At the gate of the old residence, Zhang Qingshan imdiately started crying loudly.
"My old brother, why did you leave so suddenly, I didn’t even get to see you for the last ti! My dear old brother, it pains your brother so much!"
In local customs, when offering condolences, one must cry upon entering. The louder and more sorrowful the cries, the closer the relationship with the deceased, and it also proves the deceased’s popularity.
Zhang Qingshan is an elder, and as soon as he started crying, several filial sons rushed out of the house to greet him and lead him to the front of the coffin. Since Zhang Qingshan and Old Master Lian were of the sa generation, he did not need to kneel before the coffin, and simply burned three sticks of incense. Several filial sons knelt to express gratitude to Zhang Qingshan. Afterwards, Zhang Qingshan sat on a low stool in front of the coffin, burning paper for Old Master Lian.
While he ignited stacks of paper money, Zhang Qingshan murmured about Old Master Lian’s past, naturally about how capable and kind-hearted he was as the Store Manager, and how extensive his social network was.
"My old brother was a good man, his life was not easy. Although he left a bit early, he can depart contentedly. His children and grandchildren have all achieved success, my old brother, rest assured on your journey," Zhang Qingshan said, crying a few more tis.
Lian Shouxin and several other filial sons also cried bitterly for a while alongside, then soone ca to console Zhang Qingshan and escorted him away.
Next, Zhang Qingnian, Zhang Yannian, Lady Wu Wang, and Lady Hu all paid their respects in front of the coffin, and Lian Shouxin and the other filial sons knelt to express thanks.
Lian Manman had so matters and entered the Upper Room briefly, noticing Lian Shouli’s movents appeared sowhat stiff when he stood up. Lian Yeye, following Lian Manman, naturally also saw this.
"My father caught a chill that ti, and the root of the illness has never truly healed," Lian Yeye said to Lian Manman, in a voice neither loud nor quiet, which many people nearby could hear.
Lian Manman also felt that Lian Shouxin was very tired, fearing he might not be able to hold up. However, at this ti, it was inappropriate for her to suggest letting Lian Shouxin or Lian Shouli rest. She could only wait until there were fewer people, then let Lian Shouxin and his brothers take turns resting.
When Lian Manman ca out of the Upper Room, she glanced inside again. Lady Zhou still sat cross-legged on the kang, chatting with Lady Da Zhou and Younger Lady Zhou about sothing, while Shang Huaide accompanied them, sitting at the edge of the kang.
The East Room had already been made into a funeral hall, and Wu Yuchang and others advised Lady Zhou to temporarily move to the West Room. But Lady Zhou firmly refused.
"This kang head is mine, no one should think of forcing away," Lady Zhou spoke to Wu Yuchang, without any courtesy.
Everyone knew Lady Zhou’s temperant and could only let her be.
"I used to always hear about her personality, but seeing it now, it’s too...," Zhang Caiyun was present at the ti, and later couldn’t help but complain to Lian Manman, "Just moving for two days, what’s the big deal? Listening to her talk, almost made Uncle Wu stumble. He’s the host, everyone talks to him politely... even if she doesn’t want to move, she could say sothing else. If she said she wanted to spend more ti, to accompany Old Master more, everyone would have understood, and my uncle would have felt better, wouldn’t he?"
"This is nothing," Lian Manman shrugged it off, "You haven’t seen much, there are far worse. If you want to hear her say anything pleasant, that’s absolutely impossible."
"Oh, how my aunt lived her life for these past dozen years, thinking about it, I couldn’t manage one day," Zhang Caiyun said.
Lady Zhang listened to what Lian Manman and Zhang Caiyun said about this matter and didn’t pay much attention, as she had grown used to it over the years.
"She’s just that kind of person. However, to be fair, she has one good trait, she is consistent both in front and behind people’s backs, never two-faced. What I dislike the most is duplicity," Lady Zhang said as she glanced towards the West Room of the Upper Room.
After the Zhang family paid condolences before Old Master Lian’s coffin, they all sat in the West Wing Room, and afterwards, Lian Shouxin ca to chat with Zhang Qingshan.
"Is the burial site decided?" Zhang Qingshan asked Lian Shouxin.
"Yes, many years ago the old master said to be buried under the grave of the ancestors," Lian Shouxin replied.
"That’s manageable. Have you sent people to prepare the burial site?" Zhang Qingshan asked again.
"Not yet, planning to prepare it tomorrow," Lian Shouxin answered.
Preparing the burial site ans digging the grave. Graves of tenant farrs are very simple; they do not construct tomb chambers, rely dig a pit and cover it up.
"You have many people, it would be better to start preparing the site early. The ground hasn’t thawed yet, making it difficult to prepare the burial site," Zhang Qingshan suggested.
"Yes, I know. The people for preparing the site are already arranged, estimating it can be done by the morning," Lian Shouxin nodded, understanding that Zhang Qingshan was reminding him.
As they were conversing inside the house, a loud commotion was heard from the gate, mixed with the hoarse crying of a man, along with Lian Jizu’s weak scolding.
"What’s happening?" Lian Shouxin stood up imdiately.
"This sound is quite familiar," Lian Yeye tilted his head, seemingly recalling where he had heard such a sound.
The commotion and crying not only did not cease but grew louder, so Lian Shouxin ntioned it to Zhang Qingshan and was about to go out to see when Wu Jiaxing ca.
"It’s those two brothers from the Old Woo Family, they ca to offer condolences to the old master, to kneel, and it happened that Brother Jizu was at the gate. He didn’t want to let them in. The gatekeeper helped to keep them out, but the two refuse to leave, just kneel there crying," Wu Jiaxing inford Lian Shouxin.
Woo Ergou and Woo Sangou brothers actually ca to offer condolences to Old Master Lian!
"They still have the nerve to co!" Lian Shouxin frowned.
...
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