50: Chapter 50 Burial, Severing Contact
Tongye Lane, Xu Family Compound.
The members of the Xu Family were dressed in mourning clothes, receiving guests who arrived one after another.
The guests spoke in low voices, occasionally glancing toward the mourning hall at a frail figure kneeling on a prayer mat with her back to everyone.
"The Xu Family has truly lost their minds; they let the duck right in their mouths fly away," someone lamented.
Others had mockery in their eyes and gloated, "Eh, you can't say it like that. Back then, that kid—no, Lord Li—well, he wasn't so outstanding. How could anyone have known he would become a Martial Artist?"
"Even so, to cancel a pre-arranged marriage contract like that, it's really..." An old man shook his head.
The passing of Elder Xu had caused quite a stir in the surrounding alleys recently.
Initially, everyone thought the old man had died of old age, making it a "happy funeral" and a fine story.
After all, in this world, living to over seventy was considered a long life.
Elder Xu had been a skilled fisherman in his youth; not only did he build a large family estate, but he also supported the eldest Xu son in learning the craft of umbrella making, enjoying a period of boundless prosperity.
Aside from the second Xu son dying on the Great River a few years ago, the Xu Family had always been a role model for the neighboring households.
The Xu Family was well-off enough to send both sisters, Xu Yu and Xu Xuan, to school, which showed their financial strength.
Xu Yu, in particular, often ranked among the best in school exams and had always been a model for the neighborhood. Since she turned sixteen and went to the Li family to break the engagement, she had occupied the thoughts of many local matchmakers.
"Hehe, two months ago, the spectacle they made when they went to break the engagement, as if they were afraid people wouldn't know. When I went to Matchmaker Wang to arrange a marriage, they were so arrogant. Now look at them, hoho." An old man's eyes flashed as he spoke to a friend nearby.
A young man in a green robe chimed in, "You don't know, but in school, this girl was a paragon of 'women being as good as men.' She always said things like 'who says women are inferior to men?' In the end, she got pregnant with Young Master Wang's child, and he won't even acknowledge it!"
"Hehe, he's a well-known playboy around here. Did she really think she could handle him?"
"If I were Young Master Wang, I wouldn't tie myself to a single tree either."
Inside the mourning hall, Xu Yu was dressed in mourning clothes, her back to the crowd. She touched her deflated belly, her eyes numb.
The voices of the few people mocking her weren't particularly loud, yet she could vaguely hear them.
The Xu Family members nearby also coldly allowed these people to talk; initially, they had some reservations.
But now, they themselves were greatly affected. The ridicule and sarcasm from others in their daily lives had accumulated bit by bit, enough to drive someone mad.
Moreover, in everyone's eyes, it was Xu Yu who had literally angered Elder Xu to death, so their attitude toward her had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
If it weren't for Uncle Xu still having some patience with Xu Yu, she would have been kicked out long ago.
What was certain was that Xu Yu would most likely be forced into a marriage later on.
She had already become numb to it. These days, neighbors or distant relatives often visited, and the mockery and disdain in their eyes were like knives carved deep into her heart.
She hadn't touched a drop of water for two days, and her lips were cracked. Her voice was like a fly's buzz as she murmured, "Young Master Wang, how could you abandon me?"
"We clearly agreed that if I gave myself to you, you would marry me. I would become the mistress of the Wang family and then raise our children."
"I'm so foolish, truly."
Before long, many more guests arrived at the Xu Family Compound.
"Whoa, Lord Li is here."
"Qing-geer, do you still remember me? I'm Shuisheng! I used to play with you when we were kids!"
"Young Master Li Qing is truly a kind-hearted man. After everything that happened, he bears no grudge and came to see Elder Xu off."
A young but vigorous voice said calmly, "The dead deserve respect. When I was young, Elder Xu took great care of me. The matters of the younger generation have nothing to do with my relationship with Elder Xu."
The crowd fell silent upon hearing this, then everyone chimed in, "Exactly, exactly. Elder Xu helped many people when he was young. If Elder Xu hadn't pulled my grandfather out of the Great River back then, my family might have..."
"Let's not mention other trivial matters anymore. Today, let's give Elder Xu a proper burial," an old man decided.
Once these words were spoken, everyone stopped talking about Xu Yu's affairs.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of steady and powerful footsteps drew closer. Then, Xu Yu, who was kneeling on the last prayer mat, saw a tall young man appear before her eyes.
Xu Yu was stunned; this figure could not be reconciled at all with the thin, dark boy from three months ago.
Li Qing walked straight to the front, offered incense to Elder Xu, then knelt on the frontmost prayer mat, bowed, and stood up to leave.
Then, Li Qing returned to the courtyard. From beginning to end, he never looked at Xu Yu once.
Just like over two months ago, when Li Qing was penniless, Xu Yu had only glanced at him with disdain, not even bothering to say a word before walking away on her own.
This moment was exactly like that one.
"The hour has arrived," Uncle Xu announced.
The members of the Xu Family took turns offering incense, and then a series of procedures began.
After a period of mourning and bidding farewell, the Eldest Grandson of the Xu Family smashed an old clay basin, symbolizing "severing earthly ties and sending the soul on its way."
"Raise—the—coffin—"
The coffin was carried out from inside, firecrackers sounded, spirit money was scattered, and monks chanted sutras.
Those friends and relatives also cried very hard; after all, a Martial Artist was present.
They occasionally glanced at Li Qing on the edge of the crowd, and their wailing grew even louder.
Li Qing just watched everything calmly until Elder Xu was completely buried. Then, Li Qing spoke:
"Elder Xu has been laid to rest. I hope you will look forward while grieving, Uncle. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave now."
Uncle Xu looked at Li Qing's departing back and sighed deeply.
Not even staying for the funeral feast—one could imagine Li Qing's attitude.
The relationship between the two families was now severed.
After all the bustle, the Xu Family courtyard, with only tables of leftovers remaining, finally became quiet.
In a side room.
Uncle Xu's wife, Madam Huang, stood with her hands on her hips and said, "Oh, this has worn me out."
The Eldest Grandson of the Xu Family was also slumped in a grandmaster's chair. Catching sight of the kneeling figure in the mourning hall in the distance, a sense of frustration rose in his chest.
"Sigh, I wanted to practice martial arts back then, but you wouldn't let me, insisting I inherit the craft.
Look at how impressive Li Qing was today. It was Grandfather's funeral, yet everyone was revolving around him. If I had practiced martial arts back then, maybe I'd be a Lord Martial Artist now."
Madam Huang glared at Uncle Xu and said, "Husband, how about after this job is finished, we send our eldest to try and learn some martial arts?"
Uncle Xu glared at the eldest grandson. "With this lazy brat? Stop talking nonsense. Go to sleep early tonight and get up early tomorrow to make umbrellas. We're still short a few of the twenty umbrellas we promised the Liu Family!"
The eldest grandson grew anxious. "There's work to do tomorrow too?! Look at Xu Yu; she's just been kneeling there these past few days, not doing a thing. If no one wants her in the future, are we going to have to support her?"
Madam Huang also said resentfully, "If I had known, it would have been better for her to stay home and learn the craft, then find a sturdy household to marry into. She went off to study, and her virtue was studied right out of her."
Uncle Xu said angrily, "When the family was well-off, you all supported sending Yu'er and Xuan'er to school."
Madam Huang said guiltily, "Who told some people they couldn't control themselves? Unlike my Xuan'er, who will surely marry into a good family later."
"Xuan'er, don't you agree?"
To the side, Xu Xuan, who had been silent all along, trembled.
She looked up, her eyes darting around, and gave a forced smile as she touched her belly. "...Yes."