Next, although the Yang Familyâs main house didnât hang mourning decorations, they still replaced the bright red and green bedding arrangements in each room with plain colors, and even the red lanterns under the corridor were removed.
Everyoneâs clothing also changed to plain colors.
Although Yang Peili said there was no need, Yang Ruxin still sent someone to inform Yang Baixiang, after all, he is a son, and if he doesnât come back, there will inevitably be gossip.
Over at the Yang Familyâs old residence, Yang Rusong had already taken leave from the academy and come back to take charge of the situation. He first notified everyone in the village he could reach, then had someone help inform Yang Baihui and the An Family.
Meanwhile, preparations for the mourning hall began.
Unfortunately, there were not many people at home who could help, so everything seemed chaotic and rushed.
Furthermore, if they wanted to hold a large gathering, there would be a shortage of silver, but fortunately, Yang Ruxin arrived at this moment, bringing her younger siblings along.
"Elder Cousin Sister," Yang Rusong said, somewhat excitedly.
"Mhm." Yang Ruxin didnât say much, "I brought Uncle Du here, tell him if you need anything done. Donât worry about the silver, while she was alive I couldnât stand her, but now that sheâs passed, I wonât let her be too shabby."
Du Chengxiu stepped forward, slightly bowing to Yang Rusong, "Scholar, feel free to instruct us."
"Thank you, Elder Cousin Sister," Yang Rusong breathed a silent sigh of relief.
Du Chengxiu was methodical in his work, organizing everything clearly and with the capable Yang Family servants brought by Yang Ruxin, each performing their duties, nothing was chaotic.
Soon, the villagers who came to help also arrived. Seeing Yang Ruxin, no one acted haughty, and all followed Du Chengxiuâs arrangements.
By the time the sun set, everything was arranged. The entire Yang Familyâs old residence was draped in mourning.
As for the people, those who needed to be informed were informed, those who could come had arrived, and those who couldnât would arrive the next morning.
In life, Yang Anshi hadnât prepared burial clothes or a coffin, so they bought ready-made ones from the town. However, due to the willingness to spend silver, they were quite dignified.
The village chief accompanied Yang Peili to the Yang Family ancestral grave at the foot of the mountain to inspect the burial site. After Yang Anshi is buried, Elder Yang would also be buried there eventually.
Yang Baichuan and Feng Caie, familiar with the villagers, were responsible for welcoming and sending guests.
Yang Baixiang arrived, supporting the pregnant Pei Xiaoxia.
"Go offer incense and pay respects, then rest in the room next door," Dong Wenxiu directed Pei Xiaoxia, "You donât need to keep vigil here. Yang Miao, stay close to the Xiaowu family from now on."
"Donât worry, madam," Yang Miao nodded.
Yang Ruxin similarly led her younger siblings to offer incense and pay respects before stepping back. Though she came to help, it didnât mean she would act as a filial granddaughter to Yang Anshi; she didnât deserve it!
"Mother, why do they get away with not kneeling?" Yang Ruohuai glanced at Xiaofeng and others who just paid respects and came out, feeling dissatisfied, he rushed out to find Feng Caie, "I donât want to kneel either."
Yang Ruxin shook her head, when Yang Anshi was alive, besides liking Yang Baihe, she favored Yang Ruohuai among the grandchildren, consequently, he grew crooked. Even after Scholar Fengâs long attempt at teaching, it still hadnât worked.
"Thatâs because..." Feng Caie glanced at Xiaofeng but met Yang Ruxinâs vaguely smiling eyes and hurriedly twisted her mouth, patting her younger son, "Thatâs because your grandmother liked you the most while alive, always giving you good things, not Xiaofeng, right?"
Yang Ruohuai was seven, but seemed to only grow in appetite, not intelligence. Hearing this, he pondered with his head tilted, it seemed correct, so he turned and walked back inside, "Then Iâll go kneel for Grandmother."
If not for the inappropriate setting, Yang Ruxin would have laughed.
Feng Caie looked at Yang Ruxin again, then awkwardly smiled and turned to the kitchen. She was quite afraid of Yang Ruxin now, as her status had greatly surpassed hers, and now, she had no qualification even to be jealous.
"Itâs cold outside, go wait in the side room," Yang Ruxin instructed Erni and the others to go to the room Pei Xiaoxia was resting in, "Donât hang around Aunt Xiaowu."
Everyone nodded.
In the main hall, Dong Wenxiu knelt at the position for the main house but realized she couldnât cry, so she simply helped burn some paper money.
Yang Baihe knelt beside Dong Wenxiu; her tears hadnât stopped. When someone entered to offer incense, she returned the gesture, appearing much more understanding suddenly.
"Sister-in-law," when no one was entering, Yang Baihe turned to glance at Dong Wenxiu, "You hate my mother, so why come to keep vigil?"
Dong Wenxiu raised her eyes, "No, I donât hate her."
Yang Baihe frowned.
"I actually quite thank her," Dong Wenxiu sighed, looking at the coffin, "If it werenât for her relentless pressure, I would have been that cowardly self, and my Xinxin wouldnât have woken up, and our family wouldnât have the life we have now..."
Yang Baiheâs face immediately twisted.
"And now that sheâs dead, I wonât hate her anymore," Dong Wenxiu put some paper money into the fire basin, "I only hope my children live peacefully and happily, nothing else matters."
Yang Baihe lowered her eyes, hiding her emotions.
Dong Wenxiu stopped speaking.
"Mother, mother..." At this point, a piercing cry came from outside, then someone rushed in like the wind, clinging to the coffin and wailing, "Why did you leave? Just abandoning us like this, how could you endure it? Mother, was someone plotting against you?"
It was none other than Yang Baihui.
"Mother, how could you bear to abandon your daughter..." Yang Baihui wailed with all her strength, even pounding the coffin, "Who is so cruel? Finally acted against you."
Her words caused all the ones present to frown, making it sound like Yang Anshi was murdered, with the implication far too clear, which was evidently accusing Yang Ruxin of killingâridiculously stupid.
"What are you yapping for?" Fortunately, she wasnât allowed to cry long before Yang Peili came out, "Donât cry if you donât want to, so you donât disgust people."
Huh? Yang Baihui was instantly dumbfounded, what did he mean by donât cry if you canât cry? Though she wasnât genuinely sad about Yang Anshiâs death, she wasnât reluctant to cry either.
Yang Ruxin heard the cries and came out, and Yang Peiliâs words nearly made her laugh; the old man truly saw through everyone now, speaking with sharp accuracy.
"Dad," Yang Baihui finally returned to her senses, "Wasnât my motherâs death too sudden? Why did she pass? Shouldnât I ask?"