"Li Zapo, are you really mentally ill? How can you bring outsiders into your home at this time?"
"Li Zapo, let me tell you, the old man pays most attention to his own image. Don't mess around and smear him!"
"The second brother is right. It's a small thing to influence the old man's funeral, but it's a big thing to ruin the good image of our Li family in Shancheng for generations. Are you doing the right thing to honor our ancestors? By doing this, you can make people happy."
Is the old man smiling?"
"Everyone, please go back. We will handle our family's affairs ourselves."
"We don't have anything to do. My father has just passed away. My family is in a sad mood and has no energy to entertain you. Please forgive me."
"Go back, go back!"
The old man's two sons blocked the door and prevented those people brought by Li Li from entering the room.
"Why are you two so excited? Are you worried that the leaders will come to pay homage to my father if you don't have any secrets?"
Li Li pushed her two brothers aside and invited those people into the house.
"Li Zapo, don't pretend to be in front of outsiders. Don't you want to divide the family property?"
"Li Zapo, let me tell you, you don't want even a cent of the family property!"
The old man's two sons did not restrain themselves at all when facing so many outsiders, and warned Li Li aggressively.
"Which of you is Li Zhong and who is Li Cheng?"
asked a woman who looked to be in her fifties.
"My name is Li Zhong, who are you? What's wrong? Do you want to raise an army to investigate?"
"Li Zapo, it's useless for you to call so many accomplices. We know that you have some connections in Yancheng, but we are cultural people in big cities, and your wild ways in small counties cannot scare us!"
Brothers Li Zhong and Li Cheng didn't take that woman seriously at all.
"Hey, people from big cities? Since you look down on people from our small counties, why are you so shameless here? Why don't you go back to your big cities?"
A burly man with a full beard walked up to Li Zhong and Li Cheng.
"You, what do you want to do?!"
"I'm warning you, this is a society governed by law. Don't mess around. The police are here. Believe it or not, I will call the police immediately!"
Li Zhong took a few steps back. Li Cheng, who was more arrogant than Li Zhong, confronted the bearded man.
"Da Mao, go ahead and listen to Director Liu's arrangements first."
Young policeman talking.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, I am Liu Juhua from the neighborhood committee of your old house. You first set up a mourning hall for Mr. Li, and then we can sit down and talk."
The woman in her fifties turned out to be the director of the neighborhood committee.
"We will naturally set up the mourning hall. You don't need to say anything. If you hadn't come in, the three pillars of incense would have been lit long ago."
"Let's talk about it? What's there to talk about? Our family doesn't need you to come and cause trouble!"
Li Zhong and Li Cheng responded to Director Liu angrily, but they still went over and carried the old man to the living room outside.
According to the old custom in Yancheng, when a deceased person is moved, the children of the deceased must hold the head and hold the feet. If there are several sons in the family, the eldest son will hold the head, the younger son will hold the feet, and the other sons will stretch the waist. If there is only one son, then the son will hold the waist.
He and his grandson hold their heads and hold their feet respectively. If there is only one daughter, then the daughter and son-in-law hold their heads and hold their feet.
Li Li and several "talents" she invited had already arranged the mourning hall, and were waiting for Li Zhong and Li Cheng to carry their old father out.
"Caijiao" is the name given to people who specialize in corpse embalming in Yancheng. This meaning can also be understood literally. Caijiao, lumber feet, coffin feet.
"Can't see the light!"
When Tang Jin saw Li Zhong, Li Cheng did not cover the old man's face when he carried the old man to the living room. He quickly took out a brand new white towel from the shaving box and covered the old man's face.
According to the old customs in Shancheng, when someone in the family dies, he or she must be allowed to enter the main hall first in the living room, stay there for two nights for relatives and friends to pay their respects, and then the funeral will be held at an auspicious time on the third day.
Although most people in the city now hold funerals in funeral parlors, the deceased must be allowed to pass through the nave before being sent to the funeral parlor.
"Boss Li, please burn incense."
A servant handed three sticks of incense to Li Li.
"Do you know the rules if you are so talented? How can Xiang have a daughter first? Besides, she is an illegitimate daughter!"
Li Cheng came over, pushed Li Li away, and snatched three pillars of fragrance from Cai Jiao.
"Second brother, don't you understand the rules too? The eldest son should be the one to give the first incense!"
Li Zhong snatched the three pillars of incense from Li Cheng's hand, lit them, and bowed three times to the old man's body.
"You three children, come here after offering incense. Let's talk first."
Director Liu Juhua of the neighborhood committee sat in a corner of the living room and greeted Li Zhong, Li Cheng and Li Li.
"Let's talk about it? Are you finished? I said that our family's affairs do not require outsiders to get involved!"
Li Cheng looked angry.
"My brother is right. We will comply with my father's last wish and the funeral will be simple and there will be no banquet. You should leave quickly!"
Li Cheng's attitude is slightly better.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, let me tell you clearly that we were entrusted by Mr. Li during his lifetime to assist you in handling his funeral affairs."
"Our police station received a call from Ms. Li Li and came to handle the family dispute."
Director Liu of the neighborhood committee and the young policeman said one after another.
"Who cares about your banquet? If Boss Li hadn't greeted you in the middle of the night, who would have cared about it?"
"It's just that, when it rains so heavily and you come here, you don't even have a nice word to say and forget it, why are you showing off like a big city person?"
"We have been working together for so many years, and this is the first time we have seen sons like you!"
"Let's go home and go to bed!"
Several talented people expressed their dissatisfaction.
"Masters, thank you for your hard work. Let's deal with some internal family matters first. You follow the rules and take care of my dad's funeral arrangements."
Li Li took out a few packs of cigarettes from her bag and gave them to Cai Jie.
"Boss Li still has a point."
"Boss Li, don't worry, we will send Mr. Li to his grave in a dignified manner."
The servants took the cigarettes and went about their business.
"Bah, you little bitch, you have a way of winning people's hearts!"
Li Cheng spit on the ground.
"This gentleman from a big city, please pay attention to your language and behavior, and don't insult Ms. Li Li at will!"
A middle-aged man in a neat suit reminded Li Cheng.
"Who are you? Why did you come to our house to pretend to be a clove of garlic? You can wear a tattered suit on this hot day without fear of getting prickly heat. People in small counties are just hypocritical!"
Li Cheng was angry and didn't take the middle-aged man's words seriously at all.
"Mr. Li Cheng, I am Ms. Li Li's legal advisor. Please pay attention to your wording!"
The middle-aged man said neither humble nor overbearing.
"Oh, you hired a lawyer? Okay, I guess you have a chance!"
Li Cheng gritted his teeth and almost spit out another mouthful of phlegm. He looked at Director Liu of the neighborhood committee, the young policeman from the police station and the middle-aged lawyer who were all sitting upright, but he still swallowed it.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, do you understand the meaning of your names?"
Director Liu spoke.
"You don't have to worry about what our names mean, do you? Simply put, what do you want to do?"
Li Zhong was a little impatient.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, Mr. Li hopes that you will be loyal and honest throughout your life, with a selfless heart and a broad heart. Alas, how did you become like this?"
Director Liu shook his head and sighed.
"You want us to be honest and honest? Do you want to remain silent and let others bully you?"
"You have a selfless heart and a broad mind? Do you want to give up all your family property to this illegitimate daughter?"
Li Zhong and Li Cheng asked Director Liu angrily.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, Mr. Li entrusted me with his entrustment during his lifetime. A hundred years later, he hoped that I could come and help him with his funeral affairs. He said that as long as he was rolled up in a mat and sent to the funeral parlor for cremation, his ashes could be placed in any big tree.
Just bury it next time. I thought he was joking with me at the time, but I almost didn’t expect it today..."
"Don't you advocate keeping funerals simple? I think my father's idea is completely in line with your requirements."
"The old man is quite creative. I also think this is very meaningful. Brother, we will respect the old man's last wish. When dawn, you can take the old man directly to the funeral parlor for cremation. I will go to the nearby mountain to find a big tree where the ashes can be buried.
"
Li Zhong and Li Cheng didn't wait for Director Liu to finish what he said, and they decided to do that.
"Li Zhong, Li Cheng, can you say this?"
The young policeman became angry, slapped the table and stood up.
"What table are you slapping? Let me tell you, we have not broken any laws and you have nothing to do with us!"
"Yes, our family's private affairs are not under your police's control, so please leave."
Li Cheng confronted the young policeman, and Li Zhong made a gesture of seeing off his guests.
"Big brothers, please calm down. I heard everything Mr. Li said about the distribution of family property when he left. You don't have to worry."