Chapter 57

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Chapter 57: Joy? Sorrow?

     

The marriage ceremony of Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian hastily took place in the hall of the Zhang family courtyard.

     

In the middle of the hall, Grandma sat in a chair, her face flushed. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei were on either side, supporting her arms. As Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian kowtowed to her in respect, Grandma’s face lit up with a radiant smile. However, the flush on her face visibly faded as the villagers officiating the ceremony called out: “The ceremony is complete. The bride and groom may now enter the bridal chamber.” Only then did the flush completely disappear. Grandma peacefully closed her eyes, still wearing a smile on her face.

     

Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai felt a heaviness in their hands. Guo Sufei immediately cried out in sorrow: “Mother!” This ‘Mother’ was the second time spoken in the hall today, and also the last.

     

At this moment, Liu Qian disregarded etiquette. She swiftly tore off the red veil covering her head and together with Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai, they carried Grandma’s body back to the small room.

     

In the courtyard, the people in the hall looked at each other in confusion, should the Zhang family celebrate a wedding or mourn today? Only those who knew the situation well quietly wiped away their tears.

     

Supported by Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua, Zhang Xiaolong entered the small house. Inside, on the bed, Grandma lay peacefully as if asleep, free from illness. There was no need now to stifle her coughs out of consideration for disturbing her grandson’s sleep. She slept peacefully with a smile on her face. Zhang Xiaohua looked at the face of his grandmother, now deeply engraved in his heart. He seemed not to feel sadness, only a profound emptiness. The sorrowful cries of his mother reached his ears, and he wondered why he didn’t feel as sad as he thought he should be. Could it be that Grandma was really just resting?

     

No, definitely not. On Grandma’s body, Zhang Xiaohua no longer felt the ebbing life that he could sense just a few days ago. Grandma had truly departed, she had indeed left him.

     

Zhang Xiaohua silently watched his mother, father, and brothers crying beside him. There were no tears in his eyes, not even redness around his eyes.

     

The mournful cries from Grandma’s small house echoed for a long time. Most of the people in the courtyard had dispersed by the time Zhang Cai managed to compose himself and emerged. Observing the villagers, he apologized with folded hands, asking everyone to help gather up all the festive decorations and replace them with the somber black and white items used for mourning. Once everything was tidied up, the scattered wedding procession, who had ‘escaped with their lives’, slowly returned. Seeing the funeral preparations at home, they assumed it was arranged for Zhang Xiaolong and the others. Only upon explanation did they understand the reason.

     

In rural areas, the same musical bands often performed for both weddings and funerals. Seeing this situation, they sympathized and quickly sent someone to fetch mourning attire. After changing on the spot, they had a bite to eat, drank some water, and immediately began playing funeral music.

     

At this moment, the Zhang family members were also dressed in mourning attire. Zhang Xiaolong, heavily injured, was bedridden once again. It was a pity for Liu Qian, who had just entered the family and now had to change out of her wedding clothes into mourning attire. She also had to wash Grandma’s body and change her clothes, which was truly difficult for her.

     

Zhang Cai watched his busy daughter-in-law with a heart full of guilt. Orphaned at a young age and deprived of the joy of a complete family, he had married into the Guo family where Guo Sufei’s parents treated him like their own son. Now, having bid farewell to his father-in-law and then his mother-in-law, his heart ached terribly. Reflecting on all the moments in this small courtyard, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

     

He felt fortunate that Xiaolong had the good fortune to marry Liu Qian. He hoped that when his own time came to depart, he would cause them as little trouble as possible.

     

Grandmother’s coffin and clothing had been prepared well in advance. Soon, everything was arranged. Zhang Cai, Zhang Xiaohu, Guo Sufei, and Liu Qian together placed Grandma’s body into the coffin. They then had people carry the coffin into the hall. The hall was not large to begin with, and with the coffin inside, there was hardly any space left.

     

According to local customs, the coffin for a funeral should remain in the home for seven days, allowing family and relatives to mourn and pay respects. After this period, the lid could be nailed shut, and preparations could be made for the burial.

     

Funerals are different from celebrations, and many family members may not have the heart to manage everything. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei went to the village patriarch to ask for assistance. Many people from the Guo family in Guo Village, being older individuals themselves, came to help. With their support, the funeral proceeded smoothly.

     

Night fell, and the bustling voices in the courtyard gradually quieted down. Inside the hall, the flickering lamp cast shadows of the coffin, swaying incessantly in front of Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes. Zhang Xiaohua and the others knelt beside the small space around the coffin. Guo Sufei couldn’t stop sobbing, seeming to have exhausted all her strength. Liu Qian knelt beside Guo Sufei, supporting her and wiping her tears from time to time.

     

Grandma had treated her exceptionally well. Although they didn’t have many conversations, Grandma’s kind smile every time she saw Liu Qian made her feel warmly accepted. Despite being mentally prepared, Grandma’s passing during her wedding ceremony came as a complete shock. Reflecting on the brief ceremony, Liu Qian couldn’t bring herself to blame this understanding elder. Perhaps it was all fate?

     

Liu Qian could also sense the apology in Zhang Cai’s eyes and deeply felt the warmth of this family. But entering the Zhang family with such a beginning, she wondered about the future, would it bring blessings or misfortunes? Was this a warning?

     

In fact, looking at Guo Sufei’s grieving appearance and thinking about Grandma, her life was indeed worthwhile. She had enjoyed a full house of descendants and a harmonious family life. Despite some poverty, everything was fulfilling. It makes one wonder, what will my old age be like?

     

As Liu Qian was daydreaming aimlessly, Zhang Xiaohua’s mind also raced incessantly. Kneeling in the shadowy corner, he gazed at the imposing coffin before him, pondering: “Is this Grandma’s final resting place after a lifetime?”

     

Ever since everyone had informed them of the household affairs that night, Zhang Xiaohua had been contemplating: If I had martial arts skills when the bandits came, I could drive them away. Then I could safely escort my brother and sister-in-law back for their wedding. Perhaps Grandma wouldn’t have left us so soon. She could have happily witnessed my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding and maybe even joyfully held their children.

     

Zhang Xiaohua’s thoughts were chaotic. Perhaps, maybe, he thought about many things, many assumptions that had only one premise, he must know martial arts and be capable of turning the tide. But does he have this ability?

     

Thus, Zhang Xiaohua finally made the first decision of his life, he would learn martial arts.

     

But how would he learn?

     

He was still completely in the dark, but now that he had a goal, everything seemed manageable.

     

Thinking about practicing martial arts, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly remembered “Piaomiao”. From Wen Wenhai and Xue Qing to Lu Yueming, each person left a deep impression on him, their imposing manner, and the satisfaction of punishing the wicked and eliminating evil, all filled Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes full of stars. The influence of the Piaomiao Sect was such that people hesitated to act rashly, willingly paying hundreds of taels of silver without protest. For Zhang Xiaohua, a child raised in a mountain village, this temptation was unimaginable. Perhaps, being a real man meant living like this, instead of seeking shelter under others’ wings in times of disaster and relying on a sect’s token. Moreover, even if the leader of the bandits was eliminated, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t return. What then? Could a sect’s token really make people retreat?

     

Thinking about how his family’s lives depended on such a token, Zhang Xiaohua felt an infinite sense of emotion in his heart. Lost in these thoughts, his eyes slowly closed as the swaying shadows lulled him to sleep. Soon, like a breath, the twinkling lights arrived in his dreams as promised.

     

At this moment, it was deep into the night.

     

After finishing up the affairs outside and seeing off the helpers, Zhang Cai dragged his weary body back to the hall. Inside, the sound of his wife’s crying still echoed, her voice hoarse from grief. He had already tried comforting her. The old lady had passed away, but life had to go on. As he entered the room, he noticed Zhang Xiaohua curled up asleep in the corner. His heart couldn’t help but ache a little. Such a good child, but while he was busy with the elderly, he had forgotten about him.

     

Zhang Xiaolong was injured and had already fallen asleep early on the kang. Similarly, his younger brother Zhang Xiaohua was also injured, with whip marks on his shoulder that were heartbreaking to see. At his age, suffering such severe injuries was not much less than Zhang Xiaolong’s. It’s just that after changing his clothes, Zhang Cai had forgotten about him. Was it his own carelessness or the overwhelming tasks of the day to blame?

     

Zhang Cai secretly reproached himself, and carefully picked up Zhang Xiaohua, intending to carry him back to the kang. However, he tried and found he couldn’t lift him, prompting a bitter smile. The child had grown up, and he himself had grown old, it wasn’t like when he could easily lift him when he was younger.

     

He called Zhang Xiaohu, who was also kneeling in the shadow, and together they lifted Zhang Xiaohua up. As they were preparing to leave the room, Guo Sufei spoke through tears: “Tonight, let’s put Xiaohua in Xiaolong’s room. In case he wakes up in the middle of the night and remembers Grandma, he might get scared.”

     

A mother’s love is indeed meticulous like this. While Guo Sufei was deeply sorrowful over her mother’s passing, she quickly considered her son’s well-being. Zhang Xiaohu chimed in, saying: “Mom, Xiaohua is fast asleep. He won’t even wake up if we pour water on him. Don’t worry.”

     

Guo Sufei said: “That won’t do. He’s still young, if he wakes up, he’ll definitely be scared. Let’s put him in Xiaolong’s room. I can keep an eye on him there.”

     

Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu gently placed Zhang Xiaohua next to the already asleep Zhang Xiaolong. Guo Sufei washed her face and carefully lifted Zhang Xiaohua’s clothes with an oil lamp, examining the whip marks on his shoulder. The scars sprawled across Xiaohua’s body like centipedes. Seeing his childish face, Guo Sufei couldn’t help but burst into tears again.

     

This child had suffered such severe injuries, yet he hadn’t mentioned a word upon returning. He had changed clothes and immediately kept vigil for Grandma, without even eating dinner. From morning until now, how much hardship had he endured? How much pressure had he faced?

     

As a mother, she had inadvertently neglected him. If he was not tired now, maybe he would be still accompanying her in the main hall. Let him have a good rest.

     

Guo Sufei emerged from the inner room and asked Zhang Xiaohu and Liu Qian to go rest. She and Zhang Cai would stay to accompany Grandma. Initially, Zhang Xiaohu and Liu Qian were reluctant, but Guo Sufei insisted repeatedly. Eventually, they each went back to rest. Zhang Xiaohu naturally slept in the inner room to keep an eye on his two injured brothers at all times.

     

Liu Qian, on the other hand, lay down on the kang and soon fell into a deep sleep. The events of the day had been too strange and overwhelming for her.