Chapter 38: Hu Ma Has Grown Up
Chapter 38: Hu Ma Has Grown Up
"Old Clan Uncle, we can't bury Grandma in the Old Fire Pit..."
The four Cui brothers had persuaded the old clan leader to step outside, finding a secluded spot. Several of the village's elders also gathered around.
Facing the furious clan leader, the eldest Cui brother furrowed his brow and spoke, "The Hus aren't originally from our village. They've been here for twenty years, but they haven't intermarried with anyone here. Old Hu Shan even married someone from outside and then ran away."
"We know Grandma was a good person, but do you think it's appropriate to bury her in the Old Fire Pit?"
"For the past hundred years, everyone buried in the Old Fire Pit has been related or married into the village. Why should she be any different?"
"..."
The old clan leader was momentarily taken aback, but then his anger flared even more. "The Hu family's situation is indeed special, but how can you say such nonsense? In the past twenty years, has Grandma not helped our village countless times?"
"When your grandmother had a stroke, wasn't it Grandma who helped treat her?"
"And when your little grandson was crying all night, wasn't it Grandma who cured him?"
"During the famine, when your family couldn't resist eating the black ginseng, who saved everyone's lives?"
"Grandma helped you drive away the evil spirits, and it was Old Hu Shan who left the village to bring back food from the city!"
"..."
Everyone's faces turned red with shame, and they all lowered their heads.
But the eldest Cui brother lowered his voice and tugged at the old clan leader's sleeve. "Old Clan Uncle, please keep your voice down."
"We know what you're saying, but have you considered that Grandma was too powerful even when she was alive? What if she starts bullying our ancestors in the Old Fire Pit?"
"Our ancestors didn't accept Little Hu Ma, and Grandma was surely displeased. If she joins the Old Fire Pit with her abilities, what if she doesn't get along with our ancestors?"
"..."
The old clan leader hesitated, surprisingly uncertain.
He had never heard such reasoning from others, but it seemed to make sense.
He opened his mouth, intending to scold them, but instead asked, "What should we do?"
"We can't forget Grandma's kindness."
Another person suggested, "So, let's prepare a good coffin for her and bury her outside the village. We can still visit her grave during the holidays and burn incense for her."
"But burying her in the Old Fire Pit is absolutely out of the question..."
"..."
"What kind of people have been buried outside the village in recent years?"
The old clan leader's face was filled with worry, and he shook his head. "That's not right. Grandma's grandson won't agree."
The most astute of the Cui brothers, the third, sneered, "What does that brat Hu Ma know?"
"He was always a troublemaker, and everyone just tolerated him for Grandma's sake. Now that Grandma is gone..."
"If he doesn't behave, kick him out of the village!"
"..."
"..."
Inside the house, Hu Ma, who was keeping vigil by Grandma's side, had heard the whispers relayed by Little Hongtang. Anger surged within him.
Having lived through a previous life, how could he miss the underlying meaning?
Those people, especially the Cuis, weren't concerned about anything else. They were worried that Grandma, if buried in the Old Fire Pit, might affect the protection it provided.
Having been here for some time, he understood the common beliefs of this world. Even in a small village, the ancestors were buried together, and the four major families often competed and argued in secret.
Many believed that the Old Fire Pit had a spirit. It not only protected the living from evil and illness but also blessed families with stability and prosperity. The family with more ancestors buried in the Old Fire Pit received more blessings.
The Cuis, with their five brothers and numerous relatives, were one of the largest families in the village. But the Zhou family, to which the old clan leader belonged, had lived in the village longer and had more ancestors buried there, which is why the clan leader was from the Zhou family.
Logically, burying Grandma, the only Hu in the village, shouldn't matter much. It would only benefit Hu Ma.
But the Cuis were worried that Grandma's powerful abilities would overshadow their ancestors, fearing she might take away the village's blessings for Hu Ma.
Hu Ma had no interest in these matters and knew Grandma wasn't truly here, but he was following her instructions.
Despite this, hearing such calculations from these people made his anger rise.
"Kick him out of the village?"
As Hu Ma was pondering his response, a loud and angry voice came from outside, "I'd like to see who dares!"
Everyone in the hall looked up to see Second Uncle.
He had just returned with a bundle of wood for the cremation. Although he was no longer young, his hearing and eyesight were still sharp. Hearing the third Cui brother's loud voice from a distance, he was already furious.
Without even dismounting, he bellowed, "Your Tsui family has become so arrogant! Come on, let me see what your Tsui brothers are made of."
"Huh?"
The moment they saw Second Uncle, the group immediately fell into confusion.
Especially the Tsui brothers, who usually relied on their large family to act arrogantly. Their family always stood out in the village, and even Tsui Hsieh, among the children, could command a crowd. If it were anyone else, they would have already been slapped.
But seeing Second Uncle, they felt uneasy. This elderly man not only held a high position in the family but was also a renowned martial artist, the most famous in the surrounding villages.
The five Tsui brothers combined still didn't stand a chance against Second Uncle.
Moreover, Second Uncle had spent his entire life dealing with the flesh of the evil deity and knew the leaders of the Blood Food Gang. He was the type no one in the village dared to provoke.
The Tsui family fell silent, too afraid to respond, while Second Uncle strode forward and shouted at the old patriarch:
"Brother, have you lost your mind, letting them spout such nonsense?"
"Is it only because of our ancestors' protection that we can survive in the Old Silver Mountains?"
"Can we just worship our ancestors and ignore our own virtues?"
"..."
As he spoke, he scanned the crowd with a bright, fiery gaze: "How many families in our Taiyang Village have been blessed by Grandma? Even in the surrounding villages, many have benefited from her kindness."
"If you do such ungrateful things, how will other villages view us?"
"Will we still have the face to stand in the Old Silver Mountains? Will we still have the face to leave the village?"
"..."
These words struck a chord with the old patriarch, who had been somewhat swayed earlier. He glanced at the Tsui brothers, shook his head, and sighed, "What you say is true. No matter what, Grandma must be welcomed into our old hearth. This has nothing to do with whether we are related or not. The Hu family is part of our Taiyang Village!"
The other elders nodded in agreement.
The Tsui brothers, clearly unconvinced, dared not speak up further when they saw Second Uncle's anger.
They quietly spoke to the Tsui family matriarch, who was then led away with a grim face.
The funeral continued as if the whispered discussions had never happened. By evening, Second Uncle and the young people of the village were all there to keep vigil with Hu Ma for Grandma.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, someone rushed in to say, "The people from Mang Village, Lizi Village, and Old Liu's family from Bali Town have heard about Grandma's passing and have come to pay their respects..."
The old patriarch, alarmed, quickly dressed to welcome them, recalling Second Uncle's words from the previous day, he was drenched in cold sweat.
It was fortunate we didn't listen to the Tsui family; otherwise, Taiyang Village would have had a difficult time today!
...
...
Throughout this process, Hu Ma remained a silent observer, not saying a word or taking any action.
But through this, he understood the warmth and coldness of the village.
In the eyes of those people, Grandma was truly gone.
And for someone who had helped so many in the village, to be disrespected and even have her little grandson bullied just after her passing?
How truly simple and naive they were...
Because of the attitudes shown by the Tsui family and others, he thought about the kindness Grandma had shown him, and his grief became genuine.
During the funeral, the villagers, knowing Hu Ma had just recovered from a serious illness and was not fully aware of his surroundings, and being unfamiliar with outsiders, did not expect much from him.
Given his young age and lack of knowledge of the customs, after scolding the Tsui family, Second Uncle and the old patriarch took charge, with the neighbors helping to keep vigil, prepare meals, and set up the funeral hall, bustling through the day.
By evening, Hu Ma personally carried Grandma and placed her in the old hearth.
The funeral pyre was lit, and flames rose, sending thick smoke into the air.
Hu Ma knelt before the old hearth. With the fire burning brightly, he was less likely to see ghosts.
But in a moment of daze, he vaguely saw Grandma's figure appear in the black smoke, smiling at him gently.
Behind her, a group of spectral ancestors of Taiyang Village huddled together, trembling.
Though he knew Grandma was only temporarily away on some business, and there were matters of her remains to be dealt with, seeing her body burn still caused a sharp pain in his heart. The smoke stung his eyes, making them red.
Those around him nodded in silent approval, murmuring, "This Hu family boy has truly grown up."
"He knows how to grieve for Grandma. She hasn't wasted her love on him..."
(End of Chapter)
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