"Xiaoyu, wife, get up."
Xiao Lei couldn't sleep soundly because he had something on his mind. He woke up before the appointed time, went outside to take a look, and saw that the coffin had been moved into the main room and that other preparations were almost complete. He then went back into the room to wake his wife.
"Sleepy!"
"Just bear with it. I've already had someone brew some tea. Drink some to wake yourself up later."
Inside the room, Zhao Dawen carefully smoothed the stray hairs around the old lady's ears and tucked the quilt in.
"Carry it to the mourning hall."
Several strong men from the same clan came in, carefully moved Old Madam Sun's body onto the door panel, and steadily carried it out. The women's cries immediately rose, one after another, as if they were having a competition to see who could cry the most heartbrokenly and loudly.
"Milk!"
"mother!"
Zhao Xiaoyu couldn't tell who was calling whom.
Men can suppress their grief, but women must cry their hearts out at this time; otherwise, they are considered unfilial.
I rubbed my eyes with the pepper spray I had prepared beforehand; they burned and water gushed out.
Goodness, it's so spicy it'll kill her.
The man walked in front, protecting Old Madam Sun as she entered the mourning hall, while the woman followed behind, sobbing. Everyone was already dressed in mourning clothes.
White banners hung down, and a memorial altar was set up in the center, with an incense burner, candlesticks, and several offerings.
The eternal flame burned silently. The door panel was placed on a bier made of two long benches, head facing outwards and feet facing inwards.
After they went inside, several sons carried the person into the coffin.
The crying in the mourning hall reached a climax, then gradually subsided, turning into suppressed sobs and murmurs.
The three Zhao brothers knelt side by side before the coffin and began their formal vigil.
Besides themselves, there were also monks chanting sutras in the courtyard, whom Zhao Dashu had invited.
Cigarette smoke curled and paper ash flew everywhere.
Zhao Xiaoyu and Xiao Lei followed the crowd in kneeling and bowing, then stood up and knelt again.
The ceremony lasted until the afternoon. Relatives and friends came in an endless stream to pay their respects. After offering their gifts and incense, and saying a few words of condolence, they were led to the next courtyard for tea and snacks.
The clansmen who came to help were so busy that their feet barely touched the ground as they welcomed and saw off guests.
When the Song family came, Mrs. Song didn't have time to chat with them properly; she only gave them brief greetings.
Zhao Zhaodi's in-laws all came, as did Zhao Ruxin's stepson and stepsisters. The small courtyard was full of people coming and going.
With their son and daughter-in-law keeping watch over them at night, they were finally able to get some rest.
The second day was even harder. Zhao Dashu's eyes were bloodshot from staying up all night, while Zhao Xiaoyu wrapped herself tightly in her mourning clothes and went back to her room to catch up on sleep, ignoring everything else.
Zhao Dayong continued burning paper money in silence, the firelight illuminating his gray hair and sunken eye sockets. Li Shi leaned against him, her eyelids drooping heavily, yet she dared not actually fall asleep.
Zhao Dawen had found a corner, leaned against the wall, and started to doze off, emitting soft snores.
Everyone seems to be eagerly awaiting the funeral; they're exhausted.
The vigil lasted for five days before the funeral. On the day of the funeral, which was hard to come by, a gloomy wind blew and snow occasionally fell.
Zhao Xiaoyu tightened her cloak, "Luckily, the clan helped dig the pit beforehand, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to finish in a day."
"Yes, Father said that the people in the clan dug for three whole days. It was cold and the soil was very hard. Those who came to help suffered a lot."
My father-in-law was worried they would get cold, so he gave each of them a thick cotton-padded coat. So even though they were braving the cold wind, everyone worked very hard.
The burly men carrying the coffin were already in place, dressed in uniform uniforms with white cloth tied around their waists.
The coffin was bound with thick hemp ropes and carried on a carrying pole.
"Rise—the spirits!" the clan elder shouted.
With a shout of effort from the eight strong men, the heavy coffin was lifted off the ground.
Zhao Dawen, as the eldest son, carried the memorial tablet of Old Madam Sun. Zhao Dayong and Zhao Dashu, one on each side, supported the coffin. The women followed behind the coffin, their cries deafening.
Zhao Xiaoyu followed the funeral procession, trudging through the snow.
Xiao Lei supported her with one hand and his mother-in-law with the other, afraid that they would both fall.
The snow on the mountain was very thick, and it felt like you were stepping into thin air with every step.
The same thing happened last time; the old man had a hard time going up and down the mountain when he left. This time it was even more difficult because the snow was thicker.
Holding a funeral in winter is really difficult.
The tomb has been dug, the dark entrance just waiting for the coffin to go in.
By the time everything was over, Zhao Xiaoyu's boots were completely soaked. They were waterproof, but the snow was so deep that snow had inevitably gotten inside.
Her shoes were all wet, and everyone in the farewell party must have had their shoes and socks soaked by now; they must be freezing. So when they went down the mountain, everyone walked very quickly without any delay.
Zhao Xiaoyu turned around and saw that the two old people had both moved up the mountain. Back then, how powerful, domineering, selfish, and unreasonable those two were.
"Go back and change your shoes and socks first. Now that things are done, I can finally get a good rest tonight."
"Um."
Dad has made a big deal out of this. In the past, after coming down the mountain, everyone would go back to their own homes. Today, we have a feast to eat. I am grateful to all the people who have helped us these past few days.
After they finished eating, everyone dispersed, and the matter was settled.
"Hurry up, everyone come inside to change your shoes and socks and warm yourselves by the fire!"
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Zhao Dashu quickly instructed someone to light several more braziers, saying, "The food will be served shortly; it's cold outside and will get cold if we bring it out."
"Yes, sir. You should also go inside and change your shoes and socks. Everything is clean and ready."
Zhao Dashu responded and went outside. He was freezing to death; his feet were completely frozen.
Zhao Xiaoyu and Xiao Lei quickly returned to the room where they had rested earlier. The nanny had already prepared hot water and clean shoes and socks. The two children were full of energy, playing with the nine-linked rings on the kang (a heated brick bed). When they saw their parents return, they rushed over to them.
"Mom, your feet are so cold!" the little girl exclaimed as she touched Zhao Xiaoyu's wet and cold trouser legs.
"It's okay, it'll be fine after we change it."
Thankfully, I didn't bring the children up the mountain today; they would have had to carry them.
"Xiao Lei, you go out and greet the guests first. I'll go out in a bit."
"become."
Zhao Xiaoyu looked at the two children and said, "You two eat inside with your nanny. The food outside will get cold soon. After the meal, your mother will take you home."
It's good that they're young; at least they haven't really caused much trouble.
"Okay, we'll wait for Mother."
The little girl was exceptionally well-behaved today.
They had just gone outside; it was very windy, and it was so warm inside. They didn't want to go out at all.
After dinner, Zhao Dashu and his family went home and fell asleep without saying a word.
Especially Pear Blossom, she felt like she was about to lose half her life. Last time her grandfather passed away, she was still young and didn't have to go through all that trouble. But this time, participating in all of them was going to kill her!
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