Li Shi was not in the yard. Zhulan saw a young boy from her natal family standing in the yard. He was one of the sons of Li Shi’s eldest brother. He was dressed in mourning clothes and there were tears on his face. This meant there was a death in the family. Zhulan went to the eldest’s room, Li Shi changed into mourning clothes as soon as she entered the door.
When Li Shi saw her mother-in-law, she felt that her mother-in-law was much more reliable than her husband. She had found someone to rely on, and she could not help but burst into tears again, “Mom, woo woo, naǐnai1 passed away.”
Zhulan especially admired the sensible old lady of the Li family. She didn’t expect that she would go so soon, and she felt uncomfortable in her heart. She patted Li Shi on the back and said, “Stop crying now. Your zhízǐ2 is still waiting outside. You two should go over there quickly!” “
Li Shi let go of her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law was really thin. She must treat her better in the future. “Mom, we will go there first then.”
Zhulan motioned to the boss to support Li Shi and told her eldest: “Pay attention to safety on the road.”
Boss Zhou didn’t feel good at all. His xífù nǎinǎi3 was very kind to him, “Yes.”
Zhulan carried Yulu back into the room. Zhou Shuren had already learned about the passing away. Zhulan patted the frightened Yulu and said to Zhou Shuren, “The Li family must be in chaos today. Tomorrow morning, let’s go over and offer our condolences to the old lady.”
Zhou Shuren was surprised, “I thought you would be scared!”
After all, it was a funeral. He didn’t expect Zhulan to take the initiative to go.
Zhulan had also attended funerals before. “I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I be afraid?”
In addition to being afraid of snakes, she had always been very courageous, and she was not afraid to be at a funeral.
In the evening, the eldest couple stayed at Li Shi’s natal home. Early the next morning, Zhulan and Zhou Shuren went there with Mingyun and Mingteng. Yulu was too small and stayed at home, with Zhao Shi looking after her. Second Zhou drove the borrowed ox cart. Before arriving at Li Shi’s house, they saw a white shed set up far away. Early in the morning, the Li family knelt down and were crying in mourning.
The voices of the Li family were loud, and their cries spread throughout the village. Zhulan got off the oxcart and looked at the Li family who were kneeling on the ground. Everyone was crying sadly. It was indeed sad. The old lady was the pillar of the Li family, and the pillar fell. The Li family was not only sad but also confused.
Li Shi’s father, Li Cong, welcomed Zhulan and Zhou Shuren in. As he walked, he said, “The funeral will be held shortly.”
Zhou Shuren asked, “Will you not keep her for a few days?”
Li Cong choked with sobs, “Forget it, today is a good day for burial, and it’s hot in summer. So my mother will suffer if she stays, so it’s better to bury her in peace early.”
His mother passed away. Even though it was an expected loss, he felt sorrowful. Remembering the words his mother had imparted to him in her final moments, he wiped away a tear. His mother had a difficult life; his father had left early, and she struggled to raise their brothers. Unfortunately, they, despite having names that conveyed intelligence and wisdom, remained simple-minded. His mother, in her old age, didn’t get to enjoy comfort until she finally managed to buy some land. Just when things were getting better, she left them.
Zhou Shuren had never experienced maternal or paternal love, making it difficult for him to comprehend such emotions. Even though he became a readymade father, he didn’t invest much emotion in it. The only taste of love he had experienced was in romantic relationships. So, when he saw his in-laws grieving, his consolation was dry and somewhat indifferent, “Condolences. The old lady has gone to a better place.”
Zhulan, “.”
Zhou Shuren might as well not comfort him. The old lady has gone to enjoy happiness after death, but she had suffered in life. Although the old lady was indeed tired when she was alive, Zhou Shuren should not say it out loud. Look at the tears that the in-laws had finally stopped bursting again.
Li Cong blamed himself very much: “Qīnjiā is right, I am useless. If I were useful, my mother wouldn’t worry about it. My mother is exhausted from worrying. I am unfilial!”
Zhulan watched as Zhou Shuren pursed his lips in contemplation, seemingly about to speak. Quickly interjecting, Zhulan said, “Qīnjiā4, the old lady surely wishes for you to stay strong. You mustn’t let her down. She’s watching over you from above!”
Li Shi’s father wiped away his tears, “My in-laws are right. In the future, I will be in charge. I have to cheer up. Qīnjiā and gōngqīn5 will sit for a while. I am going to arrange the funeral.”
Zhou Shuren spoke up, “Qīnjiā, do you think I can be of any help? Just say it.”
Li Shi’s father looked at his Qīnjiā’s petite frame. It wouldn’t be suitable for a xiùcái like his qīnjiā to lift the coffin. Although having the qīnjiā help lift the coffin would bring great honor to the Li family, and his mother could have a decent afterlife, he was afraid of injuring his qīnjiā’s delicate physique. He couldn’t bear the responsibility. His mother had emphasized three times before her death that he should follow his qīnjiā in the future. “No need, if the qīnjiā can come and offer incense, that will make my mother very happy.”
Zhou Shuren: “.”
The men in the Li family were all straightforward individuals; their thoughts were simple, and they couldn’t conceal their expressions. He saw the disdain in his eyes!
Zhulan was looking for Li Shi’s mother and saw Li Xu Shi rushing over. Seeing that Zhulan and Zhou Shuren were not unhappy, she exhaled and chased her husband away, “They are waiting for you in front, hurry over.”
Li Shi’s father was busy going to the front yard. He still had a lot of things to arrange!
Li Xu Shi waited for her husband to leave and smiled dryly, “The head of the family is not good at talking, and his mother has passed away. If there is anything wrong with what he said, qīnjiā please don’t mind.”
In the past, she didn’t ask her naive daughter to bring back valuable things; she just hoped for a good life. Initially, she thought her naive daughter would be a burden, but unexpectedly, she married into the Zhou family, bringing significant benefits to their household. Seeing how well her daughter was living now, even as a mother, she couldn’t help feeling envious and resentful. The saying proved true that simple-minded people have good fortunes. Her mother-in-law had mentioned that her daughter would surely have great blessings in the future, urging them to get along well with their qīnjiā. She remembered these words deeply.
Zhulan felt the warmth from Li Xu Shi’s enthusiasm. In the year spent with the Li family, it seemed like the Li family’s attention had shifted entirely to the daughter-in-law who had married into the family. She marveled at Old Lady Li’s calculations for her son and grandson, and she was also amazed at the strong genetic traits within the Li family. Despite having intelligent daughters-in-law, the fundamental characteristics of simplicity and straightforwardness persisted in the younger generations of the Li family.
(End of this chapter)
Footnote
- Paternal Grandmother
- Son of brother
- Wife’s paternal grandmother
- In-laws of your son or daughter
- A more honorable term for in-laws
Translating one chapter one day at a time 
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