stingy landlady

Chapter 74 Li Shi's Funeral

Xu Hong came and went in a hurry, and apart from those around him, no one noticed him at all!

Guizhi's family returned to normal! Only Zhou Laotou's family started to get lively again, with a few villagers still coming to sell wild vegetables. Although not many, they could still receive a little bit every day.

After delivering the goods to Xiangmanlou, we sometimes get to enjoy some wild mountain vegetables at home!

Guizhi still asked Old Man Zhou to dry and preserve the bracken that could be dried, and also pickled some! These vegetables are cheap now, but they can be turned into a lot of money in winter!

Dazhu still goes to his family's property every day to check on the construction progress. When he goes to the wheat field to check on the wheat, he also cuts some green wheat to take to the mill to be ground into flour, which he uses to make green wheat dumplings for his family. This saves him the cost of buying flour.

The corn has already been planted. Zhou Mingzhi is leading the farmhands, and Zhou Xing, being quick and efficient, is always there wherever he's needed!

Everything was proceeding smoothly and efficiently.

That afternoon, someone came to Dazhu's house to announce the death!

Li's mother passed away for some reason!

A bolt from the blue! Li's mother had always been in good health! Li was weeping uncontrollably on the kang (heated brick bed)! She simply couldn't believe it! The New Year hadn't even been long, and now mother and daughter were separated by death!

Gui Xiang brought Da Zhu back. Zhou Xing had hitched up an oxcart, and the cart still smelled of swill!

The carriage hasn't returned yet, so we'll have to make do for now! No one can be left unattended at home, so Gui Xiang and Siya will stay and look after the house.

Just in case, Dazhu carried ten taels of silver with him. He went back to his wife's parents' home with Li Shi.

Li got off the oxcart and practically tumbled into the mourning hall! She leaned against the coffin, weeping uncontrollably. She even fainted from crying!

Her family members were busy pinching her philtrum and shouting. She finally regained consciousness, only to be overcome with grief again!

Once the sisters were seated together, they slowly began to explain what had happened. It turned out that Li's little niece had gone with her grandmother to the river to wash clothes.

The little girl was being mischievous and accidentally slipped into the water. The old woman rushed to grab the child, and the child was fine. However, because of her age and unsteady legs, the old woman fell headfirst into the water, hit her head on a rock, and died instantly!

Everyone sighed in dismay! Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Li's elder brother and sister-in-law discussed with their elderly father that their eldest grandson was already eighteen years old, and they had arranged a marriage after the New Year, with the betrothal gifts already exchanged. They had planned to get married in the second half of the year!

But the old lady had an accident, so they either had to wait until after the mourning period to get married, or they had to get married during the mourning period!

Li's elder brother, sister-in-law, and elderly father secretly decided to get married within 100 days!

The sisters here are heartbroken! Their brother and sister-in-law are also busy receiving relatives and friends who come to offer their condolences!

Although Dazhu's family was also busy, Li Shi was alone at her parents' home, so he couldn't just abandon her and leave; he had to help her out.

The body will be laid to rest for seven days, during which the Li brothers and sisters will keep vigil. Therefore, the arrangements outside the mourning hall will have to be made by these sons-in-law.

Dazhu and his other sons-in-law arranged various matters outside the mourning hall. They hired drummers and suona players and prepared abundant offerings. Neighbors and villagers came one after another, some helping to set up tents, others helping to cook and boil water.

Amidst the busy atmosphere, Dazhu worked silently, but his thoughts remained with Li Shi. He knew that she must be immersed in immense grief at that moment.

On the third day, Dazhu, still worried, took some time to go home. Seeing that everything was normal, he then rushed back to Li's parents' home!

When the coffin was taken out and the body laid to rest on the seventh day, the sisters were overcome with grief and their wails were deafening! Two of them even fainted from crying!

After the funeral was over, the people who had helped left!

Li's elder brother and sister-in-law then gathered all the sisters and brothers to discuss their son's marriage!

Everyone gathered in Li's father's room.

Li's father had difficulty walking and slept on the kang (a heated brick bed) all year round!

Li Dachun said:

"My sisters and brothers-in-law, my younger sisters and brothers-in-law, my younger brothers and sisters-in-law!"

Our mother is gone; the deceased is gone, but the living must go on with their lives.

Then he looked at Li's father and said:

"Dad! Please take care of yourself! We will take good care of you from now on!"

Mr. Li nodded in agreement:

"Good, good! Father knows! Da Chun is filial!"

After speaking, he looked at everyone:

"You are all filial children!"

Then he said to Li Dachun:

"Dachun! Talk to them about Xiaojun's marriage!"

Li Dachun continued:

"Well! Logically speaking, Xiao Jun should wait until the mourning period is over before discussing marriage! But this marriage was already arranged when Mother was still alive!"

Mother is also most concerned about Xiaojun's marriage!

We discussed it with Dad and decided that Xiaojun will get married next month! That way, Mom's soul can rest in peace.

No one objected!

Everyone knows the main event is yet to come!

"Our father was in poor health! Our mother's funeral arrangements were all made possible by the help of my brothers-in-law! As the eldest son in the family, I would like to express my gratitude!"

The sons-in-law all said, "Of course! Of course!"

Li Dachun looked at his wife, and she nodded!

Li Dachun then said:

"It was our responsibility to make Xiaojun's marriage happen! But our mother passed away suddenly, and the marriage was arranged hastily! It's truly unfair to the bride!"

The other party requested that the betrothal gifts be even more valuable to show respect for the woman!

We had no choice but to agree! As the saying goes, many hands make light work! Funerals and weddings are both important events!

If anything is missing, people will laugh at us! After all, our father is a respected figure in the village!

As children, we certainly can't let our father down!

Everyone fell silent!

Li Dachun continued:

"This marriage still needs everyone's continued effort! Don't you agree, brother-in-law?"

The elder brother-in-law nodded:

"It should!"

Li Dachun began calling out names one by one:

"Second brother-in-law?"

Second sister's husband:

"Okay! I'll take as much as I can!"

"Third brother-in-law?"

"Great! It's only right that the Li family's first eldest grandson gets married!"

"Fourth sister's husband?"

Li pulled on the pillar.

Dazhu glanced at her and nodded.

"Big brother! We're all children, and Dad will need you to support him in his old age! I have no objections!"

My fifth sister's husband, without needing to be named, spoke with great confidence and wealth:

"My nephew's wedding is a joyous occasion! We should have a grand celebration!"

All the sons-in-law unanimously declined to say how much they would give.

Li Dachun was very happy!

He looked at his fifth brother-in-law, who had the best financial standing and was usually the most generous, and said:

"Fifth brother-in-law! Xiao Jun idolizes his uncle the most! He always loves to hang around you guys! You'd better help him out with his marriage!"

Fifth sister's husband was called out, and he didn't want to mince words with everyone! He was in a hurry to get back! He'd been away for so long, and how much money had he missed earning!

"Big brother! Xiao Jun is also your fifth sister's favorite nephew! I'll give him ten taels of silver for his wedding!"

After saying this, he took out a silver ingot and placed it in front of his father-in-law, saying:

"Dad! Here's the money! Lanling and I are heading back now! We have a lot to take care of at home!"

Li's father nodded:

"Alright! You all go ahead and do your work! Come back for the wedding banquet after Xiaojun's wedding!"