Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12081

To be honest, everyone was shocked when they heard the news. No one expected that Si Xi's father would divorce his own wife in order to keep his fourth daughter-in-law!
“Your fourth grandmother saw it with her own eyes, so it must be true. She’s been sent to her parents’ home.” Cao Bamei said to herself as she washed the dishes with a loofah.

"It seems your father-in-law has really shown his sincerity this time, and your mother-in-law has really suffered a big setback this time."

"After this commotion, everyone in the village can see how much Sixi's family values ​​you, and we've managed to save face!"

"Second Girl, should we get that key in your hand ready?" Cao Bamei asked tentatively.

Xiu Hong pondered for a moment, clearly feeling somewhat shaken, "No, it won't happen. We'll proceed as planned. We've agreed to three days, and not a single hour can be missed!"

Cao Bamei opened her mouth, but in the end, she swallowed her words back.

Let your daughter do whatever she wants. As her mother, I should stand by her side regardless of right or wrong.

……

Meanwhile, let's talk about Sixi's father.

He tied Sixi's mother to the oxcart like a dead pig, then called on the brothers Daxi and Erxi, and the three of them took Sixi's mother back to her parents' home that very night.

No matter how much his brother-in-law and sister-in-law resisted or tried to persuade him, Sixi's father remained resolute.

Da Xi and Er Xi were also playing along with Sixi's father's act, wiping away tears as they privately 'revealed' to their two uncles: "Mom went too far this time. Dad is serious. We brothers tried everything to persuade him, but to no avail..."

"Uncle, Uncle, Mother can't stay at home any longer. If she stays, my father might really beat her to death!"

"But we can't put it here, your mother has been married for over twenty years..."

"Uncle, Uncle, please forgive us. This is the only way for now. When we get back, my brother and I will try to persuade our father. Maybe we can talk things out once he calms down..."

"Yes, yes, yes, I hope my eldest and youngest uncles can help talk to our mother these days, so that she will stop deliberately targeting my fourth brother's wife."

"My fourth sister-in-law comes from a powerful family and is always deliberately targeting her. It's like an egg hitting a rock; why bother?"

And so, Sixi's mother was abandoned at her parents' home by Sixi's father and his two sons.

She was thrown to the ground, her wrists and ankles still bound, and her mouth stuffed with a smelly sock so she couldn't make a sound.

She lay on the ground, helplessly watching her husband and two sons leave without looking back.

Tears streamed down her face. Something inside her chest shattered, leaving a cold, chilling feeling. She felt she had never experienced such despair in her life...

She only burst into tears when the ropes binding her hands and feet were untied and the smelly sock was pulled out of her mouth.

But what she faced was nothing but accusations and disdain from her older brother and sister-in-law, and her younger brother and sister-in-law...

I have no home!
Now I really have no home!

Waaaaah... How did things turn out like this? What did I do wrong?

……

In Changping Village, early the next morning, the group of people (all men) who had made prior arrangements gathered in the front courtyard of the Luo family's house.

Today is the day to go to Zhoujia Village to pay respects. We need to bring a lot of things; the courtyard is already full. In addition to some necessities for clothing, food, and shelter, there is also silver.

Besides silver, there are also various paper offerings.

These paper offerings were personally delivered by the owner of the paper offering shop in town at the crack of dawn this morning.

They originally planned to deliver it yesterday evening, but Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian both refused.

If it's delivered at night, it has to be placed in the front yard. Wang Cuilian is afraid of those things, while Yang Ruoqing isn't afraid; she's worried about the two little ones at home.

It's not that I'm worried the two little ones will be scared, but I'm worried that when they see those lifelike statues of boys and girls, white horses, and pavilions, their curiosity and playfulness will get the better of them, and they might break the things, which would be a real problem!

That's why it was scheduled to be delivered this morning. Right now, they're all placed in the front yard, lined up against the wall, and Ping An is there watching over them to prevent the wind from blowing them over or the cats and dogs from knocking them down.

Luo Fengtang got up early and came to the front yard to greet everyone, take inventory of the items, and arrange loading onto the truck.

Meanwhile, Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian were tidying themselves up in the backyard, while Rong Gu and Shaoyao were helping Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan with their personal hygiene and serving them breakfast.

Two days after Luo Wuyou and Zuo Jinling returned from Zhoujia Village, they went to the mountain camp together.

Today, because they were going to Zhoujia Village to pay their respects, the two of them returned to the village before dawn and went straight to the front yard to help Luo Fengtang sort out the things.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian arrived in the backyard with Tuantuan and Yuanyuan.

Before they arrived, Yang Ruoqing had already explained to them what they were going to do today. The main point was that when they arrived at Zhoujia Village, they should not be laughing and joking, but should be solemn, because Grandma Da'e had passed away, and they should respect the deceased.

Fortunately, the two children were quite well-behaved in this regard, so Tuantuan didn't need to worry. Even Yuanyuan had a serious expression all day, putting on a completely different little adult-like demeanor than usual...

When the sun was high in the sky, Luo Fengtang told Yang Ruoqing, and the group set off.

Today, when we went to pay our respects, we used five mule carts to carry our belongings, and a horse-drawn carriage for Yang Ruoqing, Wang Cuilian, Ronggu, and Shaoyao, the four adults.

As for Tuantuan and Yuanyuan, they absolutely refused to ride in a carriage, so Luo Wuyou and Zuo Jinling rode horses, each carrying one of them in front of them.

Luo Fengtang did not ride a horse; he walked to Zhoujia Village with Yang Huazhong, Yang Huaming, Yang Yongjin, and Yang Yongzhi.

The journey from Changping Village to Qingshui Town is about 8 li (approximately 4 kilometers) one way, and from Qingshui Town to Zhoujia Village it's another 4 li (approximately 2 kilometers), so the total journey of 12 li (approximately 6 kilometers) one way is nothing for these men.

If we set off before sunrise and don't delay on the road, we'll arrive at Zhoujia Village at just the right time.

……

Inside the carriage, Yang Ruoqing said to Ronggu and Shaoyao, "When we arrive at Zhoujia Village, Auntie and I will be staying at the ancestral hall there. It won't be convenient for us to go out and move around."

"Tuantuan and Yuanyuan definitely won't stay still; they'll want to go play outside the ancestral hall. You two don't need to worry about anything else, just keep a close eye on them. Don't let them play in the water or fire, don't let them collect firecracker sparks from the ashes, and don't let them get kidnapped by bad people!"

Rong Gu and Shao Yao both looked serious. "Don't worry, Madam, we won't let anything happen to the two young masters."

Yang Ruoqing nodded in satisfaction; that's the advantage of having plenty of help at home.

After 12 li, we finally reached the end.

The convoy entered the entrance of Zhoujia Village and headed straight for the entrance of the Zhoujia Ancestral Hall. After Yang Ruoqing and the others arrived at the village entrance, they all got out of the carriages. Luo Wuyou and Zuo Jinling also stopped riding horses and walked into the village.

The mule cart convoy also stopped at the village entrance. Led by Luo Fengtang, the men from Changping Village began to unload the goods from the carts in an orderly manner. Then, according to the pre-arranged personnel, one person carried this and another carried that, and everyone walked into the village together to the ancestral hall.

In the group, Yang Huaming, Yang Huazhou, Xiao Jie's father, Da Niu Changgen, and Wang Hongquan were not responsible for carrying things; they were responsible for banging the gongs and drums they brought and playing the suona.

The person playing the suona is Wang Hongquan.

Honestly, once the suona is played, the sound it produces can truly pierce one's soul.

Yang Ruoqing couldn't help but shudder; she almost got sent away.

The mourning procession made its way to the entrance of the ancestral hall with banging and clanging, gradually coming into view of the Zhou family members who were watching from the vicinity of the hall entrance.

Immediately, a group of Zhou family members, dressed in mourning clothes and led by Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan, rushed out of the ancestral hall and knelt down in a row on the futons that had been prepared in advance at the entrance of the ancestral hall.

Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan were definitely kneeling at the very front, in the center position, followed by Zhou Wang's several cousins, then their families, and Zhou Wang's two sons...

By the way, Zhou Xia's son was also among them, but the child didn't know his own background, so he knelt down as a worker at the Zhou family's chicken farm and Zhou Wang's apprentice.

Zhou Wang's arrangement was also a way of getting his eldest nephew to see Grandma off on her final journey. You have to understand that if Grandma and her aunt hadn't been so soft-hearted, this child would have been killed by his own mother, Zhou Xia, when he was born...

"It's the Luo family's mourning procession! Quick, everyone kneel down!"

"Set off the firecrackers!"

"Let's get this going, beat the drums and gongs!"

Soon, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang's group, carrying their belongings, arrived at the entrance of the ancestral hall in a grand procession.

Amidst the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, a group of people pre-arranged by the Zhou family rushed forward to help take the things that Yang Yongjin and his group were carrying, lifting, and lifting.

Luo Fengtang and Yang Ruoqing came forward, and Luo Fengtang bent down to help Zhou Wang.

Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian then came up to help Xiao Huan.

"Cousin, please accept my condolences."

"Sister-in-law, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Please accept my condolences."

"Aunt, Qing'er... Waaah, my mother, my mother is gone."

“Good child, your mother has gone to paradise, try to think positively…” Wang Cuilian’s tears fell in a stream, her empathy was truly first-rate.

"Waaaaah..."

When Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan saw Luo Fengtang and Yang Ruoqing arrive, it was as if they had seen their pillar of support. Zhou Wang, in particular, cried with tears and snot streaming down his face.

Xiao Huan also looked haggard.

Luo Fengtang and Yang Ruoqing helped the couple walk into the ancestral hall. Behind them, Yang Huazhong, Yang Huaming, and Yang Huazhou also each had someone to help.

The people from the Luo family arrived travel-worn, while the Zhou family members were moved to tears. The two sides came together because of Luo Da'e's death, like relatives and friends who had shared hardships. Despite the occasion, the scene was incredibly harmonious and warm.

Luo Wuyou, Zuo Jinling, and the other young people followed the crowd into the ancestral hall with solemn expressions.

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were being held in Rong Gu and Shao Yao's arms. Rong Gu and Shao Yao were afraid that the firecrackers flying all over the sky would hit them, so they raised their palms and sleeves to cover their faces.

But the two little ones curiously peeked their heads out from under their sleeves, their big, round, dark eyes darting around as they curiously observed everything around them.

This was the first time either of them had experienced anything like this since they were born, and everything seemed new and exciting to them.

Fortunately, Rong Gu and Shao Yao were worried that they would be frightened by the firecrackers and the noise of the gongs and drums!

As it turned out, all their worries were in vain; the two brothers weren't afraid at all, and were even quite excited.

The group entered the ancestral hall. Although the ancestral hall in Zhoujia Village could not compare with the ancestral hall in Changping Village in terms of scale, it was still quite good overall.

It is also divided into three sections: upper, middle, and lower, with two courtyards separating the middle sections. The lower section is mainly used to display wreaths and various paper offerings sent by relatives and friends to express their condolences.

These colorful items attracted a crowd of elderly people and children to look at them. The children, in particular, gathered in small groups in front of the brightly colored pavilions and stairs, admiring the magnificent three-story paper houses and peeking through the windows at the beds, tables, chairs, and bedding inside...

These children, who grew up in the village and were used to living in mud-brick and thatched courtyards, were truly amazed. They watched with great interest and couldn't tear themselves away.

The little girls, on the other hand, were attracted by the colorful paper flowers. It must be said that the master craftsmen who make paper flowers are really skilled. These things are so lifelike that they could be applied for intangible cultural heritage status in future generations.

Yang Ruoqing and her group's destination was the middle section of the ancestral hall, where a white mourning couplet was hung up, with the prominent character '奠' (meaning "offering" or "condolence") in the center.

In front of the funeral couplets was a large offering table more than two meters long, on which was placed Luo Da'e's memorial tablet, and in front of the tablet was a row of offerings.

Raw rice with incense sticks stuck in it, a plucked chicken, and fruits and snacks covered in incense ash.

Underneath the offering table was a large earthenware basin, which was used for burning paper money and incense.

Two meters ahead of the earthenware pot, there was another row of straw stacks on the ground.

These straw stacks are used to relieve knee pressure when kowtowing and kneeling, since there will be intermittent rituals for more than ten hours from today until the funeral tomorrow morning.

We invited both monks and Taoist priests, using a two-pronged approach.

Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang were led by Zhou Wang and the others to this row of straw stacks, where they began to kneel and kowtow.

Wang Cuilian was not allowed to kneel and kowtow because she was of the same generation as Luo Da'e and was also Luo Da'e's sister-in-law.

So she and Xiaohuan stood to the side, supporting each other, wiping away tears as they watched the others kneel and kowtow.

Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang knelt down, kowtowed, burned incense, and completed the entire procedure before being helped to their feet.

Luo Fengtang and Yang Ruoqing arrived behind the funeral couplets, where a brand-new vermilion coffin stood, its tung oil smell extremely strong.

At the four corners of the coffin, a tung oil lamp was lit in each of the four cardinal directions.

On either side of the coffin, there were several long benches, where a few gray-haired women sat sparsely.

Two of the women resembled Zhou Wang in their features, suggesting they might be relatives of Zhou Wang's father, such as aunts and cousins.