Chapter 57 of 100

Chapter 57: Joy? Mourning?

16 min read4,107 words

In the main room of the Zhang family's small courtyard, the wedding ceremony for Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian was hastily carried out. In the center of the room, Grandma, with a flushed face, leaned against a chair, supported by Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei on either side. When Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian bowed to her, her face was beaming with joy, but the rosy flush on her cheeks was visibly fading. When the villager in charge of the ceremony announced, "The ceremony is complete, the newlyweds shall enter the bridal chamber," the rosy flush had completely disappeared, and Grandma closed her eyes peacefully, still with a smile on her face.

Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai felt a sudden weight in their hands and she immediately cried out in sorrow, "Mother." This was the second time the word "Mother" echoed in the main room that day, and it would be the last.

Liu Qian, disregarding the rules, quickly pulled off her red veil and, together with Guo Sufei and Zhang Cai, carried Grandma's body back to the small room.

In the courtyard, everyone in the main room looked at each other, unsure whether the Zhang family should celebrate a joyous occasion or mourn a loss. Only those who knew the situation quietly wiped away their tears.

With the help of Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua, Zhang Xiaolong entered the small room. On the bed, Grandma lay as if in a deep sleep, free from the pain and the forced suppression of her coughing to avoid disturbing her grandson. She looked very peaceful, with a smile on her face. Zhang Xiaohua, looking at the face of his grandmother, which was etched into his heart, felt an emptiness, a void. He heard his mother's sorrowful cries, and he wondered why he wasn't as sad as he should be. Was Grandma really just resting?

No, definitely not. Zhang Xiaohua could no longer feel the life force in Grandma that he had sensed just a few days ago. She was truly gone, and had left him.

Zhang Xiaohua silently watched his mother, father, and brothers crying beside the bed. His eyes were dry, and even the rims of his eyes were not red.

The mournful cries in Grandma's small room continued for a long time, and most of the people in the courtyard had dispersed. When Zhang Cai had composed himself and came out, he bowed apologetically to the villagers and asked them to help remove all the festive decorations and replace them with black and white mourning attire. After everything was set, the scattered wedding procession, thinking it was for Zhang Xiaolong, returned. Upon seeing the mourning scene, they realized the reason and quickly changed into mourning clothes, ate a little, drank some water, and began to play funeral music.

The Zhang family also put on mourning clothes. Zhang Xiaolong, severely injured, had to lie in bed again. Poor Liu Qian, who had just entered the family, had to change from her wedding attire to mourning clothes and help wash and dress Grandma's body. It was a difficult task for her.

Zhang Cai, watching his busy daughter-in-law, felt a deep sense of guilt. He had lost both his parents at a young age and had never experienced the joy of family life. When he married into the Guo family, his in-laws treated him like their own child. The loss of his father-in-law and mother-in-law left him in deep pain. Thinking about the moments in this small courtyard, his tears fell again. Zhang Xiaolong had the good fortune to marry Liu Qian, and he hoped that when his time came, he would cause them less trouble.

The coffin and clothes for Grandma had been prepared long ago. Soon, everything was ready, and Zhang Cai, Zhang Xiaohu, Guo Sufei, and Liu Qian placed Grandma's body in the coffin. They found people to carry the coffin into the main room, which was already small and now had almost no space left. According to local customs, the coffin must remain in the house for seven days for family and relatives to pay their respects before it could be sealed and buried.

Unlike a wedding, many things in a funeral are not handled with enthusiasm. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei went to the village elder for help, and many people came to assist. The funeral proceeded smoothly.

As night fell, the noise in the courtyard gradually subsided. The flickering light in the main room cast the shadow of the coffin, which kept moving in front of Zhang Xiaohua's eyes. Zhang Xiaohua and others knelt in the small space beside the coffin. Guo Sufei sobbed continuously, seemingly exhausted. Liu Qian knelt beside her, supporting her and occasionally wiping away her own tears. Grandma had always been very kind to her, and although they didn't talk much, the warm smile she always showed made Liu Qian feel very comfortable. Although she had mentally prepared for this, the fact that Grandma passed away during her wedding ceremony was unexpected. Thinking about the brief ceremony, Liu Qian couldn't blame this kind and understanding elder. Perhaps it was fate? She could also see the regret in Zhang Cai's eyes and felt the warmth of the family, but starting her life in the Zhang family with such an event, would the future bring happiness or misfortune? Was this a warning?

Looking at Guo Sufei's grief and thinking about Grandma, Zhang Xiaohua felt that her life had been worth living. She had a full house of descendants and a harmonious family, except for some poverty, everything was perfect. What would her life be like when she was old?

While Liu Qian was lost in thought, Zhang Xiaohua's mind was also racing. Kneeling in the shadow of the corner, he looked at the large coffin and thought, "Is this Grandma's final resting place?" Since the family had told them about the events of the evening, Zhang Xiaohua had been thinking. If he had martial arts skills, he could have driven away the bandits, and he and his brother could have safely brought his sister-in-law home. Grandma might not have passed away so soon. She would have been happy to see his brother and sister-in-law get married and maybe even hold their child.

Zhang Xiaohua's thoughts were chaotic. Perhaps, perhaps, he thought of many scenarios, but they all hinged on one point: he must learn martial arts and have the ability to turn the tide. But did he have that ability?

Thus, Zhang Xiaohua made his first decision in life: he would learn martial arts.

But how to learn martial arts?

He was still at a loss, but with a goal in mind, everything would be easier.

Thinking about martial arts, Zhang Xiaohua suddenly remembered "Piaomiao." From Wen Wenhai, Xue Qing to Lu Yueming, each person left a deep impression on him. The aura of controlling everything, the joy of punishing evil, made Zhang Xiaohua's eyes sparkle. The power of the Piaomiao sect, where a single emblem could make people hesitate to act and even pay hundreds of taels of silver without a word, was an unimaginable temptation for a child from a mountain village. Perhaps, a man should live like this, not seeking shelter under others' protection or relying on a single emblem. Even if the bandit leader was eliminated, there was no guarantee that the bandits wouldn't come back. How would they deal with it then? Could a single emblem make people retreat? Thinking about the family's lives depending on a single emblem, Zhang Xiaohua felt a deep sense of helplessness. As he thought, his eyes slowly closed, and he fell asleep. The flickering light seemed to follow his breathing, leading him into a dream.

It was midnight.

After finishing the external affairs and sending off the helpers, Zhang Cai, exhausted, returned to the main room. His wife's sobs were still there, her voice hoarse. He went to comfort her, as the elderly had passed away, and life must go on. As he entered the room, he saw Zhang Xiaohua curled up and sleeping in the corner. His heart ached. What a good child, he had been so busy with the elderly that he had forgotten about him.

Zhang Xiaolong, injured, was already asleep on the bed. His youngest son was also injured, with whip marks on his shoulder that made one cry. At his age, such a severe injury was not much different from what Zhang Xiaolong had suffered, but he had changed clothes and no one had noticed. Zhang Cai felt guilty and carefully picked up Zhang Xiaohua, trying to carry him to the bed, but he couldn't. He laughed bitterly, realizing that the child had grown, and he himself was old. He called Zhang Xiaohu, who was also kneeling in the shadow, and together they lifted Zhang Xiaohua. As they prepared to leave the room, Guo Sufei spoke, wiping away her tears, "Put Xiaohua in Xiaolong's room tonight. If he wakes up at night, he might be scared thinking about Grandma."

A mother's love is so meticulous. Although Guo Sufei was grieving over her mother's death, she quickly thought of her son. Zhang Xiaohu interjected, "Mother, Xiaohua is sleeping so soundly, even water wouldn't wake him. Don't worry."

Guo Sufei said, "No, he's still young. If he wakes up, he will be scared. Put him in Xiaolong's room, where I can keep an eye on him."

Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu gently placed Zhang Xiaohua next to the sleeping Zhang Xiaolong. Guo Sufei washed her face, took the oil lamp, and carefully lifted Zhang Xiaohua's shirt to see the whip marks on his shoulder, which looked like centipedes on his body. Looking at his still childish face, Guo Sufei couldn't help but cry. This child had suffered so much, and he hadn't even mentioned it when he came back. He had changed clothes and stayed up to guard Grandma, without even eating dinner. From morning to now, he had endured so much hardship and pressure. As a mother, she had forgotten about him. If he wasn't so exhausted, he might still be in the main room with her. Let him rest well.

Guo Sufei came out of the inner room and asked Zhang Xiaohu and Liu Qian to go back and rest, while she and Zhang Cai stayed to keep watch over Grandma. Zhang Xiaohu and Liu Qian initially disagreed, but Guo Sufei insisted, so they went back. Zhang Xiaohu naturally slept in the inner room, ready to take care of his two injured brothers.

Liu Qian, exhausted, fell asleep on the bed. The events of the day had been too bizarre.

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