Chapter 513: Compensation

Old Mrs. Yan was arranging the items in the coffin, tearing up as she said, "Sister Mei is indeed a fortunate child."

In other families, if an unmarried daughter dies, not to mention a lavish funeral, they wouldn’t even manage the mourning properly. Kind-hearted ones would dig a pit to bury, those who don’t want to bother would just wrap the body with a mat and dispose of it in the mountains.

Uncle Dafu spent a lot of silver coins for Sister Mei’s funeral, allowing her to leave this world with dignity.

While speaking, Old Mrs. Yan remembered her own granddaughters Cuiniu and Hong Niu, not knowing whether they are dead or alive? If they unfortunately passed away, would anyone perform their burials?

Thinking of her own granddaughters and Ms. Xie, Old Mrs. Yan’s tears fell even harder.

Mrs. Chen had been crying for several days, but now that the burial had taken place, she seemed much calmer.

She placed the leftover rouge, an extra set of brocade dresses, handkerchiefs, silk flowers, and sachets of spices into the coffin, "These are all your favorites, don’t say the family doesn’t care about you, we have bought them all back for you. There are even twenty-four silk flowers, much prettier than the ones Zou Yuwan gifted you. Wear them every day down there... When you see your mother, pass a message to Aunt Ru for me, tell her I’ve kept this debt for now. Once Brother Wang and Brother Fa have established themselves, I will go down and apologize to her."

The elder sister-in-law was always worried before her death that Sister Mei’s identity as a widow could bring criticism. She begged me to take good care of Sister Mei, and I promised well, but I failed to protect her, letting her pass away at such a young age.

She continued, "You were always fierce, but your mother had a good temper. Don’t bully your mother when you meet her there; otherwise, when I go down, I’ll deal with you the same way!"

Mrs. Chen originally didn’t want to cry, but as she spoke, tears fell again. She stood beside the coffin, talking endlessly to Gu Yumei until Ms. Chu came to urge that the time for burial was approaching. Only then did she stop, checked the items in the coffin again to ensure nothing was missed, and then stepped aside.

Gu Dafu and Gu Dagui personally covered the coffin and nailed it shut.

Gu Yumei never married and had no descendants to knock the basin at the funeral, and since only the younger brothers Gu Dewang and Gu Defa were available, they were picked to lead the funeral procession for Gu Yumei.

According to traditions, this was improper, and Village Chief He had mentioned that this wasn’t good, but Mrs. Chen, grieving for Gu Yumei, didn’t mind her two sons carrying the banner and scattering paper money for Gu Yumei’s funeral.

Gu Dewang and Gu Defa had already accepted the death of Gu Yumei. After crying out of fear and sorrow for a few days, they were no longer afraid and did whatever their mother instructed.

The procession played music as they carried Gu Yumei’s coffin up to the mountain, and after busying themselves for four hours, they finally buried her.

Several families followed, sending Gu Yumei off on her last journey.

Luo Huiniang was very upset, crying all the way and holding Gu Jinli and Gu Jinxiu’s hands, guiltily saying, "I wanted to save her... but I couldn’t..."

Gu Jinxiu whispered to her, "Stop talking. If you have anything to say, come sleep at my house tonight and talk to me and Xiao Yu."

Now with so many people around, and with Uncle Dafu’s family here, letting them hear would only upset them again... and might even cause discomfort, especially towards Hui Niang.

Luo Huiniang stopped talking upon hearing this, but her tears continued to fall as she silently apologized to Gu Yumei in her heart.

After Gu Yumei’s burial, several families took turns to offer incense to her. During his turn, Gu Jinli threw a piece of paper into the burning clay pot for paper money, saying to Gu Yumei’s grave, "This is the tofu recipe, the spice recipe, and the braised food recipe you’ve always wanted to know. I’m burning them for you so you don’t have to worry about them anymore."

Upon hearing this, Gu Dafu cried and said, "Xiao Yu, thank you. Sister Mei has always wanted these recipes. By burning them for her, she can rest without any regrets."

Gu Yumei’s death deeply affected Gu Dafu. He wept bitterly at her grave and eventually fainted, and was carried down the mountain by men from several households.

That night he developed a high fever, deliriously calling for his wife as if she were still alive, apologizing to her; then crying out for Village Chief Gu, claiming he’s useless for not protecting his family; and also calling for Gu Yumei, wishing her to be reborn in a better life, where she wouldn’t encounter a poor and powerless father like him.

Gu Dexing was scared witless, fearing Gu Dafu might not recover, and stayed by his bedside, daring not to go anywhere.

Gu Dagui, in a panic, hurriedly ran to Gu Jinli’s house to seek help. Gu Dashan got up in the middle of the night and went to the workshop to summon Han Liu and Mu Tong, bringing them back to treat Gu Dafu.

Han Liu and Mu Tong, both skilled in medicine, after Mu Tong applied acupuncture on Gu Dafu, prescribed a medication and personally went to the pharmaceutical workshop to collect the herbs to brew the medicine.

After being administered the herbal concoction, Gu Dafu’s condition stabilized, and he no longer spoke irrationally.

By the next morning, the high fever had subsided, but the shocks Gu Dafu experienced were too severe. Having run to the county daily waiting for Zou Hai’s arrest, his body was utterly exhausted, and he remained unconscious for two days before waking up.

Upon regaining consciousness, Gu Dafu’s demeanour became even more gloomy, with his temples starting to gray. He spent more than ten days bedridden before he could finally leave the bed.

Gu Dafu’s illness had frightened Third Grandpa and several other families.

Third Grandma said with tearful eyes, "He has been enduring for too long... When his father and wife died, he was already unwell, but he kept going for the sake of the children. Now that Sister Mei has died too, and we have settled down, he doesn’t need to keep pushing himself, which is why he fell ill."

Third Grandpa sighed, "Getting sick might be a good thing. After being ill, he can let go of the guilt he’s been carrying inside. Otherwise, if he constantly feels he owes everyone, he won’t have a peaceful latter half of his life."

Gu Jinli didn’t have a deep impression of the village chief and Aunt Ru, only knowing that Gu Dafu greatly admired the village chief, and was very fond of his wife, as people in their old village often said Aunt Ru had married a good man. However, Gu Dafu felt that he had married above his status, attributing his marriage to Ru, who was literate, to his identity as the village chief’s son.

One major reason the village chief’s family pampered Gu Yumei was because of Aunt Ru’s maternal family, hoping to raise Gu Yumei well so she could marry into a scholar’s family through Aunt Ru’s connections.

Regrettably, after fleeing the famine, Gu Dafu’s family lost contact with Aunt Ru’s maternal family, and now they do not know where her maternal family is.

Just two days after Gu Dafu could walk again, Luo Wu returned and came to his house, saying, "Zou Hai’s family from Jianghuai, Jiangnan, and Central State have all been arrested and brought to Tianfu County. The case involving Nanny Yao’s trafficking has been mostly investigated, and they will be brought to trial tomorrow. County Magistrate Xu said, as the victims, your family can attend the hearing."

He added, "Zou Hai has properties in Jianghuai, Jiangnan, and Central State. County Magistrate Xu mentioned that your family will be compensated at that time."