Chapter 28 – News about his death
In the evening, Yu Wen and Yu Yuan returned from the Wei family, and Yu Bo, who had just gotten the news, also rushed over.
The family sat in the main hall to discuss, and Yu Wen did not conceal his sadness over this marriage, sighing, “They are a truly right-hearted family. Not mentioning Mr. Wei, who is the head of the family, even Mrs. Wei, when she met me, she didn’t speak a harsh word of reproach. She constantly repeated that she was sorry to our Ah-tang, and that should there be gossip that arises from this in future, we can all push the blame to their family. It’s really a pity. We should have arranged Yutang’s marriage with their third son instead. Then this would not have happened.”
Yu Bo also felt it was regretful and said, “Then tomorrow I will go over to pay my respects. Ah Yuan can also visit the Wei family to help out with their funeral arrangements. People who treat us well, we have to repay their goodwill. Even if gossip should arise in the future, we can’t just pin it on the Wei family. The poor young man is already no longer around, how can we ruin his name as well? Our children are precious, but aren’t other people’s children precious too?”
“Indeed.” Madam Wang agreed with a long sigh. She was still worried that Yu Tang would be unhappy and went to visit Yu Tang.
Yu Tang sat silently by the window, like an frostbitten aubergine.
When she first heard the news of Wei Xiaoshan’s death, she was extremely shocked. After her shock faded, she felt pity, after pity, it was a deep feeling of sadness and hurt.
He died at such a young age.
How terrible his parents must be feeling now!
Putting herself in their shoes, when she first learned of her parents’ death, it was as if the sky had fallen.
His death must have a similar impact on his parents, as if the sky had collapsed too.
When she had some free time, she would think of his eyes that looked at her with pure and overwhelming joy and Yu Tang could not help her tears from falling.
The Wei family’s kindness also made her feel sorrowful that they weren’t fated and that their relationship withered even before it began.
She sat there listlessly, and wasn’t in the mood to speak with anyone.
Madam Wang came over and gently hugged her, consoling her in a soft voice. “Ah-tang, don’t take this to heart. Life’s journey is long; this is just a small obstacle in life. Time will heal all wounds eventually.”
Only then did Madam Chen belatedly realize that she had neglected her daughter’s feelings. She hurriedly came over and comforted her together with Madam Wang.
Yu Tang didn’t want to worry the elders in her family, so she made efforts to cheer up and talk with them. She asked, “Is it ok for me to offer incense for the Wei family’s second son?”
Madam Chen and Madam Wang exchanged looks and contemplated. After a while, they hesitantly said, “Ah-tang, we know you are heartbroken. However, as our family has no connections or relationships with the Wei family, it is not appropriate for you to go.”
Yu Tang nodded her head.
Although she felt sad for Mrs. Wei’s loss of her son, her primary concern was her mother’s feelings.
The next day, when Yu Yuan was to visit the Wei Family’s residence, she asked him to help her offer incense for Wei Xiaoshan and comfort their family with a few words.
Yu Yuan readily agreed.
Mrs. Wei cried when she found out, saying that Wei Xiaoshan was not blessed to have her.
Yu Yuan’s mood was grim as he spent the next few days helping out at the Wei family.
As Wei Xiaoshan was unmarried, his death was sudden and furthermore, his parents and older relatives, uncles were all alive, so according to traditions and customs, he was not allowed to be buried in the ancestral grave, much less to have the observance of the seventh-seven forty-nine days1 memorial rites. The Wei family contemplated to have Wei Xiaoyuan’s second son be formally adopted by Wei Xiaoshan, so that Wei Xiaoshan will then have an heir and have the qualification to be buried in their ancestral tomb. However the problem was that right now, Wei Xiaoyuan only had one son. This matter of adoption still had to wait until after the birth of second son, so how were they to proceed with this funeral now?
Wei Xiaoyuan proposed to let the youngest brother Wei Xiaochuan preside over the funeral instead.
Everyone in the Wei family thought it was viable.
Wei Xiaochuan’s eyes were red and swollen as he tearfully agreed.
The elders of the Wei family decided to carry out Wei Xiaoshan’s memorial rites for a total of double seventh – fourteen days .
Mrs. Wei refused and wanted to have it for longer; triple seventh – twenty-one days.
However if they wanted to extend to twenty-one days, this would mean more silver. The reason why the Wei family agreed to give their son to the Yu family as their son-in-law was also because sons were too much of a financial burden, especially since there was still the youngest son Wei Xiaochuan, who was exceptionably good in studying and the family didn’t have enough silver to support all of them.
Their father was more far-sighted in his outlook – the dead are important, but the living were more important.
As such, he was further inclined to keep the double-seventh, 14days.
They inevitably had conflicts about this matter.
After learning about this from Yu Yuan, Yu Wen took twenty taels of silver and left with Madam Chen to the Wei family.
These few days, Yu Tang felt despondent and wanted to find Ma Xiuniang and have a good heart-to-heart talk.
In her previous life, Li Jun fell off a horse and died; in this life, Wei Xiaoshan drowned.
How could she not harbor any suspicions?
Ma Xiuniang also knew about the Wei family’s matter, so she affectionately welcomed Yu Tang to her house, not only that, she also tactfully sent her younger brother away to Zhang Hui’s residence and bought a lot of snacks to make Yu Tang feel comfortable.
Yu Tang’s mind was filled with many thoughts, but after seeing Ma Xiuniang, she was at a loss on what to say.
However, Ma Xiuniang was very patient and understanding. If Yutang didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t pry. She sat quietly with Yu Tang by the banana tree in her courtyard for half a day , and didn’t mention a word about the Wei Family’s issue. When Yutang was about to leave, she even asked if Yutang wanted her to accompany her at home.
Yu Tang’s heart warmed, and her mood lightened up.
She hugged Ma Xiuniang tightly before making her way back to her house.
Just after her carriage entered Qingzhu Lane, Yutang found several neighbors gathered in front of her house.
Yu Tang’s heart tightened with worry as she urged the carriage driver to go faster. Without even waiting for the carriage to come to a complete stop, she lifted the curtain and stepped out.
Some neighbors who knew Yu Tang saw her and hurriedly said. “Lady Yu, where have you been? Your house has been burgled! Ah Cam has gone to look for Master Yu, you should also go inside quickly!”
Yu Tang was stricken with horror and she quickly pushed her way through the crowd and entered the front door.
Old Aunty Chen was sweeping the floor, and when she caught sight of Yu Tang, she quickly greeted her and said, “Young Miss, it’s okay. Only a few cuts of meat and half a vat of rice were lost.”
Yu Tang frowned.
Throughout all these years in Lin’an City, it has always been pretty peaceful and well governed, so such things rarely happen. Even in later years when they suffered hard conditions and the Pei family opened up their grain storehouses to provide food, closing the city gates and refusing to accept refugees into the city, there was also almost no incidents of theft.
From this, it was evident that after Third Master Pei took over as Pei family’s patriarch, he handled matters well.
Yu Tang asked. “Have you checked everything?”
“Yes, everything has been checked carefully.” Old Aunt Chen replied. “I have also checked our books against the things in Madam’s residence, and they are all there.” After saying this, she patted her chest in relief, “Luckily I decided to head back here mid-way, otherwise I would be so guilt-laden!”
Yu Tang asked Old Aunty Chen to explain in further detail. It turns out that as nobody was at home, Old Aunty Chen decided to head over to their next door neighbor to visit them and have a chat. However, while on the way there, she thought that she might as well bring some needle and thread for embroidery so that she could do something while chatting with their neighbors. This was how she managed to spot the thief and prevent him from stealing even more things.
“Are you okay?” Yu Tang asked concernedly.
Old Aunty Chen said embarrassedly, “Yes, I’m fine. Had I known this would happen, I definitely wouldn’t have gone out of the house.”
Yu Tang nodded, “Just be more careful in future.”
Old Aunty Chen said with some frustration, “No one has ever lost anything in Qingzhu Lane for so many years! I don’t know where these good-for-nothings came from.”
Yu Tang said, “Have you reported it to the magistrate?”
“Yes!” Old Aunty Chen replied, “Master Wu next door helped to report it. But neither the doors nor the windows were broken, so I’m afraid that even after reporting to the magistrates, nothing much will come out of it.”
The main thing was that the things that were lost were not valuable, so the magistrate wouldn’t pay much attention to it either.
In any case, their home was broken into by strangers …… Yu Tang felt uneasy.
Yu Wen and Madam Chen only came back in the evening. Once they heard what happened, Yu wen felt perturbed and insecure. He instructed Ah Cam, “Go and buy a big golden dog and let it watch over our house”
In the past, their family did not keep dogs, as Yu Tang was still young, and they were afraid that it would scare her. Now that their house had been burglarized, they can’t just ignore it.
Ah Cam answered in assent and went away.
Yu Tang asked about Yu Wen’s trip to the Wei family.
Yu Wen sighed and said helplessly. “The Wei family wasn’t willing to accept our family’s silver. It was only after my repeated persuasions, that the Wei family finally agreed. However they said it was a loan, and they will give us six percent interest and pay it back within three years.”
Yu Tong was a little surprised.
She did not expect the Wei famiy’s finances to be so poor.
Seeing her expression, Yu Wen said. “Why are you surprised? Last year, a worker in their oil extraction business got sick. Not only did the Wei family helped with paying the expenses for the person’s medical treatment, but also took in the family’s two children, so it’s understandable that they were a little short of money.”
Madam Chen listened and also continued about the Wei family: “Master Wei and Mrs. Wei are very good people. The family also has a cousin, said to be Mrs. Wei’s niece. Ever since the loss of her mother, she was raised by the Wei family, and Mrs. Wei treated her as precious as her own daughter, teaching her how to read and manage finances. This time the arrangements for the funeral, domestic household issues were all supported by her. I see that the way she handles matters is similar to Mrs. Wei, shrewd but also kind-hearted, which is really rare to find.”
Yu Tang wasn’t interested in these things so she changed the subject asked, “Wei Xiaoshan’s funeral, how many ‘sevenths’ were scheduled?”
Chen said, “Three sevenths.”
That’s good!
Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
Outside came the sounds of men talking loudly.
Yu Tang and the others thought that it was the magistrates who came to investigate today’s theft, so Yu Wen pushed opened the door and went out without waiting for Old Aunty Chen to announce those visitors. Who knew that the person who came was an unfamilar fair and plump man.
The person had a round head and a large face and wore a intricate blue silk jacket. When he saw Yu Wen, he asked sharply, “Are you Master Yu Huili?”
“Yes, I am!” Yu Wen answered.
The man visibly looked relieved and said, “I came from Hangzhou. You know Lu Xin and Old Mr. Lu, right?”
Yu Wen, along with Madam Chen and Yu Tang who came out after him, were all stunned.
The man continued, “I am from around Taihu Lake. A couple of days ago, I stayed with him at the same inn. Five days ago, he drank too much wine and suddenly died in the inn. The innkeeper reported this to the magistrate. The magistrate said that it was up to individual discretion as to how to proceed with this matter. Previously, the innkeeper had heard Mr. Lu said that you and him were close friends. As he saw I was leaving for my hometown, he asked me to pass you a message. See if you can help him buy a burial site to bury him. Otherwise, the innkeeper will settle it with a funeral home.”
“Ah!” Yu Wen, Madam Chen and Yu Tang all gasped and looked at one another.
What was this all about?!
Madam Chen said to the man, “Shouldn’t you first head to the Lu family to report the news?”
The man smiled bitterly and replied, “I went. However they said that Lu Xin and his father had separated from the Lu family for five generations already and they have no contact with him at all. Lu Xin also sold his ancestral house before he left, and even sold it to an outsider for a few more taels of silver. Therefore whether was he dead or alive didn’t concern them the slightest.” He seemed to be afraid that Yu Wen would be like Mr. Lu’s family and ignore this matter as well as he continued. “Anyway, I have already brought the innkeeper’s message to you, whether or not you go to help him collect the body, that is your business. I’m still in a hurry to go back to my hometown, so I won’t bother you further.” After saying that, he turned around and left, without even stopping to take a sip of the tea.
Yu Wen paced back and forth.
Madam Chen said worriedly, “You’re not really going to Hangzhou to collect his body, are you?”
Yu Wen glanced at Yu Tang before replying, “I’d better go! Consider it as obtaining good karma for our Ah-tang.”
Madam Chen wanted to say something but stopped.
She thought of the Wei family.
Doing good deeds, and bringing good karma for their descendants. They only had one daughter, Yutang, so as long as it was something good, they expected it to benefit her.
Madam Chen decisively instructed Old Aunty Chen to prepare a traveling bag for Yu Wen.
Yu Tang initially wanted to stop her father from going, however, when she thought of how her father had always been kind to people his entire life. No matter how bad Lu Xin was, he was already dead and couldn’t bother her father ever again. So for the sake of her father’s peace of mind, it was better for him to take a trip to HangZhou.
Consider it as doing a good deed.
In her previous life, she didn’t have any information about Lu Xin’s death.
Did Lu Xin die in a foreign place just like he did in this life? Or was it just that she didn’t have news about him since there was no connection with him after her parents’ death?
This became another mystery.
1. Chinese traditions regarding funeral arrangements take into account the family hierarchy’s of the deceased, age, and manner of death. Tradition dictates that an older person, or one with senior hierarchy cannot show formal respect to a younger person or someone with a lower family hierarchy. So parents cannot perform funeral ceremonies for their child and the deceased will be buried simply, often in an unmarked gravesite. (Side note: Funeral ceremonies for the death of their parents is an absolute, as filial piety is one of the pillars in Chinese society, and the planning must be done by the eldest son and/or his children. That’s why there was so much controversy when third master Pei handled the matters instead of the eldest house.)
This “seventh seven forty nine days” 七七四十九天 memorial rites refers to a total mourning period of 49days, with prayers and burning of papers every 7 days, across 7 weeks, commonly known as “burning seven.” 烧七 It was up to each family to decide how many weeks they want to observe.
Chapter 28 – News about his death
In the evening, Yu Wen and Yu Yuan returned from the Wei family, and Yu Bo, who had just gotten the news, also rushed over.
The family sat in the main hall to discuss, and Yu Wen did not conceal his sadness over this marriage, sighing, “They are a truly right-hearted family. Not mentioning Mr. Wei, who is the head of the family, even Mrs. Wei, when she met me, she didn’t speak a harsh word of reproach. She constantly repeated that she was sorry to our Ah-tang, and that should there be gossip that arises from this in future, we can all push the blame to their family. It’s really a pity. We should have arranged Yutang’s marriage with their third son instead. Then this would not have happened.”
Yu Bo also felt it was regretful and said, “Then tomorrow I will go over to pay my respects. Ah Yuan can also visit the Wei family to help out with their funeral arrangements. People who treat us well, we have to repay their goodwill. Even if gossip should arise in the future, we can’t just pin it on the Wei family. The poor young man is already no longer around, how can we ruin his name as well? Our children are precious, but aren’t other people’s children precious too?”
“Indeed.” Madam Wang agreed with a long sigh. She was still worried that Yu Tang would be unhappy and went to visit Yu Tang.
Yu Tang sat silently by the window, like an frostbitten aubergine.
When she first heard the news of Wei Xiaoshan’s death, she was extremely shocked. After her shock faded, she felt pity, after pity, it was a deep feeling of sadness and hurt.
He died at such a young age.
How terrible his parents must be feeling now!
Putting herself in their shoes, when she first learned of her parents’ death, it was as if the sky had fallen.
His death must have a similar impact on his parents, as if the sky had collapsed too.
When she had some free time, she would think of his eyes that looked at her with pure and overwhelming joy and Yu Tang could not help her tears from falling.
The Wei family’s kindness also made her feel sorrowful that they weren’t fated and that their relationship withered even before it began.
She sat there listlessly, and wasn’t in the mood to speak with anyone.
Madam Wang came over and gently hugged her, consoling her in a soft voice. “Ah-tang, don’t take this to heart. Life’s journey is long; this is just a small obstacle in life. Time will heal all wounds eventually.”
Only then did Madam Chen belatedly realize that she had neglected her daughter’s feelings. She hurriedly came over and comforted her together with Madam Wang.
Yu Tang didn’t want to worry the elders in her family, so she made efforts to cheer up and talk with them. She asked, “Is it ok for me to offer incense for the Wei family’s second son?”
Madam Chen and Madam Wang exchanged looks and contemplated. After a while, they hesitantly said, “Ah-tang, we know you are heartbroken. However, as our family has no connections or relationships with the Wei family, it is not appropriate for you to go.”
Yu Tang nodded her head.
Although she felt sad for Mrs. Wei’s loss of her son, her primary concern was her mother’s feelings.
The next day, when Yu Yuan was to visit the Wei Family’s residence, she asked him to help her offer incense for Wei Xiaoshan and comfort their family with a few words.
Yu Yuan readily agreed.
Mrs. Wei cried when she found out, saying that Wei Xiaoshan was not blessed to have her.
Yu Yuan’s mood was grim as he spent the next few days helping out at the Wei family.
As Wei Xiaoshan was unmarried, his death was sudden and furthermore, his parents and older relatives, uncles were all alive, so according to traditions and customs, he was not allowed to be buried in the ancestral grave, much less to have the observance of the seventh-seven forty-nine days1 memorial rites. The Wei family contemplated to have Wei Xiaoyuan’s second son be formally adopted by Wei Xiaoshan, so that Wei Xiaoshan will then have an heir and have the qualification to be buried in their ancestral tomb. However the problem was that right now, Wei Xiaoyuan only had one son. This matter of adoption still had to wait until after the birth of second son, so how were they to proceed with this funeral now?
Wei Xiaoyuan proposed to let the youngest brother Wei Xiaochuan preside over the funeral instead.
Everyone in the Wei family thought it was viable.
Wei Xiaochuan’s eyes were red and swollen as he tearfully agreed.
The elders of the Wei family decided to carry out Wei Xiaoshan’s memorial rites for a total of double seventh – fourteen days .
Mrs. Wei refused and wanted to have it for longer; triple seventh – twenty-one days.
However if they wanted to extend to twenty-one days, this would mean more silver. The reason why the Wei family agreed to give their son to the Yu family as their son-in-law was also because sons were too much of a financial burden, especially since there was still the youngest son Wei Xiaochuan, who was exceptionably good in studying and the family didn’t have enough silver to support all of them.
Their father was more far-sighted in his outlook – the dead are important, but the living were more important.
As such, he was further inclined to keep the double-seventh, 14days.
They inevitably had conflicts about this matter.
After learning about this from Yu Yuan, Yu Wen took twenty taels of silver and left with Madam Chen to the Wei family.
These few days, Yu Tang felt despondent and wanted to find Ma Xiuniang and have a good heart-to-heart talk.
In her previous life, Li Jun fell off a horse and died; in this life, Wei Xiaoshan drowned.
How could she not harbor any suspicions?
Ma Xiuniang also knew about the Wei family’s matter, so she affectionately welcomed Yu Tang to her house, not only that, she also tactfully sent her younger brother away to Zhang Hui’s residence and bought a lot of snacks to make Yu Tang feel comfortable.
Yu Tang’s mind was filled with many thoughts, but after seeing Ma Xiuniang, she was at a loss on what to say.
However, Ma Xiuniang was very patient and understanding. If Yutang didn’t bring it up, she wouldn’t pry. She sat quietly with Yu Tang by the banana tree in her courtyard for half a day , and didn’t mention a word about the Wei Family’s issue. When Yutang was about to leave, she even asked if Yutang wanted her to accompany her at home.
Yu Tang’s heart warmed, and her mood lightened up.
She hugged Ma Xiuniang tightly before making her way back to her house.
Just after her carriage entered Qingzhu Lane, Yutang found several neighbors gathered in front of her house.
Yu Tang’s heart tightened with worry as she urged the carriage driver to go faster. Without even waiting for the carriage to come to a complete stop, she lifted the curtain and stepped out.
Some neighbors who knew Yu Tang saw her and hurriedly said. “Lady Yu, where have you been? Your house has been burgled! Ah Cam has gone to look for Master Yu, you should also go inside quickly!”
Yu Tang was stricken with horror and she quickly pushed her way through the crowd and entered the front door.
Old Aunty Chen was sweeping the floor, and when she caught sight of Yu Tang, she quickly greeted her and said, “Young Miss, it’s okay. Only a few cuts of meat and half a vat of rice were lost.”
Yu Tang frowned.
Throughout all these years in Lin’an City, it has always been pretty peaceful and well governed, so such things rarely happen. Even in later years when they suffered hard conditions and the Pei family opened up their grain storehouses to provide food, closing the city gates and refusing to accept refugees into the city, there was also almost no incidents of theft.
From this, it was evident that after Third Master Pei took over as Pei family’s patriarch, he handled matters well.
Yu Tang asked. “Have you checked everything?”
“Yes, everything has been checked carefully.” Old Aunt Chen replied. “I have also checked our books against the things in Madam’s residence, and they are all there.” After saying this, she patted her chest in relief, “Luckily I decided to head back here mid-way, otherwise I would be so guilt-laden!”
Yu Tang asked Old Aunty Chen to explain in further detail. It turns out that as nobody was at home, Old Aunty Chen decided to head over to their next door neighbor to visit them and have a chat. However, while on the way there, she thought that she might as well bring some needle and thread for embroidery so that she could do something while chatting with their neighbors. This was how she managed to spot the thief and prevent him from stealing even more things.
“Are you okay?” Yu Tang asked concernedly.
Old Aunty Chen said embarrassedly, “Yes, I’m fine. Had I known this would happen, I definitely wouldn’t have gone out of the house.”
Yu Tang nodded, “Just be more careful in future.”
Old Aunty Chen said with some frustration, “No one has ever lost anything in Qingzhu Lane for so many years! I don’t know where these good-for-nothings came from.”
Yu Tang said, “Have you reported it to the magistrate?”
“Yes!” Old Aunty Chen replied, “Master Wu next door helped to report it. But neither the doors nor the windows were broken, so I’m afraid that even after reporting to the magistrates, nothing much will come out of it.”
The main thing was that the things that were lost were not valuable, so the magistrate wouldn’t pay much attention to it either.
In any case, their home was broken into by strangers …… Yu Tang felt uneasy.
Yu Wen and Madam Chen only came back in the evening. Once they heard what happened, Yu wen felt perturbed and insecure. He instructed Ah Cam, “Go and buy a big golden dog and let it watch over our house”
In the past, their family did not keep dogs, as Yu Tang was still young, and they were afraid that it would scare her. Now that their house had been burglarized, they can’t just ignore it.
Ah Cam answered in assent and went away.
Yu Tang asked about Yu Wen’s trip to the Wei family.
Yu Wen sighed and said helplessly. “The Wei family wasn’t willing to accept our family’s silver. It was only after my repeated persuasions, that the Wei family finally agreed. However they said it was a loan, and they will give us six percent interest and pay it back within three years.”
Yu Tong was a little surprised.
She did not expect the Wei famiy’s finances to be so poor.
Seeing her expression, Yu Wen said. “Why are you surprised? Last year, a worker in their oil extraction business got sick. Not only did the Wei family helped with paying the expenses for the person’s medical treatment, but also took in the family’s two children, so it’s understandable that they were a little short of money.”
Madam Chen listened and also continued about the Wei family: “Master Wei and Mrs. Wei are very good people. The family also has a cousin, said to be Mrs. Wei’s niece. Ever since the loss of her mother, she was raised by the Wei family, and Mrs. Wei treated her as precious as her own daughter, teaching her how to read and manage finances. This time the arrangements for the funeral, domestic household issues were all supported by her. I see that the way she handles matters is similar to Mrs. Wei, shrewd but also kind-hearted, which is really rare to find.”
Yu Tang wasn’t interested in these things so she changed the subject asked, “Wei Xiaoshan’s funeral, how many ‘sevenths’ were scheduled?”
Chen said, “Three sevenths.”
That’s good!
Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
Outside came the sounds of men talking loudly.
Yu Tang and the others thought that it was the magistrates who came to investigate today’s theft, so Yu Wen pushed opened the door and went out without waiting for Old Aunty Chen to announce those visitors. Who knew that the person who came was an unfamilar fair and plump man.
The person had a round head and a large face and wore a intricate blue silk jacket. When he saw Yu Wen, he asked sharply, “Are you Master Yu Huili?”
“Yes, I am!” Yu Wen answered.
The man visibly looked relieved and said, “I came from Hangzhou. You know Lu Xin and Old Mr. Lu, right?”
Yu Wen, along with Madam Chen and Yu Tang who came out after him, were all stunned.
The man continued, “I am from around Taihu Lake. A couple of days ago, I stayed with him at the same inn. Five days ago, he drank too much wine and suddenly died in the inn. The innkeeper reported this to the magistrate. The magistrate said that it was up to individual discretion as to how to proceed with this matter. Previously, the innkeeper had heard Mr. Lu said that you and him were close friends. As he saw I was leaving for my hometown, he asked me to pass you a message. See if you can help him buy a burial site to bury him. Otherwise, the innkeeper will settle it with a funeral home.”
“Ah!” Yu Wen, Madam Chen and Yu Tang all gasped and looked at one another.
What was this all about?!
Madam Chen said to the man, “Shouldn’t you first head to the Lu family to report the news?”
The man smiled bitterly and replied, “I went. However they said that Lu Xin and his father had separated from the Lu family for five generations already and they have no contact with him at all. Lu Xin also sold his ancestral house before he left, and even sold it to an outsider for a few more taels of silver. Therefore whether was he dead or alive didn’t concern them the slightest.” He seemed to be afraid that Yu Wen would be like Mr. Lu’s family and ignore this matter as well as he continued. “Anyway, I have already brought the innkeeper’s message to you, whether or not you go to help him collect the body, that is your business. I’m still in a hurry to go back to my hometown, so I won’t bother you further.” After saying that, he turned around and left, without even stopping to take a sip of the tea.
Yu Wen paced back and forth.
Madam Chen said worriedly, “You’re not really going to Hangzhou to collect his body, are you?”
Yu Wen glanced at Yu Tang before replying, “I’d better go! Consider it as obtaining good karma for our Ah-tang.”
Madam Chen wanted to say something but stopped.
She thought of the Wei family.
Doing good deeds, and bringing good karma for their descendants. They only had one daughter, Yutang, so as long as it was something good, they expected it to benefit her.
Madam Chen decisively instructed Old Aunty Chen to prepare a traveling bag for Yu Wen.
Yu Tang initially wanted to stop her father from going, however, when she thought of how her father had always been kind to people his entire life. No matter how bad Lu Xin was, he was already dead and couldn’t bother her father ever again. So for the sake of her father’s peace of mind, it was better for him to take a trip to HangZhou.
Consider it as doing a good deed.
In her previous life, she didn’t have any information about Lu Xin’s death.
Did Lu Xin die in a foreign place just like he did in this life? Or was it just that she didn’t have news about him since there was no connection with him after her parents’ death?
This became another mystery.
1. Chinese traditions regarding funeral arrangements take into account the family hierarchy’s of the deceased, age, and manner of death. Tradition dictates that an older person, or one with senior hierarchy cannot show formal respect to a younger person or someone with a lower family hierarchy. So parents cannot perform funeral ceremonies for their child and the deceased will be buried simply, often in an unmarked gravesite. (Side note: Funeral ceremonies for the death of their parents is an absolute, as filial piety is one of the pillars in Chinese society, and the planning must be done by the eldest son and/or his children. That’s why there was so much controversy when third master Pei handled the matters instead of the eldest house.)
This “seventh seven forty nine days” 七七四十九天 memorial rites refers to a total mourning period of 49days, with prayers and burning of papers every 7 days, across 7 weeks, commonly known as “burning seven.” 烧七 It was up to each family to decide how many weeks they want to observe.
