People came in waves to pay their respects. It was expected that gifts would be returned in return.
The old lady's coffin was at the very front, and Liu Changhe and his wife were placed side by side behind it.
Liu Changhai was unaware of the truth; the older people get, the more they think about the past.
I remember how gentle my sister-in-law was to me back then, and how I looked down on her when I was full of vigor.
What a beast! Otherwise, how could he be living a life with no one to support him in his old age? This is retribution.
The two sons knelt behind Liu Changhai, their heads bowed. They didn't cry, mainly because they hadn't had much contact. The old lady didn't like her, and because the third son's children were all spoiled, she simply didn't like them.
They always stay with their mother and never come back to visit the elderly.
This time, they had to come back because their elder relative had passed away. At the same time, both brothers felt a little uneasy.
They didn't get a share of anything in the house.
During the vigil that night, Zhang Hongmei sent the three younger children home. Zhenye and the others were old enough to handle it.
When the city leaders learned that the leader had come here to attend a funeral, leaders from the province and the city all came the next day.
They each gave a monetary gift. Seeing the leader kneeling to one side, they all quietly kowtowed. The provincial officials knew Xiao Li. They all expressed their regret for the old woman and their relationship with the leader.
Of course, they also knew that the leader's wife and seven young masters were also there.
However, there was no way to get close to them in this situation, and they all left after exchanging a few words.
The two sons kneeling behind Liu Changhai were very surprised. They were unaware of their family's situation and had never paid attention to it.
So there were leaders here? Luckily we made it here. Now I'll never complain about the old lady dividing her assets among others again.
At his age, Liu Changhai had lost his ambition. However, he still glanced up at the couple kneeling together. Looking at their son behind them, he felt a pang of relief.
In the afternoon, officials from the county and township came to pay their respects, and Xiao Li was in charge of receiving them. Village chiefs from various villages also came; things didn't finally quiet down until evening.
Zhang Shouyi got up, picked up Zhang Hongmei, put her on a chair to the side, and squatted down to massage her knees.
"Brother Zhang, I'm fine, don't worry."
Zhang Shouyi didn't say anything, but his hands didn't stop moving.
Liu Changhai and his two children were even more surprised when they saw the two of them. This leader was too good to his wife.
The family of nine was eating in a side room. Zhang Hongmei gave each of the eight men a glass of water, and then drank one herself.
"Thank goodness Grandpa and the others went back; I was worried about them."
"It's alright. Xiao Li just reported that Grandpa and Dad are both fine. Don't worry, your son is with them."
"Okay, that's fine then."
"Don't overthink it, just lie down and rest for a while. I'll keep vigil with my sons tonight."
Zhang Hongmei shook her head. "Brother Zhang, it's not that I'm being stubborn, it's just that I really have to take the old lady home. Don't worry, I'm really fine."
Zhang Shouyi frowned and sighed. Zhang Hongmei was always so sentimental. "Fine, let it be." "Okay, but it's freezing cold, you have to wear a mat. I'm worried about your knees."
"Okay, I understand. Don't worry, Lu Jing has already brought me knee pads."
An hour later, the family of nine knelt in the mourning hall again.
Xiao Wu looked at Liu Jingze to the side and walked over. "Godfather, you go eat. Leave this to us. My grandparents are not in good spirits. I went to persuade them. You can go and check on them again."
At this moment, Zhang Weiyu also came over and helped Liu Jingze up, saying, "Godfather, let me help you to eat."
Liu Jingze looked at his two sons in front of him and nodded.
He knew that in the old lady's heart, Weiyu held a higher position than Chongyu. The old lady had no regrets, having seen Weiyu before she passed away.
Zhenye came over and helped Liu Jingxiang up. "Second Uncle, get up and go eat. We're here."
Gu Yaozu also helped Mary up. Zhang Ruifeng pulled Liu Chongyu and Liu Yuhui up.
"Second Brother." Liu Yuhui pouted, on the verge of tears.
"Yu Hui, don't cry. The ancestor said this is a happy funeral. Alright, just remember the ancestor in your heart. Go wash up and eat. You two rest for a while and then come over."
With Zhang Weiyu's help, Liu Jingze walked up to Liu Changhai and said, "Third Master, let's go eat. You can't go on like this."
Xiao Lin came over and helped Liu Changhai up. Only then did he get a clear look at Zhang Weiyu and Xiao Wu's appearances. They really looked so much like Zhang Hongmei.
"Zhiqiang, Xiangyang, you two get up too."
Liu Jingze called the two men "uncle" and then they went out together.
Zhang Weiyu put Liu Jingze down and said, "Godfather, let Xiao Wu stay here with you. I'm going to the mourning hall."
"Go ahead, take care of your mother."
Zhang Weiyu nodded, then nodded to Liu Changhai and the others before leaving.
Liu Jingze pulled Xiao Wu to sit next to him, "Would you like to eat something else?"
"Godfather, please eat, I'm full."
Looking at the two beautiful children, Liu Zhiqiang and Liu Xiangyang were amazed. They were truly outstanding individuals; the children of the leaders were so good-looking.
But what surprised them even more was that the leader's two children were both Jingze's adopted sons.
Liu Jingze also lost his appetite. Xiao Wu frowned and glanced at him. "Uncle Lin, go and make my godfather a cup of milk. This won't do."
Xiao Lin immediately took care of it and brought over two cups, one for each of the father and son.
Xiao Wu ignored Liu Changhai and his family. After finishing his drink, he stood up and said, "Godfather, let's go see Grandpa and Grandma."
"Okay, come on, Xiao Wu, you can stay with these two old folks for a while."
As Xiao Wu walked, he said, "Godfather, let Yu Hui stay with Grandpa and Grandma. I'm healthier than them."
Watching the departing figures of the father and son, Liu Changhai sighed. He stood up and returned to the mourning hall.
Liu Zhiqiang and Liu Xiangyang followed along. Now they regret not having their wives and children come too.
Liu Xiangyang tugged at his older brother's clothes and whispered, "Brother, call your wife and ask them to bring the kids over."
"Okay, you go fight, I'll follow behind Father."
"Is Yingfeng still fighting there?"
"Go ahead and call her, but don't say anything. Just let her come over. Whether she comes or not is her own business."
Liu Xiangyang went to the living room and first called his own home, telling his wife to take the children and make sure to catch the first bus in the morning.
The older brother then informed his sister-in-law in the same way, and sensing her reluctance, he whispered that the leader was there. They immediately went to make the arrangements.
As for my sister's call, I simply told her to come over; I didn't say anything else.
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