Chapter 1030: Chapter 1007: Honor Amid Chaos 75
Xiao Yin cried boldly, while Xiao Fu cried delicately.
Her voice sounded softly and faintly, but it was still audible to everyone.
Moreover, when Xiao Fu began to cry, her face turned pale. Her eyes were very similar to Anningâs, both being a pair of phoenix eyes. When she cried, those phoenix eyes slightly reddened, making her look particularly pitiful.
"Oh, Old Madam, do you know what it means to be mistreated? You should open your eyes and see. Not only were you mistreated, but you almost ended up in a cheap coffin. Itâs such a sin; poor Old Master cried himself unconscious. Old Madam, youâre gone, but the living are suffering."
Xiao Hui followed behind Xiao Fu, taking care of her while also crying loudly: "Poor my parents suffered because of this, all because of those who thought it was okay to go looking for a coffin and burial clothes in the middle of the night. Old Madam, are you feeling uncomfortable? Your filial sons and worthy daughters-in-law didnât even change your clothes, planning for you to leave with those filthy clothes, and it was a distant nephew who changed your burial clothes. Look at what good it did to raise this son. Itâs better to have given birth to a roasted pork bun than him."
Each girlâs crying was staggered, crying with a sense of beauty, each with different crying tones.
Delicate, bold, sorrowful, angry, one low and one high, it sounded like listening to a tune.
Kneeling behind, Hui Family lowered her head and secretly laughed.
Mrs. Zhaoâs face went from blue to white. How could she alone compare to the strong battle power of those five?
Mrs. Zhao was furious and gave Xiao Hui a hard slap: "Are you courting death? Canât you speak? Canât you cry?"
"Oh, Old Madam, open your eyes and see. You just left, and someone is already bullying your most beloved granddaughter. You should get up and spit in her face."
Seeing Mrs. Zhao slap Xiao Hui, Xiao Yin immediately cried out again.
Mrs. Zhao nearly fainted from anger.
Hui Family couldnât hold back any longer, quietly getting up and leaving the mourning hall to find a place without people to have a good laugh.
After laughing, she went to find Anning.
Anning had just seen off the guests and was now hiding in a warm room, drinking tea and eating snacks.
Seeing Hui Family come in, she quickly greeted her: "Hurry up and come sit. The mourning hall is as cold as an ice cellar. You didnât get too cold, did you? Quickly warm yourself by the fire."
Hui Family sat down, and a maid gave her a blanket to cover her legs.
Hui Family smiled, holding a cup of hot tea and taking a couple of sips. Anning handed over some warm snacks: "Eat something to pad your stomach."
Hui Family took it and started munching.
After eating two pieces of snacks, Hui Family felt a bit more comfortable and smiled, saying: "Third Sister-in-law, your familyâs five girls are really clever. Oh, you donât know, I almost died laughing just now. Sister-in-lawâs face was almost unwatchable."
Anning poured Hui Family some more tea: "The kids are just messing around. You donât know how to manage them?"
Hui Family spread her hands: "I canât manage them. Each one is like a little spirit. How dare I? Besides you, no one can manage them."
Anning shook her head with a smile: "Forget it, the kids have been extremely tired these days. Let them cry as a release. Otherwise, keeping too many things bottled up inside could lead to illness."
"Isnât that the truth."
Hui Family, speaking of Mrs. Zhao, also looked disdainful.
"The eldest family has a cunning plan, donât they? They wonât even buy a good coffin. When it comes to organizing the funeral, they cry poor. Now that Third Brother has taken over the funeral, all affairs are managed by you, and all the money spent comes from you. Yet she has the nerve to think she deserves the gift money. Based on what?"
When it comes to Mrs. Zhao, Hui Family couldnât stop: "Which of these people coming to pay their respects came because of the eldest family? Who in the three Nan Yi Prefectures knows who they are? Arenât they all coming for you and Third Brother? In the future, when someone has an incident, wonât you and Third Brother have to return the favor? Oh, they take all the benefits, and you still have to fill their gaps, based on what? Who owes her anything?"
In the mourning hall, Mrs. Zhao pinched and hit Xiao Hui, and she dared not resist, her eyes continuously brimming with tears.
But Xiao Hui was not as clever as the five girls from Anningâs house and didnât dare to cry out loud like Xiao Yin and the others.
So, the more Mrs. Zhao acted this way, the louder Xiao Hui and the others cried, the more they pressured and ridiculed Mrs. Zhao.
Mrs. Zhao couldnât take it anymore; her eyes rolled back, and she pretended to faint.
The mourning hall was in chaos again.
Several young maids rushed over to report to Anning, who went to take a look: "Sister-in-law may have got chilled. Quickly move her inside to warm up for a while, and have someone prepare some ginger soup for her."
After Anning gave her instructions, she left, Mrs. Zhaoâs face flushed with anger.
Over the next two days, Anning let the children from home take turns coming over.
The mourning hall was so cold, who could endure staying there? Everyone loved their own children, after all, she wasnât the type to push her children to the limit for the sake of reputation.
Moreover, Old Madam hadnât shown much kindness to the children, and now they couldnât expect them to sincerely keep vigil for her.
On the surface, Old Madamâs funeral seemed grand, yet on the inside, it was still in chaos.
It was difficult to finally see Old Madam off. After watching Old Madam be buried and changing out of mourning clothes at the door, things started to stir at Old Masterâs place.
He made a scene at the door, insisting on going back with either Xiao Yuan or Xiao Jin, and refused to stay on West Street.
Old Master was truly frightened.
He also saw the cold and unfilial nature in Xiao Jueâs bones.
He feared ending up like Old Madam, with no one to care for him when he died.
Thinking of the bloody clothes Old Madam wore when she passed, Old Master was deeply fearful; Old Madam had a miserable time dying, undoubtedly shouted and cried, yet no one heard her.
The Eldest and his wife either heard and ignored her, the Second couple was too far away, and the Fifth was drunk. Despite having three sons by her side, she ended up like this. What could he expect in his situation?
Additionally, Old Master had another concern.
The Eldest couple still had some money in their hands, had some savings, enough to live on for a while.
But they had no job, couldnât earn any money, and were depleting their savings day by day, eventually risking bankruptcy. When that happened, Old Masterâs life would be even tougher.
But Xiao Yuan was different.
He was in a good position now, almost the entire Prefecture City listened to him.
Moreover, Xiao Yuan and Anning outwardly appeared indifferent, yet inside, they had warm hearts. Anyway, Old Master knew that as long as he went there, those two wouldnât ignore him.
On one hand, thereâs the uncertain fate with the Eldest, and on the other, assured comfort with the Third. Old Master, not being stupid, knew how to choose.
Old Master caused quite a ruckus, and Xiao Yuan couldnât just let him keep on like this.
Looking at Anning, he sighed, "Old Master, my place is always bustling with people coming and going; you wonât find any peace there. Itâs better if I arrange a small courtyard near me for you to live in, and Iâll send a few servants to take care of you. Youâll have peace and freedom, and in your own home, you can do whatever you like behind closed doors."
Xiao Yuan spoke to this extent, and if Old Master kept on, he would inevitably get annoyed.
Seeing reason, Old Master relented.
"That works as well. Quickly get someone to prepare it; I want to move today."
Xiao Yuan ordered the steward to quickly prepare the house and also sent a carriage for Old Masterâs move.
As Old Master was about to move, Xiao Jue was unhappy.
He kneeled on the ground, holding the Old Masterâs leg, crying sorrowfully.
"Old Master, if youâre dissatisfied with your son, just say so, but please donât do this. Your three sons are all here; itâs not right for a nephew to take care of you. If... if you leave, you disgrace our name. You canât leave."
Xiao Jue was reluctant to let Old Master leave.
As long as Old Master stayed on West Street, Xiao Yuan would have to take care of them.
Even if Xiao Yuan publicly claimed to be Old Masterâs nephew, everyone knew the truth. Xiao Yuan couldnât be heartless enough to leave Old Master uncared for in his deathbed; heâd have to ensure everyone was fed.
But once Old Master left, things would change.
Xiao Yuan being responsible for his parents and uncle was one thing, but there was no reason for him to support his brother.
With Old Master moving out, there was a risk that Xiao Yuan would soon render them homeless.