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墨書 Inktalez
When the major matters concerning Liu Ru Yan and Annan were basically settled, Hu Ruoyun took some time to return to his hometown and encountered the Woodzi Family holding a funeral in the alley.
The matriarch of the Woodzi Family had passed away at seventy-four. According to rural customs, the body would be kept for five days (typically three, five, or seven days; the longer the duration, the more filial the descendants appear, though it also incurs greater expenses). Hu Ruoyun returned on the fourth day, just before the burial scheduled for the next day. That evening's ceremony was the most significant, with filial sons and daughters keeping vigil and receiving condolences from friends, relatives, and neighbors.
Hu Ruoyun saw that the makeshift altar was piled high with paper offerings: young boys and girls, pavilions and towers, cars, televisions, money trees, and mountains of gold and silver… The sound of firecrackers was incessant, and two groups of musicians competed to play loudly. Occasionally, one could hear the loud calls of "Welcoming guests—one bow, two bows, three bows, and another bow… The filial children thank you for coming…"
Then came the sounds of weeping and wailing beneath the altar.
In rural areas, the grandeur of a funeral is a significant measure of how filial the descendants are toward the deceased.
Since he had a relatively good relationship with Wu Mingliang, Hu Ruoyun paid his respects at the altar. Wu Mingliang noticed him and stepped out from under the tent, suggesting they talk later when there were fewer visitors.
By around ten o'clock that night, the sound of firecrackers gradually diminished. As it approached eleven o'clock, Hu Ruoyun arrived at the altar at the alley entrance. In stark contrast to the sorrowful scene he had witnessed earlier in the evening, laughter and chatter filled the air.
Peering through a wind-blocking curtain, he could see men gathered around a table playing cards while women had set up a table for mahjong…
Wu Mingliang, dressed in mourning attire and wearing a sorrowful expression, spotted Hu Ruoyun and walked out from under the tent. "Come on; let's talk in the back."
"When did you come back?" Wu Mingliang asked Hu Ruoyun.
"I returned yesterday and stayed overnight in the county town!" Hu Ruoyun replied.
"My grandmother was doing fine with her meals; how did she suddenly 'grow old'?" Hu Ruoyun inquired.
Wu Mingliang said bitterly, "It's embarrassing to talk about!"
He sniffed: "Ever since my grandmother fell ill and couldn't get out of bed, my uncle's family and I have been taking turns bringing her meals. At night, my father and uncle would alternate staying with her to take care of her. A few days ago, my uncle was watering his fields at night and asked my father to cover for him for one night. My father got caught up playing mahjong and forgot… Apparently, my grandmother struggled to get up in the middle of the night and fell out of bed… When my mother went to deliver food in the morning, she found her cold!
When she was alive, my mother and Aunt were always complaining about her being an 'old nuisance.' Now look at this! They say it's a funeral but it feels more like a celebration…
It's better if my grandmother had been cared for properly while she was still here instead of putting on this show after she's gone. I wonder if they'll ever grow old themselves!"
Hu Ruoyun interrupted him: "Let's not dwell on this…"
Wu Mingliang still seemed unable to hold back: "I won't even mention my two sisters-in-law; they're new brides from outside our family. But my father, mother, uncle, and aunt don't seem upset at all! They’ve forgotten that when we were young, who didn’t grow up snuggled in our grandparents' blankets? In the end, when people grow old and can’t do anything anymore or get out of bed, they become burdensome nuisances to their children!"
Hu Ruoyun tried to console him: "Let it go; these are adult matters we can't control. We just need to take care of ourselves."
Wu Mingliang sighed helplessly: "I just wanted to talk to you about it; I wouldn't dare bring it up in front of others. It feels frustrating inside. Why have people become like this? Look at all this paper offering; it cost several hundred yuan! Hiring two bands of musicians costs over a hundred each… If they had spent that money on my grandmother while she was alive—who knows? She might have lived a few more years…"
Before the words were fully spoken, she began to sob again.
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