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

Ma Qiao'er cursed inwardly, "How shameless! The old man is dead, yet he still uses him."

Liu Yiyue also hurried over, "Second Uncle, you're here. Why didn't Second Aunt and Siyue come with you?"

The people around exchanged bewildered glances. Liu Dawang looked at her, then turned to Liu Daniu, "Daniu, when is the burial?"

Liu Dahu immediately replied, "Tomorrow morning."

"I'll come again tomorrow morning."

Liu Dawang didn't linger and turned to leave the Liu family's old house.

"Second brother, why are you leaving so soon? I still have something to say to you."

Liu Dahu scolded Liu Yiyue, "If you can't speak properly, then don't speak."

Given Liu Siyue's temperament, she definitely won't come. Madam Feng harbors a lot of resentment towards the family, so it's almost certain she won't come. The fact that she allowed her second son to come is already a sign of her generosity.

When Old Lady Liu learned that her second son had come, she felt both happy and angry. She was happy because he had come to pay his respects to his father, which meant that he still cared about his parents, but was just too proud to do so because of Feng's influence. She was angry because he had come to pay his respects to his father, but he hadn't come to see his own mother. Didn't he know that she was heartbroken and needed comfort?

Forget it, I won't argue with him. After the old man's 31st day memorial service, I'll go find the second brother and ask him to take me in and take care of me in my old age.

In August, Qiming found Liu Siyue and said, "Second Sister, Qiming and I want to go to the old house to pay our respects. Please ask for two days off."

"Okay, go ahead."

"Second sister, you won't blame me, will you?"

Why should I blame you? Whether you go or not is your own business.

"Then I'll go see my second uncle."

In August, Bai Qiming and Bai Qiming went to Liu Dawang's house. Liu Dawang had already returned from the old house. He didn't talk about the old house and just remained silent.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Qiming and I have taken two days off to go to the old house to pay our respects. Would you like to come with us?"

"Your second uncle has already gone there and just got back."

"Oh, Second Uncle, don't be sad. You can see Grandpa off on his journey. He should be happy."

"Then we're leaving."

In August, Bai Qiming and Bai Qiming went home first, and then went to the Liu family's old house with their parents.

Bai's father paid his respects at the coffin, while Bai's mother went to visit Granny Liu. After August and Bai Qiming finished offering incense, Huang Lanhua came out of the mourning hall. "August, come with me!"

In August, she didn't know what her mother was up to, but just from her tone, she knew it wasn't good. "Mother, what is it? Just say it here." She was afraid that if she went with her, her mother would beat her.

Just as Huang Lanhua was about to catch August, Liu Dahu interrupted her, "What day is it today? What are you making such a fuss about? All of you, behave yourselves. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it after Father's burial."

Liu Dahu just wanted his father to be buried as soon as possible and didn't want any further complications.

As darkness fell, everyone in the village went home. Liu Yiyue cooked a pot of porridge for everyone to fill their stomachs, as they would have to get up early the next day to take Grandpa's coffin up the mountain.

In the middle of the night, the people keeping vigil were tired and dozing off. Laifu and his younger siblings had been eyeing the offerings on the altar for a long time. He and his younger brother Laicai quietly went to the altar, grabbed some meat and steamed buns, and ran away.

The three siblings hid in their room and finished eating all the meat and steamed buns. Don't underestimate them just because they're small; they have quite a big appetite. It really proves the saying, "A half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home."

The three siblings ate until their bellies were round. Laifu instructed his younger brother and sister, "You two listen up, you absolutely cannot tell anyone about the food you stole, understand? If anyone tells anyone, you won't be included next time there's something good to do."

"Brother, we won't tell anyone."

What if our parents ask? Should we tell them?

"If Mother asks, then we should tell her, and she will protect us; but if Father asks, we shouldn't tell him, because he's a useless man now and can't protect us, and we still have to serve him."

I'm telling you, from now on at home, besides listening to Mom, you'll listen to your eldest brother, understand?

Lai Cai and his sister nodded repeatedly. "Big brother, we understand. We'll listen to Mother and Big Brother."

"Alright, you guys go to sleep. Big brother, tidy up this place."

Lai Cai took his younger sister to bed, and Lai Fu put the remaining chicken bones in a plate and then carefully placed the plate back on the offering table.

As soon as it was light, the villagers came to help. Liu Dawang and Bayue arrived as well. Everyone helped put Old Master Liu into the coffin. Liu Daniu took a pottery jar to collect the offerings on the table, only to find that the steamed buns were gone, and there were only chicken bones left on the plate. He angrily cursed, "Who? Who did this?"

Everyone in the courtyard looked over, wondering what had happened. One of the clansmen came over and asked, "Da Niu, what happened?"

"The offerings my second brother made for the land have been stolen and eaten!"

Everyone frowned upon hearing this. "How utterly despicable! Even worse, not only did they eat the meat, but they even offered the bones as a sacrifice! Isn't this an insult to my father? Do they want him to be a beggar in the afterlife?"

"Didn't you keep vigil last night?"

"We guarded it, but nothing happened."

Laifu said smugly, "Third Uncle, I know who ate it!"

"Speak quickly! Who is it?"

"Of course it was eaten by Great-Grandpa. Great-Grandpa had been lying down for so long and was starving. He was always greedy when he was alive and even stole some of the sacrificial meat from Third Uncle's family!"

My second uncle specially brought some delicious food for my great-grandfather this time, how could he not eat it right away?

Liu Daniu angrily cursed, "You're talking nonsense! Can a dead person eat? Your great-grandfather was so good to you, how dare you make fun of him?"

Tell me, did you steal the food?

Laifu burst into tears, "You've wronged me, boohoo, Mom..."

Liu Dahu shouted angrily, "What's all the noise about? Don't you even know when it's over? If it's gone, it's gone."

Third brother, put whatever's on the table in there. Don't miss the auspicious time for the burial.

Liu Dawang shook his head as he looked at the family. They were all crooked from top to bottom, and they all knew how to scheme.

Grandpa Liu's funeral procession was much smaller than that of Sixth Uncle. The coffin was carried to the cemetery, and the burial was hasty. Liu Dawang burned a few pieces of paper money in front of the grave, kowtowed, and then left.

"Second brother, wait a minute." Liu Dawang walked away without looking back.

August and Bai Qiming wanted to go with them, but Huang Lanhua stopped them, asking, "Where are you going?"

"Mother, aren't we going back now?"

"Well, I'll tell you when we get home. If you dare to run away, I'll skin you alive."

"Come here in January, watch her. She's trying to run away. See how I deal with you then."

August did want to find an opportunity to run away with Bai Qiming, but her mother threatened her with her eldest sister. Liu Yiyue held August's hand and said, "Little sister, your second aunt and your second sister went too far this time. Grandpa has passed away, and they are still so calculative. They say that when people die, their homes are destroyed. They are unwilling to come and send Grandpa off on his final journey."

And what about my second uncle? Look at her attitude! No matter what, he's still his own father. Where is his filial piety?

"Big sister, you should mind your own business. You're always worrying about nothing. Look at you, since you went back to the old house, have you lived like a human being?"

"Big sister, from now on, you're on your own in the old house. You've thrown yourself into a fire, and there's nothing I can do to help you."

"In August, I have a few words to say. My brother has been back for so long, why haven't you come to visit him? He injured his leg, you did all the physical labor, couldn't you at least contribute some money?"

"Big sister, if you have the money, you should pay. I can't fill that hole in the old house."

In August, she shook off her hand and walked straight ahead, with Liu Yiyue following closely behind, saying, "Wait for me."

The funeral procession returned to the Liu family's old house. Liu Dahu wanted to thank everyone, so they had a simple meal and then everyone dispersed.

Old Mrs. Liu sat alone in the house, feeling dejected. Liu Dahu and Huang Lanhua finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Guixiang was genuinely happy, as she would be in charge of the household from today onwards.