Chapter 226 - 223: The Funeral

Chapter 226: Chapter 223: The Funeral

"Bao’er, they wouldn’t dare. Don’t worry about it. How are the preparations going? I can’t get away from here, so if anything comes up, have Li Bao, Li Guo, and Li Bo handle it. You just need to oversee everything. Don’t wear my Bao’er out."

Glancing at the high heels on Zhou Lian’s feet, Li Xiu said gently, "Bao’er, there’s a pair of flats in the car. Go change into them."

"I know. Don’t worry about me, I have it all under control. I’ve left Yanyan with Sister Fang and Grandma; we can send for him when he’s needed," Zhou Lian said gently, sighing softly as she looked into his eyes, which were always so full of tenderness and affection for her.

As the sun was setting, Li Xiu’s aunt finally arrived. Zhou Lian, accompanied by the wives of Li Hua and Li Man, met the wailing aunt at the village entrance and helped her into the mourning hall. Only after she had viewed Second Brother Li’s remains was the body placed in the coffin.

Friends and relatives from other villages arrived one after another. The old family home was brightly lit and filled with the clamor of voices. The three brothers from the Zhou family also came together. They presented their condolence money, entered the mourning hall, and knelt to pay their respects.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, why did you all come?" Zhou Lian, dressed in sackcloth and mourning attire, asked, looking curiously at her three older brothers.

"Your father-in-law has passed away. As the wife of the eldest son, you’ll need a brother from your side of the family to hold your hand for the coffin-sweeping ritual. It would look bad if we didn’t all come," Brother Zhou explained softly.

She waved Li Bo over and told him these were her three brothers. Before Zhou Lian could even finish, Li Bo puffed out his chest and promised he would take good care of his three brothers-in-law. This left Zhou Lian not knowing whether to laugh or cry. ’This little rascal is younger than my own nephew, yet he’s going to have to call them "Eldest Brother" just like me!’

After entrusting her brothers to Li Bo, Zhou Lian went to get busy again. She had no choice. Li Xiu couldn’t help with anything at the moment; he had to kneel before the funeral bed to hold the vigil and kneel in thanks to the friends and relatives who came to mourn. Fortunately, Zhou Lian was familiar with all these procedures. Moreover, she had Li Bao, Li Guo, and Li Bo to help out, while Eldest Li and Third Brother Li were in the courtyard to oversee things. ’To be honest, Ge Er Ya really miscalculated this time. I’m not the least bit intimidated by any of this!’

The whole affair was a grueling three-day ordeal before the burial. It wasn’t just Li Xiu who was exhausted; Zhou Lian was worn out, too. Li Hua and his brothers couldn’t be counted on at all. Li Xiu had knelt for three days without rest, so all the external arrangements fell on Zhou Lian. Luckily, she had Li Bao and the others helping her.

Seeing Zhou Lian’s exhausted expression, Li Xiu’s heart ached for her. But they couldn’t rest yet. There was still a thank-you banquet that evening, and as the wife of the eldest son, Zhou Lian had to be present for the entire event.

On the way back from the burial, Li Xiu held Zhou Lian’s hand and spoke to her in a low voice. He warned her about the banquet that night, explaining that there would be about ten tables. It would be a large crowd of old and young, from the elders’ generation to their own peers and the younger ones. Although they knew everyone, some of the older relatives from the main family line could be difficult to handle. Many of them liked to throw their weight around because of their age. It wasn’t that he was afraid of them, just that they were incredibly annoying. Li Xiu was worried Zhou Lian would get upset and repeatedly told her not to pay them any mind. She should just ignore it all and leave it for him to deal with.

Looking at the somewhat chatty Li Xiu, Zhou Lian’s lips curved into a small smile. "Jin Chen," she said, "I’m not some clueless little girl. I can handle these things. Don’t worry."

"I know my Bao’er can handle it, it’s just such a hassle. Forget it. Anyway, when the banquet starts, you’ll have to make the toasts with me, but my Bao’er doesn’t have to say a word. I’ll be the one to deal with them," Li Xiu said with a purse of his lips.

Seeing Li Xiu’s worried expression, Zhou Lian felt a flicker of joy in her heart, though she was careful not to show it. She just said softly, "Alright. I’ll leave it all to you."

When the banquet began, Li Xiu stood up with his cup and said, "I’m sorry to have troubled everyone these past few days. My father passed away peacefully, and now we have given him a proper send-off. I, Li Xiu, would like to offer a toast to all of you. Thank you for all your hard work!"

Zhou Lian, who was beside him, also stood up with her cup and joined Li Xiu in the toast. After draining her cup, Zhou Lian said softly, "Please, everyone, eat and drink your fill. This humble meal is a poor display of our hospitality, so we ask for your understanding."

Seeing how utterly exhausted Li Xiu and Zhou Lian looked, most people understood. Funerals were always draining, especially for the two of them, who had to manage the entire situation. Aunt Li looked at the couple, then nudged Uncle Li with her hand. Following her gaze, Uncle Li also noticed the weary state his nephew and niece-in-law were in, their exhaustion too deep to hide despite their efforts to hold themselves together.

"Everyone, let’s all just eat and drink. Don’t make the two kids go around making toasts today. They’ve been worn out these past few days. Let them eat something first!" Eldest Li came forward, raised his cup, drank it down, and then said.

Everyone quickly agreed. After all, they had all witnessed how Li Xiu and Zhou Lian had conducted themselves over the past few days. Besides, who didn’t know that Li Xiu was doing very well for himself in the Capital City now? His wife was even a professor at a prestigious university. No one was foolish enough to provoke them without good reason.

Once everyone was settled, Li Xiu and Zhou Lian dragged their weary feet home. Pulling Zhou Lian into a hug, Li Xiu let out a long sigh and said softly, "It’s finally over. After we visit the grave on the third day, we’ll go back to the Capital City. This has really worn you out."

"It’s fine. In any case, nothing went wrong, so it can be considered a successful conclusion. We gave Father a quiet and peaceful send-off for his final journey, without letting worldly matters disturb him. That was the last act of filial piety you, his son, could give him, Jin Chen." Zhou Lian yawned and added slowly, "Weddings and funerals have always been the most draining events!"

Sighing, Li Xiu said softly, "That’s good. It fulfills the bond between father and son for this lifetime."

Back at home, Sister Fang was already asleep with Yanyan, and Grandma Li was sleeping too. The two of them quietly washed up and then collapsed onto the bed. Cradling Zhou Lian and gently patting her back, Li Xiu said tenderly, "Bao’er, don’t think about anything. Just get some sleep first. We can talk after you’ve woken up."

Feeling Li Xiu’s steady heartbeat and smelling his unique scent, Zhou Lian quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Listening to Zhou Lian’s breathing, Li Xiu gently stroked her hair. ’My Bao’er is truly exhausted,’ he thought, ’or she wouldn’t have fallen asleep so quickly.’ Feeling the warmth of her body in his arms, Li Xiu’s mood gradually began to lift.

’Even though I kept vigil for three days and nights without sleep, I don’t feel the slightest bit drowsy. It’s not that I’m sad about my father’s death; it’s more of a complicated, unresolvable feeling, a bittersweet ache. That was, after all, the man who gave me life. What truly gave me a bit of a shock were my father’s last words. My father, who had been muddled his entire life, actually said, "The five of you, if you dare cause trouble for your eldest brother, I won’t forgive you even in death!"’

’That sentence was probably the only time in my two lifetimes that I had ever felt my father’s protection. Although I no longer need it now, I can’t deny that the words still caused a ripple in my heart. But I let it go. My father is gone now, and I don’t want to investigate whether those words were meant to protect me, or to protect Li Hua and the others.’