Divorced by her husband's family and rejected by her own! She defiantly turned her life around

When the villagers saw Liu Dahu, they all assumed Liu Qingshan was dead. He was truly pitiful; both his sons had died, a parent outliving their children, his later years were bleak, and he wouldn't even have anyone to help him in his old age. "Dahu, please accept our condolences! Where are you going?"

"My father has passed away. I'm going to inform my second son of his death."

"Your father is dead?"

"Yes, my father is dead. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Oh, oh, oh, the old man is getting old..."

When Liu Dahu arrived at the end of the village, he pounded on the door, shouting, "Open the door, I'm looking for Liu Dawang."

Lei Wu opened the door. "Who are you? Why are you shouting like that!"

"I am Liu Dawang's elder brother, Liu Dahu. My father has died, and I have come to report the death. Please inform him."

"Wait!" Lei Wu slammed the door shut.

He jogged to the gate of Liu Dawang's courtyard. The gate was open, and he saw Madam Feng in the courtyard. He hurried over to Madam Feng and said, "Madam, there is a man outside who calls himself Liu Dahu. He says he is the master's elder brother. He has come to report the death and wants to see the master."

Did he say who died?

He said his father had died.

"Alright, I understand. You can go now. Tell him we understand."

Liu Dawang wasn't home; he'd gone to the estate. She immediately went to find Liu Siyue.

"April."

"Mother, you've come."

"Well, Liu Dahu said the old man died and came to deliver the news. Your second uncle isn't home. What should I do?"

"Mother, this matter should be decided by Second Uncle himself. We can't make the decision. I'll send someone to bring Second Uncle back right away."

Qingwu, arrange for someone to go to the estate to fetch your second uncle.

"What are your plans for April?"

"What does his death have to do with me? In my eyes, he's not even worth as much as a villager."

"Do you think the villagers will gossip if Mother doesn't go?"

"Mother, we've severed ties, what does it matter? You're just from the same village now. Mother, follow your heart and don't force yourself."

"Okay, Mother knows what to do."

Liu Dahu saw the door open, but didn't see Liu Dawang. He only heard Lei Wu say, "Madam says she understands. You can go back now!"

Where is your husband?

"The master is not home."

Liu Dahu was unwilling to give up after not seeing Liu Dawang. He suspected that Feng was behind it and he had to send his third son to come again.

A horse-drawn carriage drove out from the end of the village, narrowly missing Liu Dahu, startling him so much that he almost fell over.

Liu Dahu steadied himself. Could it be that Liu Dawang really wasn't home? He had to send someone to wait at the village entrance. When he returned home, he immediately called out to Liu Daniu. Liu Daniu came up to him and said, "Big brother, you're back! Did you see second brother?"

"I haven't seen anyone. I'm afraid that if Feng whispers in your ear, your second brother won't come. I just saw a carriage leaving from the end of the village. They're probably going to find the second brother. Go to the village entrance and wait there. Tell him about Father's death."

Go and invite a few neighbors over now to set up a simple mourning tent so people can come and pay their respects. Also, bring Father's coffin to the doorway.

Liu Daniu ran around doing errands, and soon more than a dozen neighbors arrived. Members of the Liu clan who knew about the situation also came to help. Everyone got busy, some setting up the mourning tent, others carrying the coffin.

Liu Dahu expressed his gratitude to everyone, saying, "Uncles and elders, my father's grave still needs to be dug up. I would appreciate your help in digging it up."

"Digging up the grave is no problem, but where do you want me to dig your father's grave?"

"I'll find a spot to dig near my grandfather's grave, but my leg is like this, so I can't go. I'll have to trouble you uncles and elders."

The villagers felt some sympathy for Liu Dahu at this moment; his father had died, and there was no one who could help him.

When the Liu clan members went to dig up the grave, Huang Lanhua asked, "Husband, should we notify my maternal family?"

"Need not."

When the Liu clan chief heard that Master Liu had died, he was quite surprised. That old fellow was most afraid of death, so how could he have died so quietly! Although I liked him, he was still a member of the same clan, and the dead should be respected. He had to go and see him.

Liu Dahu was overjoyed to see the clan chief. "Clan chief, my father is gone..."

The clan chief glanced at the mourning hall and thought it was far too perfunctory, but said nothing, only asking, "How was your father's grave prepared?"

"Chief, I have asked the clansmen to dig a grave near my grandfather's grave."

"Okay, that's all arranged."

"Chieftain, it's hot now, so I plan to bury my father tomorrow."

"You are the eldest son in the family, so you should make the decisions."

Where's Da Niu?

"I told him to wait for the second son at the village entrance. No matter how big the grudges were in the past, they should all be wiped clean, and it's time to send my father off on his way."

"Well, whatever happens, don't cause any trouble."

Everyone in the village knew that Old Master Liu had passed away. The clan chief went to pay his respects, and the villagers also went to offer their condolences and help.

Liu Daniu stood at the village entrance, pacing anxiously back and forth, glancing into the distance every now and then. Before long, he saw a horse-drawn carriage approaching the village entrance and waved his arm from afar to stop it.

"Is that my second brother sitting in the car?"

Liu Dawang lifted the carriage curtain and saw Liu Daniu standing in front of the carriage. "Daniu, what are you doing here? It's dangerous!"

"Second brother, Father has passed away. Go and see him, and bid him farewell."

"I understand, you can go back now?"

"Second brother, aren't you coming with me now?"

"No, I need to go home first."

"Second brother, you must come! Father is dead, so don't hold it against him."

Liu Dawang didn't say anything, and had someone drive the carriage away.

Liu Daniu returned to the old house. "Big brother, I saw second brother. He said he wanted to go home first."

Did he say whether he was coming or not?

"I told him he absolutely had to come, but my second brother didn't say anything."

"Um."

The two brothers greeted the villagers who came to pay their respects, while the dutiful sons and grandsons knelt to the side to keep vigil.

Bai's mother went to the end of the village and found August. "August, your grandfather has passed away. You and Qiming should ask for leave and go back to see him."

"Mother, I know. I'll go talk to my second sister about it in a bit."

"In August, you're different from your second sister. Your second sister can choose not to go, but you must go. You can't let anyone say anything bad about you, understand?"

"Um."

"Alright, Mother will head back now."

When Liu Dawang returned home, he asked, "Yuzhen, do you think I should go?"

"Go if you want, I won't stop you, but I won't go."

"I want to see him off; after all, he gave birth to me."

"Go if you want to. I've already prepared offerings for you." Madam Feng knew he would go; she knew her husband well enough.

Liu Dawang held Feng's hand, "Yuzhen, thank you!"

"Go."

Granny Xu brought out a basket. "Master, the offerings are all here."

Carrying a basket, Liu Dawang walked heavily toward the old Liu family house. For so many years, he had not been to the place where he grew up. Thinking of this, his eyes reddened.

The villagers looked at Liu Dawang; after all, he was their father, so how could they not go to see him off on his final journey?

When Liu Dawang arrived at the altar, Liu Daniu quickly said, "Second Brother, you've come."

Liu Dahu also said, "Second brother, you've arrived."

Liu Dawang ignored them, opened the cloth covering the basket, took out a white candle, lit it, and placed it on the offering table. On the offering table were a few black steamed buns and a bowl of water.

He laid out everything in the basket: a chicken, a plate of stir-fried meat slices, several steamed buns, and a jar of wine.

He took out three incense sticks, lit them on the candle, and inserted them into the incense ash box, one end touching the bottom. Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't make a sound. Those silent tears seemed to be telling him about the grievances, heartache, and hardships he had suffered over the years, and also seemed to be accusing his father of injustice.

Liu Daniu helped Liu Dawang up, "Second brother, get up."

"Second brother, get up."

"Father was overjoyed to see you here. His wish before he died was that we brothers could live in harmony, help each other, and make a good life for the Liu family."