https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-36-The-Curse-of-the-Reincarnated/12834430/
Chapter 37: Grandma Cui
Chapter 37: Grandma Cui
"Almost all killed?"
"Most of the reincarnated are orphans?"
Hu Ma was taken aback by the last few words of the reincarnated. When he tried to ask more, she had already disconnected the connection.
But this sparked many thoughts in his mind. The first reincarnated he met had warned him about the importance of keeping his secrets. Now, the second reincarnated had revealed some of the issues among the reincarnated in this world, including the problems with their "family" here.
From their words, it seemed that this world was cruel, even brutal. What had become of the reincarnated in the wider world?
Especially when he thought about the worlds the woman had mentioned, and what the first reincarnated, known as Ergoutou, had told him. It seemed that most of the others had been directly reincarnated into this world, remembering their past lives almost immediately.
Even in such a situation, they could be mercilessly crushed to death by their own fathers with stone rollers?
This world could accept Grandma Huai helping children who died young to be reborn, but it couldn't accept those who remembered their past lives?
On the contrary, he, who seemed more like a soul snatcher, was accepted by Grandma Huai...
It appeared that the issues surrounding the reincarnated were far more complex than he had imagined.
Unfortunately, this mysterious reincarnated seemed to be emotionally touched and didn't want to talk more.
"Let's head back!"
The next morning, Second Uncle, looking heavy-hearted, spoke to Hu Ma.
He had also negotiated with the old shopkeeper and was surprised to find that these city folk, though pretentious, were actually quite reasonable. As a guide, he hadn't led them to what they were looking for, essentially failing to complete the job and even causing delays. Yet, the old shopkeeper still gave him three taels of silver as a reward.
This allowed them to end the trip early and help Hu Ma return Grandma Huai to Dayang Village.
"Returning to one's roots is a big deal. Grandma Huai was such a good person, helping so many people in her life. She should be buried in the old fire pit..."
Helping Hu Ma prepare Grandma Huai's body, wrapping her in layers of black cloth, Second Uncle's face was very solemn.
Hu Ma knew where Grandma Huai was heading, but Second Uncle didn't. He was clearly genuinely sad.
Grandma Huai's wishes were clear, and Hu Ma wouldn't object. He just thought about it silently in his heart.
The people in this world valued returning to one's roots, and Second Uncle believed that getting Grandma Huai into the old fire pit was a very important matter.
But from what Grandma Huai had said, the Hu family had come from outside and mentioned something about an "ancestral shrine." Could it be that the Hu family had something similar to the "old fire pit" elsewhere?
This background was far more complex than he had imagined.
However, for him now, thinking about these things was pointless. He needed to focus on healing himself first.
With that, Hu Ma and Second Uncle prepared Grandma Huai's body, thanked the city folk, and set off on their return journey.
Originally, Hu Ma planned to carry Grandma Huai himself, but Second Uncle was worried he wouldn't be able to handle it. He cut vines into ropes and carried her on his back, sighing to Hu Ma, "Your grandma just wants you to get well, start a family, and establish yourself. You must listen to her..."
"Now that the evil spirit sent by your family's enemy has been dealt with by your grandma, you don't need to keep the furnace sealed anymore..."
"Maybe, after we return, we can go to the blood ore mine and earn some silver. I can look for a nice girl and arrange a marriage for you?"
"..."
Hu Ma felt a bit helpless.
Despite being a sixty-year-old bachelor, Second Uncle seemed quite enthusiastic about these things...
On the way there, the forest seemed normal with many people. On the way back, with only two people, a body, and a ghost, the forest felt deep and eerie. Hu Ma, though heavy-hearted, occasionally felt a rustling in the forest, making him uneasy.
Deep in the forest, it seemed that many things were secretly watching them. Occasionally, when he turned his head, he would see a familiar tree stump quietly sitting behind a cluster of trees, as if a figure in a wide robe and sleeves was sitting on it, quietly watching him.
Already in a bad mood, this ghostly presence annoyed him. He angrily took out the mountain cleaver on his back.
In the past, he would have been afraid of the mysterious things in the deep mountains. But now, if anything dared to bother him, he would unleash the fire from his furnace and fight it.
"Don't panic..."
Second Uncle saw this and placed a hand on Hu Ma's shoulder, speaking softly, "Your grandma was a ghost walker."
"Ghost walkers not only help people but also help the spirits and monsters in the forest."
"Those things aren't here to harm you. They are here to see your grandma off on her journey."
”
“……”
Hu Ma, upon hearing this, sheepishly put away his mountain cleaver and took a few steps forward before he realized what he had done.
He turned around and slowly bowed towards the stump that was gradually disappearing.
The surrounding trees and grass rustled, and faint shadows appeared, bowing and clasping their hands as if in gratitude, responding to his gesture.
...
On this return journey, Hu Ma had seen or sensed more malevolent spirits and dark forces than ever since he arrived in this world. Yet, the journey was surprisingly smooth.
He and Second Uncle spent a day and a half traveling back to the Big Sheep Village.
The villagers were unaware of what had happened. The old chief, leading a donkey, had just returned from the fields with two large baskets of potatoes.
Seeing the two figures, one tall and one short, he was startled and quickened his pace:
“Why are you back so soon?”
“Didn’t I tell you to take good care of the honored guests from the city? Did you offend them and get chased away?”
“...”
“The honored guests were satisfied, and they paid me.”
Second Uncle looked at the old chief, his voice choking with emotion: “Brother, I found Grandma.”
“She... is gone.”
“...”
“Ah?”
The old chief, who had been annoyed a moment ago, was now shocked. He stared at the black-clothed figure behind Second Uncle.
After a long moment, his legs gave out, and he trembled as he stepped forward: “Poor Grandma...”
His anguished cry immediately spread throughout the village, and people nearby rushed over. Upon hearing that Grandma had passed away, they all wept and helped carry her back to Hu Ma’s home. They brought white cloth and hemp ropes to drape over Hu Ma.
Second Uncle instructed Hu Ma to stay in the main hall to keep vigil for Grandma and asked the old chief to set up a camp. Then, he left with a scythe and rope.
He was going to cut the yin wood needed for burning Grandma's body.
In the village, the dead were not buried in coffins unless there were special circumstances. For ordinary families, a specific type of wood was prepared, and the closest relatives had to carry it to the old fire pit themselves. Thus, the quality and quantity of the wood were crucial.
The better the wood, the more it reflected the family's status and the more dignified the funeral.
Hu Ma hadn’t expected that soon after Second Uncle left, the neighbors, hearing the news, also came over.
They usually avoided his family, not daring to speak to him or even approach Grandma. But now, they all rushed over to help, to mourn, and to bring dry wood. Just like Second Uncle’s mission, the most honorable funeral in the Big Sheep Village was one where the neighbors each contributed a piece of wood.
This showed respect.
“Grandma, I’m so sorry. I’ve come to apologize to you...”
To Hu Ma’s surprise, not only did the neighbors come, but Old Lady Cui and her family also arrived.
Hu Ma didn’t recognize the Cui family, but he saw Cui Scorpion in the crowd and understood. Old Lady Cui entered the main hall and wept uncontrollably, scolding her own grandchildren in front of everyone for their past misdeeds.
The old chief tried to calm her, and she stopped crying, sitting down under the tent to drink tea.
Cui’s eldest, a weathered man in his fifties, also brought his brothers to bow before Grandma:
“We were foolish back then, Grandma. Please don’t hold it against us. We’re here to see you off today.”
“...”
After crying, they got up and spoke with the villagers. Seeing the pile of hard wood at the altar, a man in his forties beside Cui’s eldest frowned: “What are you doing? You should be preparing the best coffin for Grandma!”
Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent, and everyone looked at Cui’s second son with shock.
“Cui’s second son, what are you saying?”
The old chief, hearing this, turned pale and rushed into the hall, shouting:
“Grandma worked hard for our village all her life. Shouldn’t she be honored in the old fire pit?”
“...”
Cui’s second son frowned and waved his hand, while Cui’s eldest quickly pulled the old chief aside, smiling: “Uncle, don’t get upset.”
“Let’s go outside and talk.”
“...”
The old chief, frowning, was escorted out of the hall by the Cui brothers. A few elders followed them.
Hu Ma didn’t say a word but watched everything with growing anger. He glanced at Little Hongtang, who was perched on the roof beam, signaling her to follow and listen to what was being said outside.
(End of Chapter)
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