Chapter 1123: A Lifetime Free From Suffering
Ning Shu saw that there was a heavy air of death hovering around Mother Zhu. She knew that Mother Zhu would probably pass away within these next couple days, so she stopped selling tofu and stayed home to take care of her. This way she would also be able to record Mother Zhu’s time of death properly so that she could ask a feng shui master to find a good burial spot.
“Suniang, come over here.” Mother Zhu who had been terribly ill suddenly sat up on her own and beckoned Ning Shu with her hand.
Ning Shu saw that Mother Zhu’s facial color was very good. It was even better than before she had fallen sick. Ning Shu’s hair rose on end, but she walked over to ask, “Mother, what is it?”
Mother Zhu reached out to take Ning Shu’s hand and patted it. Ning Shu wanted to retrieve her hand, but Mother Zhu held it tightly. A sick person had this much strength?
“You’re a good woman, a good daughter-in-law. It’s Yanqiu’s fortune to have a wife like you. After I pass away, live well with Yanqiu and raise Siyuan well,” said Mother Zhu. “Yanqiu’s father and I will be able to rest in peace beneath the Yellow Springs knowing that you two are living well together.”
Ning Shu just said, “Mother, don’t say these things. It’s such bad luck. You’ll get better.”
Mother Zhu shook her head. “I dreamed of my husband last night. He’s come to get me. I know that my body won’t be able to hold out any longer. Promise me, live on properly with Yanqiu.”
Ning Shu agreed faintly. She wasn’t touched by Mother Zhu’s words. “Mother, don’t worry, I will live on properly.” Living on properly didn’t necessarily mean living with Zhu Yanqiu.
Mother Zhu didn’t hear Ning Shu’s unspoken words and nodded with satisfaction. She looked towards the door, her tone filled with longing and sorrow. “I wonder how Yanqiu is doing now?”
Zhu Yanqiu had left home at the age of eighteen to go to Shanghai to study. As of now, he was almost twenty-one. It was no wonder that Mother Zhu was so fixated in wanting to see Zhu Yanqiu.
Ning Shu helped Mother Zhu lie back down. Mother Zhu’s gaze was still fixed on the door. Ning Shu continued to watch over Mother Zhu without taking a step away except to carry Zhu Siyuan who had fallen asleep in her arms to the bed.
When she returned to Mother Zhu’s room, she saw that Mother Zhu had already fallen asleep. She called out softly but Mother Zhu didn’t react, so she placed her hand in front of Mother Zhu’s nose. She was no longer breathing.
She had died in the middle of the night. Ning Shu was pretty freaked out and hastily went to knock on her neighbors’ doors to ask for help. Her eyes were red.
When her neighbors heard that Mother Zhu had passed away, they all came to help because it would be difficult for a woman to handle a funeral alone.
With everyone’s help, Mother Zhu’s remains were moved to the main hall. Her body laid in the very center of the hall and Ning Shu started helping wash her body and dressing her in the burial clothes. This process took almost until dawn.
“Suniang, why hasn’t Zhu Yanqiu come back?” asked one of the female neighbors. “What are you guys going to do about keeping watch over her spirit?”
Ning Shu shook her head and hastily explained things for Zhu Yanqiu. “Yanqiu’s just too busy with his studies. Siyuan and I will watch over her spirit.”
The people inside the main hall traded looks. In the end, an elder said, “What kind of scholar is he? How can he not come back even when his parent has passed away?”
Ning Shu lowered her head without speaking.
So watching over the spirit fell to Ning Shu and the little beansprout Zhu Siyuan. They were dressed in plain white clothing as they knelt in front of the coffin and burned paper offerings.
Zhu Siyuan was confused. He didn’t understand what had happened.
Ning Shu spent an enormous sum of money to invite a feng shui master to find a good place for the grave. Then she invited a banquet chef to prepare food and drink for the friends that had come to offer their condolences.
In brief, Ning Shu singlehandedly handled this entire affair. She even invited suona players so that Mother Zhu could be buried with great fanfare.
Seeing off the spirit required a male child and the only male at home was Zhu Siyuan. However, he was too young to know what to do, so the feng shui master said for Ning Shu to carry the child as the child held the incense burner. There was a single incense stick in the burner. As long as the stick didn’t go out and the burner didn’t fall, it’d be fine.
All the necessary rituals were carried out, then Ning Shu carried Zhu Siyuan and walked at the very front of the funeral procession. She walked without ever turning back to the chosen grave location.
No issues arose in this process. Mother Zhu was buried smoothly. Ning Shu watch as soil gradually covered the coffin. Mother Zhu had never suffered in this lifetime. She had been the daughter of a wealthy family, then married Master Zhu who was a talented scholar. Even when they suffered a reversal of fortune, there was still Zhu Suniang who took care of her like she was her own mother.
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