saw Chen Jianguo standing there dumbfounded at the door, she patted him on the shoulder and said with red eyes, "Go in, put on your mourning clothes, and wear mourning clothes for your mother."
Upon hearing that it was Wang Ying, Xu Laosan blurted out, "Auntie has been found?"
Yang Chunqin nodded and took Chen Jianguo's hand to walk inside.
Old Mrs. Chen's crying was very melodious and rhythmic. She cried and chanted at the same time, which made the funeral atmosphere as lively as possible.
Although this era is special and everything must be simplified, especially funerals, there are almost no ceremonies in the city. However, it is different in the countryside. The necessary ceremonies are still held, just not in such a complicated way. But the things that should be done, such as laying the body in state and chanting, are still done.
It is said that death is the greatest loss, and everyone who is alive hopes that the dead can bless them and make their wishes come true. How could they possibly skip the proper duties of filial sons and grandsons?
So there will be plenty of music and fanfare, but it will be hard to find monks to chant sutras. However, this won't be a problem for the older women.
Isn't it just chanting scriptures and exchanging paper money for ingots? Simple!
However, all these tasks were done by villagers who came to help.
If someone does a particularly good job, they'll be eagerly invited over, and afterwards, they'll be secretly given some money.
In any case, family members will never be careless about matters involving death.
Mu Jingshu had seen many families hold funerals in the village for a long time, but this was the first time she had seen one with such a close relationship with the Xu family.
Mu Jingshu felt an indescribable fear, a chilling and bewildered feeling.
Seeing Chen Jianguo go inside, Xu Laosan followed closely behind.
Mu Jingshu unconsciously pulled her out foot back.
Xun Shichou was naturally sensitive and intelligent, and he could tell from Mu Jingshu's appearance that she was timid.
The young boy suddenly took Mu Jingshu's cold hand and looked at her, saying, "Do you want to go in? If you do, I'll go in with you. If you don't want to go in, I'll take you home."
Mu Jingshu bit her lip, glanced at Chen Jianguo, who was being helped into wearing hemp clothing, and Xu Laosan, who was kneeling and bowing to the altar, and then turned to Xun Shichou and said, "Can you stay with me and stand by my side? I... I'm not actually scared, I just don't like this atmosphere."
Xun Shichou did not make fun of Mu Jingshu, but said seriously, "I know that you are a brave female knight-errant. It's just that you can't accept the loss of the Chen family members you know so well."
Mu Jingshu had never felt that anyone was as adorable as Xun Shichou at this moment, not even her best friend Xu Laosan. She felt that Xun Shichou really understood her, and from this moment on, Mu Jingshu inexplicably developed a dependence on Xun Shichou.
Mu Jingshu looked at Xun Shichou and nodded firmly.
Xun Shichou felt a rare urge to laugh, but then realized it was inappropriate and suppressed it, leading Mu Jingshu inside.
He walked over to Xu Laosan's side, lit incense in a serious manner, gave three sticks to Mu Jingshu and kept three for himself, then pulled Mu Jingshu to kneel down next to Xu Laosan and earnestly kowtowed.
Mu Jingshu followed Xun Shichou's lead.
She was very surprised that Xun Shichou was so familiar with the process, and this made her initial fear dissipate.
Not long after, Xu Xinning's third uncle and aunt, Xu Xialian, and Xiang Wanzhen also arrived.
With many helpers, things go more smoothly.
Xu Laosan, being a loyal friend, stayed with Chen Jianguo, who didn't say a word.
Mu Jingshu had gotten used to the atmosphere by then. Mainly because she didn't see coffins like in other people's homes, or dead people lying in them, so the fear had disappeared.
Mu Jingshu now has a strong sense of brotherhood. Since Xu Laosan has been accompanying Chen Jianguo, she, as his brother, should definitely follow suit.
Xun Shichou originally wanted to go home, but he had promised Mu Jingshu that he would stay with her, so he stayed.
Then you can see Chen Jianguo, dressed in mourning clothes, kneeling to one side, with Xu Laosan, Mu Jingshu, and Xun Shichou sitting beside him.
When the villagers found out, they all came to pay their respects.
Chen Ping was not home, and Chen Jianguo was immersed in grief and remained silent. Yao Dahai was not a talkative person to begin with, so all the diplomatic work fell on the shoulders of Old Madam Chen.
However, Mrs. Chen did a good job, capturing the mood of the family at the funeral perfectly.
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