Chapter 58 Funeral Matters

  Grandfather passed away on August 12th at noon.

  Before this, he had been in a coma and left no last words.

  The father cried uncontrollably, and the people from the east came over to help with the funeral.

  Dou Zhao stood quietly on the corridor, listening to her father's crying, thinking of her grandmother.

  Three years later, grandma will go too.

  Can't she do something to make her grandmother live two more years?

  Grandma was suddenly fell down in the field when she went to the backyard to water the melon seedlings... Grandma's body had always been very good, no one thought...

  Wang Yingshu walked over and instructed Du Zhao in a commanding tone, "Shougu, there will be many people coming to mourn these next few days. Your sister doesn't understand things, Mother is relying on you. Help keep an eye on the stove."

  At her grandfather's funeral, relatives and friends, as well as neighbors from the village, all came to pay their respects. She thought that if she had acted in a more restrained manner during those days, it was because she was afraid of drawing attention to herself at the funeral and earning the praise of her elders, which would have made it even harder for her to control herself afterwards.

  Dong Zhao raised an eyebrow.

  "Mother?" She looked at Wang Yingshuang with a scrutinizing gaze, "Madam, are you confused? When did you change your surname to Zhao? Grandfather just passed away, and the mourning period hasn't even been set yet, someone is already coming to pay their respects. Madam, don't you know how to handle funeral affairs? If you really don't understand, then please ask Third Madam to help out! Grandfather was a jinshi, and the Duan family in North Zhili is also a respectable family. When the time comes, there will be many of Grandfather's old friends coming to bid their final farewell. If we make a fool of ourselves, the Duan family would truly lose face! As for the kitchen matter, if the housekeeper can't handle it, then just replace her!" She called out to Haitang, "Go and ask Gao Sheng to come over." Since Wang Yingshuang took charge, Grandfather didn't interfere with internal household matters, and Duan Zhao had been living in the East Mansion for many years. The person in charge of internal affairs wasn't someone who dared to offend her. Gao Sheng was Father's person, and in his past life memories, he only showed loyalty to Father alone. As long as Father didn't explicitly express otherwise, as Father's daughter, Gao Sheng would show the same respect to her as he did to Duan Ming.

  Wang Yingshu's face changed greatly, and she said in a low voice: "Shou Gu, I don't know how the ladies of the East Mansion spoke to you, but after all, you are a person from the West Mansion..."

  Dong Zhao interrupted her: "Madam, I think you should consider some things carefully. Your grandfather has just passed away, don't think that no one is in charge of you now, and do whatever you want?"

  Just then, Gao Sheng arrived.

  Dong Zhao interrupted the conversation, just as Wang Yingxue was about to start. Wang Yingxue hastily said: "I've been busy and confused these past few days, my words are a bit hasty, please don't mind, Shougu..."

  It's all because of Wang Yingxue's bad luck.

  Dou Zhaoyou was worried about his grandmother's affairs, and Wang Yingshuai provoked her by calling herself "mother" in front of him. He made up his mind to deal with Wang Yingshuai, regardless of what she said on the side, and spoke directly: "...At this time, if something ridiculous happens, the Western House will be ridiculed for a lifetime. You are familiar with family affairs, if there is no one who can take on important tasks, then have the banquets of the past few days packaged to outside restaurants and hotels. If such a person cannot be found in Zhending County, go find them in Zhending Prefecture. Others will not think that our family has no one, but will say that we are filial and sent our grandfather off to the mountain with great fanfare." He also said, "At this time, it is most taboo for family members to cause trouble. You should take care of things more, put them down first, and wait until Grandfather's affairs are settled before saying anything."

  She didn't know if there were any shops that specialized in doing red and white happy events for people, but when she was the Marquise's wife, Kyoto had many such shops, and several of them were quite large.

  Gao Sheng guessed that Wang Yingxue wanted to give Du Zhao a warning, but Du Zhao's proposal was too tempting.

  Don't say it's a must, even in Northern China, there's no family that would spend so much on an old man's funeral. The so-called posthumous honor is just the filial piety and ability of the descendants. If this matter is handled well, it will only benefit Seventh Master's future and reputation.

  He immediately said: "I'll go and take care of this right away." After finishing speaking, he turned around decisively without even giving Wang Yingshuang a glance.

  Dong Zhao was very satisfied with Ye's performance and said, "Let's put the high-ranking official's affairs aside for now." He asked Wang Yingshuai, "Is there anything else you're not sure about? Speak up now, and I'll work with the high-ranking officials to think of a solution. If something goes wrong in the middle of the funeral, when we have to receive guests every day, I'm afraid we'll be too busy to handle it."

  Gao Shengguo stood still, bowing his body and waiting for Wang Yingshuang to speak.

  Wang Yingshu was so angry that her temples were throbbing with pain, and her face turned red one moment and white the next.

  Dòu Zhāo just coldly smiled at her.

  She could only grit her teeth and say "nothing".

  "That's great! Just don't think of something else you haven't done in two days, madam." He turned around calmly and left.

  Gao Sheng naturally didn't continue staying here, and with a slight bow to Wang Yingshuai, he went off to find that restaurant which could provide boxed meals.

  Wang Yingshu grabbed Hu's hand and shouted "I'm so angry, I'm so angry".

  Hu Niangniang was worried about the maids in the Dou family.

  Because Qi Ye had not instructed to clean up the main house, there were still some things left by Qi Nai and Fourth Miss. The old master did not say a word, so Madame could not move in rashly. Moreover, the East House had been suppressing the West House all along, which made those maidservants less respectful to Madame. They had just managed to suppress those people, but would Fourth Miss's actions make them restless again?

  It would be great if Grandpa Seven could say something!

  She sighed inwardly and persuaded Wang Yingshuai: "Madam, the overall situation is more important."

  "I know." Wang Yingshu nodded and asked, "Who from my mother's family came to mourn?"

  When Dou Dang was unable to eat, she sent someone to inform her mother Wang Xushi, hoping that her natal family could send a capable person to offer condolences, which would also help her stand firm in the Dou family.

  Auntie Hu said in a low voice: "The old lady says, let Master and Madame come."

  Wang Yingshu furrowed her brow and said, "Isn't Second Aunt coming?"

  Only Second Sister-in-law Pang Yulou could understand her intention in this situation.

  Auntie Hu said: "Do you want me to take a message to the second wife?"

  Wang Yingshu said a word "go quickly", then saw an unfamiliar little servant looking around, and swiftly slipped into the room where Du Zhao was resting.

  She was moved in her heart. She pointed at the little fellow and whispered to Hu Niangniang: "Assign a clever person to keep an eye on that little fellow."

  The old nun responded and left.

  Zhao Liangbi entered the inner room and whispered: "Cui Niangniang already knows that Doudajie has passed away, Cui Niangniang will rush over soon."

  Dong Zhaoqi said: "Has word been sent to Aunt Cui on this side?"

  "There isn't," said Zhao Liangbi. "Aunt Cui said so. If you don't know, then you don't know, but once you do know, you have to come and burn incense..."

  "That's natural." Duan Zhao said. "But how to come, when to come is a matter of etiquette. She may not care about it, but in other people's eyes, it's not the same thing. You tell Cui thirteen to let him stop Cui aunt. When someone from the Duan family comes to pick up Cui aunt, he will accompany Cui aunt over. If no one from the Duan family comes to pick her up, then she won't come."

  "Chui Thirteen also said that." Zhao Liangbi was very worried, "It's a bit of a framework. When it's time to stop, you have to stop, otherwise people will look down on you and think that the Third Old Master has passed away, and Aunt Cui hurriedly ran back... But Aunt Cui said, whoever wants to say it can go and say it. It's not necessary to come."

  "You think of a way to stop him." Duan Zhao said with a smile. "Cui Thirteen will definitely find a way."

  Zhao Liangbi had no choice but to go and respond to Cui Thirteen.

  Everyone in the mansion knows that Wang Yingxue was framed by Duan Zhao and had an army taken away from him, and the person in charge of the kitchen might be finished off by Duan Zhao with one pot.

  For a time, the people of Xifu were in an uproar, and the maids and old ladies in front of Duan Zhao were even more cautious than they were in front of Wang Yuxue.

  Dong Zhao didn't care about these things. At noon, she went to the side room of He Shou Tang to serve the second lady and several elders for lunch.

  The next morning, Dou Shibo personally went to pick up his grandmother.

  Fourth Aunt pulled Grandma's hand and cried even more sorrowfully.

  Dong Zhao's expression was somewhat strange.

  In her previous life, Duan Xiao was already five years old when her grandfather passed away. Third Uncle brought them back from the countryside, and when Ding Yiniang saw her mother-in-law, although her eyes were red and swollen, she just exchanged a brief greeting with her before helping Wang Yingxue attend to the guests.

  She stopped her mother's first attempt at hanging herself, but things took a drastic turn afterwards.

  Dong Xiao doesn't know where he is.

  Grandfather has yet to see the birth of his first legitimate grandson who is always on his mind.

  Grandmother is still Aunt Cui's nanny.

  Ding's grandmother had relied on her stepmother Wang Yingxue in her previous life, and this life was no exception. Wang Yingxue, who had been promoted from concubine to legitimate wife, was busy with her own affairs and played a similar role in the matter of Du Zhao. With her father taking charge, what awaited her would not be anything good, so she could only seek sympathy and pity from her grandmother.

  From the last bit on, Duan Zhao felt this change was still quite delightful for her.

  But can she find a way to extend her grandmother's lifespan?

  Even if it's just a few months or years, let her spend more time with her grandmother.

  After paying respects to his grandfather, Du Zhao declined Auntie Ding's offer and arranged for his grandmother to stay in the guest room of the western Du residence.

  Grandma pulled her hand and said with some embarrassment, "I thought I came earlier, I could help you, now it seems that not dragging you down is good enough."

  Without the grandfather, there was only the step-grandmother. Wang Yingshuo had to treat her with the etiquette of a step-mother and couldn't do as she pleased. She could completely convince her step-grandmother to stay in Xidu, or even use her to suppress Wang Yingshuo.

  Ke Duo didn't want to drag his grandmother into this.

  Grandma never wanted to have anything to do with the Duan family her whole life. Now that she's in her later years, he hopes Grandma can live out her days as she wishes.

  "Why did you say that?" She twisted a towel to wipe her grandmother's face.

  "Like you waiting for the Duan family to come and pick me up. I just thought that your grandfather and I gave birth to your father, he passed away, I came to pay my respects... nothing else was considered."

  Dong Zhao smiled and said: "Then you definitely don't want to live in the Dong family either?"

  "This is not my place either," said Grandma with a smile. "I'm not used to living here."

  "After Grandfather's funeral, I'll send you back to Tianzhuang," said Du Zhao with a smile. "However, you don't have to stay at Tianzhuang all the time. If you miss me or Father, just let Cui Thirteen bring you over to stay for a few days."

  "That's good," Grandma said with a smile. "However, why don't you kids come stay at my place for a few days?"

  Dong Zhaoning gazed at her grandmother with a faint smile.

  Father still has to observe a three-year mourning period for his father. Will Grandmother be forever known as "Auntie Cui" because of this?

  She felt a little uneasy in her heart.

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  Sisters, it's a bit late today, I went to my uncle's house... If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) RQ