Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
According to traditional customs, on the day of the Funeral, having a meal at the Bereaved Host's house is called eating Big Meat. There must be a large bowl of meat cut into big pieces, ensuring that everyone at the table gets to eat a piece.
It is said that those who eat Big Meat will receive protection from the deceased in the Underworld. Especially for Elderly Deceased who were respected and authoritative during their lifetime, they have even greater ability to protect the World of the Living after going to the Underworld.
Therefore, generally speaking, on the day of the Funeral, the Bereaved Host will try to invite families from all around to partake in the mourning meal, also referred to as eating Big Meat. Each family will arrange for their more important members to attend based on their circumstances.
What does it mean to be an important member of the family?
For instance, in some families with a Young Couple, they would typically send the Man in Charge from their household to eat Big Meat because men are considered the backbone of the family; if a man is protected, it equates to protection for the entire family.
Moreover, in Young Couple households, children are often quite young. The man can take his child along when he goes to eat Big Meat; he can hold the child in his arms or have them sit on his lap without taking up an extra seat. This way, both father and child can share a piece of Big Meat, and the child will receive similar protection without drawing gossip from others in the village.
If it is an elderly couple whose children have grown up but have not yet established their own families, such households often send their eldest son to eat Big Meat since the eldest son represents hope for the family's future.
However, Qing Shusheng has always been generous and charitable, and Liu Dezhou is the most respected elder in Liu Family Village. Therefore, Qing Shusheng decided to extend kindness and invite everyone in the village, young and old, to come to their home for Big Meat.
Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen were momentarily taken aback. "This... will cost a lot," Bai Cuifen cautiously reminded.
Liu Xiuzhen nodded in agreement with Bai Cuifen's words.
"It's fine; it's just this once," Qing Shusheng said decisively.
"Alright then."
Once both women confirmed this, they began to make arrangements inside.
"Wait," Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen had just reached the entrance of the main room when Qing Shusheng called out to them again: "The Filial Cloth needs to be prepared. After breakfast, we can distribute the Mourning Garb and Filial Cloth. Guests should wear Mourning Garb and Filial Cloth when they start coming to pay their respects."
Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen nodded in agreement.
Qing Shusheng paused for a moment and then added, "I have prepared the distribution list for Mourning Garb and Filial Cloth. Different people have different specifications, which I have noted at the end of the list. Let Cui Fen handle this."
His statement was directed at Liu Xiuzhen.
Liu Xiuzhen was illiterate and had a tendency to interfere with others' tasks. He was concerned that she might meddle with Bai Cuifen, which could lead to complications. The distribution of Mourning Garb and Filial Cloth was very important; if mishandled, it could spark disputes among relatives and friends, leading to various gossip. This was especially critical for families of respectable status, where mistakes were unacceptable.
He then turned to Bai Cuifen and said, "If any guests arrive who are not on the list, just come ask me. The Mourning Garb is mostly planned out, so there shouldn't be any surprises. We need to prepare extra Filial Cloth in case unexpected guests show up."
Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen both nodded in agreement.
Once inside the house, Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen began busying themselves in the kitchen. Although the villagers would not be having breakfast at their home, there were still many family members, friends, and helpers who needed breakfast at Qing Shusheng's house.
Grandma fell ill from exhaustion on the first day after Liu Dezhou's passing. So for these few days, she not only couldn't help but also needed Qinglan's care. Xiang Yuanqiu had taken leave to return with Qinglan; however, since his leave was short, he returned to school after three days.
Xu Wen felt similarly. He had initially worried about Qinglan returning home alone after An Shaojie refused to accompany her. Given that a relative had passed away, he was concerned she would feel lonely, lost, and sad during the journey. He had originally bought two tickets but decided to accompany Qinglan to Liu Family Village instead. Moreover, he hadn't had time to request leave from school, so he was persuaded by Qinglan to return to school as well.
Just after breakfast, many people began arriving at Qing Shusheng's house offering their help, eagerly seeking instructions from Qing Shusheng and Liu Xiuzhen.
Liu Xiuzhen instructed one villager to notify everyone in the village that they should all come to her house for lunch and dinner, with both meals featuring Big Meat.
A young villager joyfully ran out to announce that no one should cook that day; everyone should go eat Big Meat at Qing Shusheng's house!
Not long after breakfast, firecrackers began popping at the village entrance. Liu Xiuzhen and Bai Cuifen, who were working in the room, paused their tasks simultaneously and asked each other, "Is Zhi Lan back?" They then rushed out of the room.
By the time Bai Cuifen and Liu Xiuzhen reached the courtyard gate, Jia Zhilan and Lin Wenhui had already made it to the bridge. Qing Shusheng had already gone out to greet them and knelt down while holding Lin Wenhui's hand.
Jia Zhilan and Lin Wenhui, with red eyes and tears, held onto Qing Shusheng.
Upon entering the courtyard, Jia Zhilan and Lin Wenhui went to Liu Dezhou's memorial hall to pay their respects, and Qing Shusheng returned the gesture.
After returning to the room to continue working, Bai Cuifen felt increasingly restless. She found excuses to step out of the room and peek into the courtyard, secretly cursing An Shaojie.
Indeed, when Bai Cuifen saw that the person returning with Qinglan was not An Shaojie, she couldn't help but curse him in her heart.
Although she had been busy helping at Qing Shusheng's house, on the first day Qinglan returned, she instructed An Shaomin to call An Shaojie again. In the call, she sternly demanded that An Shaojie must return before Liu Dezhou's funeral.
"You ungrateful little beast," Bai Cuifen scolded. "Without Grandfather's care, there would be no you. Now that you've risen in status, you don't want to come back to Liu Family Village, do you?"
An Shaojie promised Bai Cuifen over the phone that he would return, albeit reluctantly. He rarely broke promises made to his mother.
However, as noon approached and An Shaojie still hadn't returned, Bai Cuifen grew increasingly frustrated.
By lunchtime, nearly all the guests had arrived, and Qing Shusheng's family was ready to serve the meal.
With a moment of respite, Bai Cuifen stood outside the courtyard, gazing down the path leading out of the village.
In addition to Bai Cuifen anxiously watching from outside the courtyard, An Shaomin shared her concern. Although Jian Ming had promised to come on the day of Liu Dezhou's funeral, An Shaomin worried that he might encounter work-related issues or other unforeseen circumstances that could prevent him from coming. She kept their agreement in mind but had only mentioned it to Qinglan and no one else. Just as they were about to start eating, a figure finally appeared at the edge of the village; they recognized it was An Shaojie from a distance.
Comment 0 Comment Count