After the incident with the ghost car, Long Feicheng developed an inexplicable fear of Yan Shouyi’s hometown.
After all, running into a ghost right after arriving left a terrible first impression!
However, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong felt nothing.
The three walked a little further. After crossing a small bridge, they saw a small supermarket with lights on by the roadside. A sign for lodging was also hanging outside the supermarket.
That was the small supermarket and inn run by Yan Shouyi’s childhood friend.
Strangely, quite a few people were gathered outside his friend’s supermarket at the moment. They were all dressed in white mourning clothes, with many wreaths placed in front of the entrance. There was also a smoking earthen stove outside.
Lin Zhitong whispered to Yan Shouyi,
“Is your friend’s family holding a funeral?”
Yan Shouyi frowned, “I haven’t been in touch with Jiang Shuang for a long time. I don’t know who passed away in his family.”
In fact, only the deceased’s immediate family members truly shed tears at a funeral. Everyone else was there to join the occasion.
They would come to offer condolences, shed a few token tears, comfort the deceased’s family, and then chat and dine with other relatives and friends.
According to the customs in Chic City, after a person dies, the body is placed in the mourning hall for three to seven days. During this period, an auspicious day is chosen for the funeral procession and subsequent cremation and burial.
For the nights the body is in the mourning hall, someone must stay up all night to light the soul-guiding lamps for the deceased.
The soul-guiding lamp resembled a Christmas tree, except that instead of candies and fairy lights, it was decorated with candles.
While lighting the lamps, the family members also had to chant scriptures. For every recitation, a stack of paper money was burned. This had to be done seventy-seven times (seven times seven), after which the family members could rest, and others would continue the vigil.
At the entrance of the Jiang family’s supermarket at this moment, several old men were gathered around a table, smoking and playing cards, the atmosphere lively and devoid of any trace of sadness.
As Yan Shouyi and his companions approached, they attracted the attention of several of the old men. One of them recognized Yan Shouyi:
“Hey, isn’t this Yan Shouyi from Chenjia Village? Your good buddy’s father died three days ago, and you’re only remembering to visit now?”
It wasn't surprising that the old man spoke so bluntly. People in the countryside were generally forthright, which could easily offend others, but their kind and simple nature was also revealed quite frankly.
Yan Shouyi did not take offense and explained, “I was out of town before and didn’t know the news. I just got back… Where is Jiang Shuang?”
“He’s inside. Go in and see him!”
“Alright, you gentlemen carry on with your game.”
Entering the mourning hall, Yan Shouyi saw a solitary figure kneeling before the coffin, head bowed.
Yan Shouyi immediately recognized the person as Jiang Shuang, but he did not disturb him. Instead, he looked up at the memorial tablet of Jiang Shuang’s father.
Long Feicheng also saw the photograph hanging above the memorial tablet. He couldn’t help but open his mouth, but nothing came out.
He hesitated to speak because Long Feicheng seemed to have seen Jiang Shuang’s father on that ghost car earlier.
“Ashuang,” Yan Shouyi called out.
Jiang Shuang slowly turned his head. His face was very pale, and he looked gaunt.
But upon recognizing his childhood friend, Jiang Shuang instinctively showed a faint smile, “Shouyi, when did you get back?”
“I just returned,” Yan Shouyi said, patting his shoulder. “Why didn’t you inform me about such a major event?”
“You were picking up your dad from prison; it was a happy occasion. I didn’t want to disturb you,” Jiang Shuang replied.
Yan Shouyi sighed, “Alas, accept my condolences. I’ll be staying for quite some time after returning this time. We can chat more later… Oh, right, let me introduce two people. This is Long Feicheng, a friend I met in Rongcheng. This is Lin Zhitong… she’s my… newlywed wife.”
Jiang Shuang’s eyes widened, and for the first time in a while, a flicker of emotion appeared in his eyes:
“I didn’t expect you to get married even earlier than me… Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Jiang Shuang, Shouyi’s childhood friend.”
“Hello,” Lin Zhitong shook hands with Jiang Shuang and then comforted him, “The deceased has passed on; the living must endure.”
“Although I don’t quite understand what you mean, I know you’re comforting me.”
Jiang Shuang stood up. Seeing Yan Shouyi and his companions looking travel-worn, he produced two keys without Yan Shouyi needing to ask:
“My family runs an inn. We have plenty of rooms. You must be tired from your journey, so go back to your rooms and take a hot shower. I’ll ask my mother to cook some supper for you.”
This supper was not only for Yan Shouyi and his companions but also for the old men helping with the vigil outside. Therefore, Yan Shouyi did not refuse.
He asked Lin Zhitong and Long Feicheng to take their keys and go back to their rooms, intending to have a private chat with Jiang Shuang.
The two sat down in a corner of the mourning hall. Jiang Shuang stared at his father’s coffin, lost in thought. After a while, he managed to speak with some effort,
“Shouyi, I have an impertinent request.”
“It’s about helping choose a burial site for Uncle, isn’t it?” Yan Shouyi asked.
Jiang Shuang nodded.
People in the countryside owned their own fields and mountains, so they didn’t buy public cemetery plots. They would find a geomancer to survey a mountain, and once a suitable spot was chosen, they would take a few people up to dig.
Jiang Shuang knew Yan Shouyi had a knack for this, which was why he made this request.
Yan Shouyi immediately agreed, “We’ve been brothers for so many years. Don’t worry about this matter; it’s on me.”
“Thank you,” Jiang Shuang was not eloquent, and his way of expressing gratitude was simple and direct.
“May I ask, how did Uncle die?” Yan Shouyi couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Shuang’s father was in his prime and in good health; he shouldn’t have passed away so suddenly.
Jiang Shuang hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “A car accident.”
“A car accident?”
Yan Shouyi felt that things were not that simple, and Jiang Shuang’s expression was clearly not right. “Tell me the truth. If I’m to choose a burial site, I need to know Uncle’s cause of death. Different causes of death require different burial locations. If they conflict, it can affect future generations.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuang, who had not intended to tell the truth, had to reveal the facts:
“My dad was crushed to death by an excavator.”
Yan Shouyi’s face changed drastically, “What?! How did that happen? Was it an accident? Were the perpetrators caught?”
Jiang Shuang shook his head. “We both came from Chenjia Village. You know the mountain behind Chenjia Village where my dad had land, right? Not long after you left, someone discovered it was a mineral deposit. Then a group of illegal miners from Chic City came and started digging without any notice. My dad rushed back as soon as he heard the news. However, the other party had a considerable background and bullied others. After several disputes, there was no resolution. When my dad went to report it, no one paid attention. Everyone seemed to be afraid of the mine owner. A few days ago, my dad went to the mine site to argue with them again, and during the dispute, he was crushed to death by an excavator!”
“How could such a thing happen…!” Yan Shouyi was extremely angry.
“That mine owner has extensive connections and great power. He arranged for someone to take the blame and used his influence to frame the incident as an accident. He bribed witnesses to say that my dad accidentally stumbled under the excavator’s wheel. In the end, perhaps even the scapegoat won’t need to go to jail; they’ll just pay some money and settle the matter…”