Qin Yu visited several households, but because Qiao Chengfu’s funeral was not a happy one[mfn]喜喪 – “happy funeral” – A funeral for someone who lived a long, fulfilling life and died of natural causes, often celebrated rather than mourned. Qiao Chengfu’s death was not considered such due to his violent end and poor character.[/mfn], most were unwilling to help. In the end, only the father and son from the Liu family, Zheng Kai, Lu Dongqing, and two other men agreed to dig the grave. The Wang butcher’s family couldn’t come due to their impending wedding with Chen Xuesheng.
It was easier to gather the women and fulang. Feng Jie alone had rounded up four or five people. They didn’t plan to make the funeral too elaborate. And with Granny Li who was well-versed in funeral rites guiding them, the number of people was sufficient.
Once everything was settled, they only needed to wait for Lu Dongqing to finish the wooden coffin. The body couldn’t be kept for long, or the smell would worsen. Qiao Ruifeng and Yu Ping had agreed that the burial would take place at noon the next day. The sooner it was done, the better for everyone.
Qin Yu returned home, drank a bowl of water, and noticed Qiao Suiman sitting listlessly nearby. He glanced at Qiao Ruifeng in confusion before being pulled into the kitchen, where Ruifeng recounted the events of the afternoon in a hushed voice. Qin Yu’s expression shifted from anger to surprise and then to amusement. “Last market day, I noticed that Lu-xiaozi was looking at him differently. Seems he really does have those intentions.”
“Only if Xiao Man is willing!” Qiao Ruifeng couldn’t quite describe his current mood. Though the matter was still uncertain, he felt both stifled and relieved. He had once worried about Suiman’s marriage prospects, but now that there was a hint of interest, he didn’t want his younger brother to leave home so soon.
“Of course. We’ll just keep an eye on things for now. Besides, there’s still a year of mourning[mfn]孝期 – “filial piety period” – The mourning period is the period of mourning for the deceased. It starts from the burial and lasts for 36 days at the least and 3 years at the most. (Baidu)[/mfn]. There’s no rush.”
The two didn’t stay inside for long before several burly men barged into the yard.
“Qiao Chengfu! Pay up, you bastard, get out here!” the leader shouted.
The debt collectors from the gambling den had arrived, even kicking over a stool in the yard. Qiao Ruifeng stepped forward and said, “He’s dead. I’ll get the money now.”
White funeral banners, bought by Qin Yu from the Zheng family, hung in the main hall, along with silver paper offerings[mfn]银纸 – joss paper burned as offerings to the deceased in the afterlife[/mfn] on the table. The debt collectors were taken aback. “Dead?”
“He got drunk and fell to his death yesterday. His body’s in the room.”
“Tch, what bad luck. I don’t care if he’s dead or alive. He owes us money! If you don’t pay up, I’ll tear this house apart!”
Qiao Ruifeng brought out the silver which are mostly copper coins strung together that they saved up over the years.
“Biao-ge, this…” The debt collector’s lackey was surprised by how readily they handed over the money. “It’s not fake, is it?”
The man called Biao-ge reached for the money, but Qiao Ruifeng avoided him. “The debt note.”
“Fine, money for the debt note. You’re pretty sharp, kid.” Perhaps because the debt collection had gone smoothly, Biao-ge’s earlier arrogance faded. He took out the debt note from his pocket and spread it on the table.
“We can’t read. We need someone to verify it. Wait a moment.” Seeing the debt note was the only way to confirm these weren’t impostors. After all, the whole village knew Qiao Chengfu had borrowed three taels from the gambling den and someone could’ve hired outsiders to pose as debt collectors.
Even with the debt note, they needed to confirm it was Qiao Chengfu’s. So while Qiao Ruifeng went to fetch the money, Qiao Suiman ran to the village chief’s house for help.
“Don’t try any tricks. If I don’t get the money in a quarter of an hour, you’ll regret it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Suiman returned with Yu Ping. Pressed for time and worried the debt collectors might resort to violence, Yu Ping had jogged over, both of them panting heavily.
Qin Yu brought water to soothe their throats. Once they had caught their breath, Yu Ping carefully examined the debt note under the watchful eyes of the two hulking lackeys. Under pressure, he scrutinized every word before exhaling in relief and handing it back to Biao-ge. He said to Qiao Ruifeng, “It’s genuine. The seal matches the gambling den’s. Sigh, go ahead and pay.”
“Alright. Thank you, Village Chief.” Only then did Qiao Ruifeng feel at ease handing over the money and retrieving the debt note.
Losing so much silver at once pained not only Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu but even Yu Ping. Qiao Suiman lowered his head and led Yu Ping to the main hall to rest.
It’s fine. Money can be earned again. It’s fine, he comforted himself. Among the payment was five mace of his own silver. Reluctant to part with it, the remaining five mace were paid in copper coins. Now, his money box was nearly empty, the jingling sound much quieter when shaken.
After seeing off the debt collectors, the three of them finally felt a weight lift from their hearts. The debt was cleared, the man who had tormented them since childhood was gone, and once the funeral was over tomorrow, their lives would truly begin anew.
——
The next day.
The women and fulang they invited arrived early in the morning. Some washed vegetables, while others chopped them. Steamed buns and coarse rice porridge were already being prepared. At noon, Qiao Ruifeng would fetch the coffin from the Lu family, and then they could dig the grave and bury it.
Everything was ready. Granny Li arrived, and the three Qiao family members changed into white mourning clothes and hats which were leftover from Li Hua’s funeral years ago. They had considered repurposing the fabric for winter clothing but never did, leaving it unused until now.
After this, they will have to sell it, Qiao Suiman thought. It was bad luck to keep it.
Qin Yu chatted with the fulang, and the conversation soon turned to Qiao Suiman’s fight the day before. Qin Yu lightly thumped his chest, lamenting, “How could anyone be so cruel? Xiao Man and his brother have relied on each other since they were children. Right after losing their father, someone dares to curse Ruifeng! Our poor Man-ge’r, usually so gentle, was driven to hit someone!”
“If I was there, I’d have knocked her teeth out!” Qin Yu fumed.
“I’ll hit her again next time. Every time I see her, I’ll hit her!” Qiao Suiman, who had been silent until now, spoke in a hard tone.
Even Feng Jie was stunned for a moment before letting out a light laugh. “Exactly, Man-ge’r. You can’t let yourself be bullied like before. We’re not afraid of them.”
“That’s right! Flaunting her measly charms all day. Shameless! And with such a vicious heart!”
Qiao Suiman lowered his head with a faint smile, but inwardly, he thought of shoving mud into Wang Ling’er’s mouth next time to vent his anger! Outwardly, he maintained his usual docile appearance. Only Qin Yu knew this little fox was already plotting something, and he couldn’t help but shake his head with a chuckle.
After a few more words, Qiao Ruifeng returned with the wooden coffin, accompanied by Lu Dongqing.
Qiao Suiman suddenly grew flustered. He hurried to the kitchen to fetch bowls of warm water for the two men. With so many people today, the fire had been kept burning steadily, ensuring no one had to drink cold water.
Lu Dongqing accepted the water from Qiao Suiman and drank it all in one go, feeling warmth spread from his body to his heart.
With the coffin now at home, Qiao Ruifeng asked everyone to step aside as he moved Qiao Chengfu’s body from the room into the coffin. The coffin was very thin. They only found two suitable logs the day before but it was sturdily nailed together and clearly made with care. Thirty wen wasn’t enough for this. Qiao Ruifeng pondered and decided to scrape together another thirty to fifty wen from his and Qin Yu’s savings.
Once the body was placed inside, it was time for the burial. The men they had arranged with the day before arrived one after another. The Qiao family had no close relatives left. Any remaining were beyond the fifth degree of mourning[mfn]五服 – literally translates to “five mourning clothes” and represents the different levels of mourning attire that a person would wear depending on their relationship to the deceased. Each level signifies a different degree of closeness to the deceased and dictates the appropriate mourning practices.[/mfn] and had long since distanced themselves. Now, only the three of them would kneel in mourning.
“Kneel,” Granny Li called in a drawn-out voice.
The three Qiao family members stood in the yard and knelt together toward the coffin.
“Rise.”
“Kneel again.”
They repeated this three times before standing straight.
“Seal the coffin.”
As the eldest son and the only male in the family, Qiao Ruifeng stepped forward, lifting the coffin lid with both hands and sliding it into place until it was fully sealed.
At that moment, Qiao Ruifeng and Qiao Suiman suddenly felt lighter, as if the burdens weighing on them for over a decade and the shadow that had loomed over them since childhood had finally dissipated.
Qiao Suiman sobbed quietly, not out of grief but hope. From now on, their lives would be theirs to control. No more fearing beatings upon returning home, no more hiding good food and drink. From this day forward, their lives were their own.
His quiet sobs gradually turned into open weeping; not for Qiao Chengfu, but for himself, for Qiao Ruifeng, and for Qin Yu. He clung to Qin Yu and cried until he was breathless, as if releasing years of pent-up suffering. Qin Yu, too, couldn’t hold back his tears.
Feng Jie and the other women and fulang also had wet eyes. They had always looked down on Qiao Chengfu, but these children were pitiable. It was harsh to say, but it was a good thing he was dead. Who knew how much longer he would have dragged them down otherwise?
Qiao Ruifeng’s eyes were red, but he had to hold himself together. He waited until Granny Li called, “Raise the coffin,” then lifted it with the other men and carried it to the back mountain.
Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu followed behind, gradually regaining their composure. Qiao Suiman felt a twinge of embarrassment. He cried in front of him again. But at least it hadn’t been too unseemly.
They reached the back mountain, where the graves of Xiahe Village lay. The burial spot had been chosen the day before. Qiao Suiman’s mother was also buried here, but Qiao Ruifeng didn’t place Qiao Chengfu beside her. He tormented her for half her life and in the next life, he hoped she’d never cross paths with him again.
The men began digging while the women and fulang stayed behind to prepare the funeral meal. The Qiao family had locked all their rooms, but with Feng Jie present, there will be no issues.
Once the grave was dug, Granny Li shouted, “Lower the coffin!” before murmuring indistinct words. Qiao Suiman couldn’t make them out but didn’t dwell on it, simply watching as they filled the grave.
The coffin was placed in the pit. His brother stood at the forefront, shoveling earth back in. The sound of Granny Li’s aged voice mixed with the scraping of shovels. Qiao Suiman’s gaze drifted to Lu Dongqing, who worked silently, pouring his strength into digging and filling. Of course, his father had also passed early. He must be grieving too.
Once the grave was filled, packed down, and a small mound raised, the tombstone was placed at its head. Only then was the burial complete.
“Kneel.”
“Bow.”
“Rise.”
“Kneel again.”
…
After three more bows, the three took out the prepared paper money and lit it with a fire starter they bought specially, scattering it before the grave along with the two debt notes, watching as they burned to ash.
The wind carried the smoke away.
Let it be, Qiao Suiman thought. From now on, dust returns to dust, and earth to earth.[mfn]”尘归尘，土归土” (chén guī chén, tǔ guī tǔ) translates to “dust returns to dust, earth returns to earth.” This expression is often used to convey the idea of the cyclical nature of life and death, emphasizing that all living beings ultimately return to the earth after their time has passed. It reflects a philosophical perspective that is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, particularly influenced by Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.[/mfn] In the next life, let there be no connection between them.
With everything settled, the group packed up and returned to the Qiao home, where the funeral meal awaited.
——
The dishes had been decided the day before with Feng Jie. There are four vegetarian dishes: spicy stir-fried bamboo shoots, cold wild greens, stir-fried loofah, and hairy gourd soup, along with scrambled eggs with Chinese toon, braised pork with long beans, spicy stewed loach, and fried eel. With steamed buns and coarse rice porridge, it made for a modest ten-dish spread.
They bought two jin of meat for twenty-five wen and eggs for another ten wen. The rest were homegrown or foraged. Though the portions weren’t large, the variety was enough to earn praise from the women and fulang preparing the meal. The Qiao family had handled this funeral well and it would reflect well on them.
Accustomed to kitchen work, the women and fulang had everything ready by the time the men returned. Qiao Suiman and Qin Yu washed their hands and helped serve. The food was divided between two tables: one for the men and one for the women and fulang. Exhausted from the day’s work, everyone ate quietly, focusing on the meal.
Afterward, each guest was given a bundle of mugwort tied with red string before they left.
After cleaning up the house, they cleaned up Qiao Chengfu’s room. They sold all the things in his room that could be sold. It didn’t take much effort, and the Qiao family had time to rest.
They ate a simple dinner of steamed buns, washed up thoroughly, and retired.
Lying in bed, Qiao Suiman gazed at the moonlight streaming through the window cracks, a faint smile touching his lips.
Tomorrow is a new beginning.
Good riddance