In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 898 - 903: Joyful Mourning

Chapter 898: Chapter 903: Joyful Mourning

The person who arrived was the eldest grandson from the main branch of the Qin Family, dressed in mourning clothes, kneeling outside the Qin Mansion to announce the death.

"The old matriarch went to call him this morning and saw that he didn’t stir, thinking he was sleeping soundly. It wasn’t until there was no movement from inside even by noon that suspicion arose. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the old Clan Leader had passed away!"

With the old Clan Leader gone, as a member of the Qin Clan, naturally the whole clan had to gather together.

Su Pan’er hurried alongside everyone toward the ancestral hall.

In front of the ancestral hall, a mourning hall had been set up, with a large character "Offering" hanging above. On both sides knelt virtuous sons and grandsons, their wails shaking the heavens.

The one presiding over the funeral affairs of the old Clan Leader was the eldest among the four Clan elders, who was at that moment sitting in front of the altar, chanting under his breath.

Su Pan’er walked into the mourning hall with the crowd to pay her respects, and after bowing three times, she did not retreat but instead stepped forward to examine the old Clan Leader’s remains.

The old Clan Leader had indeed departed, his spirit lingering in the air around. His face carried a peaceful expression, his lips even curved in a slight smile.

Even so, it made Su Pan’er’s heart ache intolerably.

She thought of the help the old Clan Leader had given her when she had just arrived, as well as the meaningful words he had spoken to her yesterday, and the responsibilities he had entrusted to her.

The Third Clan Elder walked over to Su Pan’er’s side, "Qin’s Third Daughter-in-Law, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Right now, with you carrying a child, you must take good care of yourself."

Su Pan’er sobbed endlessly.

"When I left last night, the old Clan Leader was fine. How could he just pass away all of a sudden?"

"That’s what we should be asking you!"

Kneeling at the front, several uncles of the Qin clan named Qin Da abruptly stood up: "The old Clan Leader was fine before, though his health was poor, he had been holding on. But after drinking the prescription you brewed last evening, he went to sleep and never woke up. Why did he suddenly depart after that? Explain yourself!"

"What do you mean by that?"

Su Pan’er was taken aback, "The old Clan Leader’s body is not yet cold, and you couldn’t wait to jump out and accuse someone. Could it be that you’re looking to pin the blame on someone else?"

"You, you’re lying!"

Qin Da, his beard bristling with anger, turned and pleaded with the Clan elders: "Clan elders, now that the old Clan Leader has passed away, you must render justice for him! The old Clan Leader would not pick an early or late time to leave, it just happens after drinking the prescription she brewed. Please, Clan elders, discern the truth!"

"Enough!"

The Third Clan Elder scolded sternly, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws that no one can escape. You too have eyes to see that the old Clan Leader departed with a peaceful expression, nothing like someone who had been harmed. Out of consideration for your grief and confusion, let’s not speak further on this matter. Eldest Daughter-in-Law, take him away to rest!"

With that, he gestured toward a few strong men standing beside him, who quickly stepped forward to half-drag, half-escort Qin Da away.

Seeing the commotion among the crowd getting fierce, the eldest Clan Elder finally spoke up.

"The old Clan Leader left us with a smile. He was a man of great virtue and highly esteemed, blessed with both fortune and longevity. Right now, the Qin Clan is flourishing, and the old Clan Leader has lived a long life, blessed with full fortune, longevity, and a complete life. This is a happy funeral. Nobody should be crying; we must smile! We need to give the old Clan Leader a lively send-off!"

No sooner had the words of the eldest Clan Elder fallen than various discussions echoed around, all about the customs and rules concerning happy funerals. It was quickly decided that this funeral would be held as a happy funeral, with a seven-day banquet arranged and actors from the troupe and percussion musicians invited to really liven things up.

Once the decision was made, everyone began to make their preparations.

Seeing that the resentment among the people had finally subsided, the Third Clan Elder glanced at the eldest Clan Elder and gave Su Pan’er a meaningful look.

Su Pan’er followed him and stood at a corner of the ancestral hall.

"You shouldn’t take Qin Da’s words to heart."

Before Su Pan’er could speak, the Third Clan Elder explained the situation: "Last night, before taking his medicine, the Clan Leader said a few words. It was about Qin’s third kid, and afterwards, there was a bit of an argument with Qin Da. As you know, Qin Da was the chosen successor for the next Clan Leader. The old man hadn’t expected the Clan Leader to pass away so soon." He implied more with his words.

No wonder then!

Su Pan’er turned her head and happened to see that Qin Da bouncing out of the house again. She sneered coldly and spoke out loud.

"Don’t worry, Qin Yi won’t return to Luoyan Village, nor will he become the Clan Leader. He’s busy with other things!"

Qin Da’s face looked especially ugly as he turned and left.

The Third Clan Elder obviously saw this scene too and hurriedly consoled Su Pan’er: "The deceased should be respected foremost. Everyone feels terrible about this incident; don’t take it to heart. We still have to keep vigil later. You are with child, so take extra care not to exhaust yourself."

"Alright, I will go change my clothes and come back."

Su Pan’er stared at the receding figure of Qin Da, barely suppressing the unease in her heart, and walked towards the opposite end.

Since the Clan elder’s death was only discovered at noon, the hemp clothes are still being urgently made. Furthermore, many paper effigies, paper horses, and incense paper were needed; everyone was exceedingly busy, with nearly all members of the Qin Clan, young and old, bustling about.

Because Su Pan’er was pregnant, the Fourth Clan Elder, who was in charge of arranging trivial matters, arranged for her to fold paper horses.

While these mourning goods are readily available outside, the Qin clan communities still follow tradition and make everything themselves.

Fortunately, the materials for the Clan elder’s funeral were prepared in advance, but even so, there was still no end to the busy tasks everyone had.

A big pot was set up outside as well; it was for preparing a big pot of rice.

Little Yan Yan, curious about everything and confined by Su Pan’er’s side, held a paper horse skeleton in her hands, pasting paper over it, but her eyes were fixed on the few women preparing the big pot of rice—the paper horse’s skeleton had been made by an old man in the village.

Not long after those people left, suona musicians were invited, and the sound of joyous music started to blare out. No fewer than four groups of musicians specially called for the funeral were engaged.

The actors from the troupe would arrive the next day, performing three shows in the morning, two in the afternoon, and two in the evening, constantly singing different operas on a temporarily built stage.

The latest to arrive was the specially invited Teacher.

This Taoist priest arrived with several of his apprentices, and as they reached, Su Pan’er and Little Yan Yan together with other womenfolk were tucked away on the side, having a meal.

Upon looking up, she suddenly saw him and let out a slight gasp.

"What’s wrong, Third brother’s wife? Is there something amiss?"

Just then, Qin Yueshi, who had heard Su Pan’er’s sound, came over and asked.

"Nothing, it’s just that the Taoist priest looks familiar."

And isn’t he, though!

Su Pan’er furrowed her brows; that Taoist priest was none other than Taoist Priest Liao Chen, whom she had once seen at the dilapidated Taoist temple!

Considering that the dilapidated Taoist temple was separated from this place by interposing mountains, a thousand miles away, even if clan members had gone to invite him, it wouldn’t be possible to reach that temple so quickly. Yet there he was, unexpectedly appearing here with a group of apprentices.

Could it mean...

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