It's true that feudal superstition is something the authorities crack down on.
Why the crackdown?
Because everyone believes in it.
Even staunch materialists who don't believe at all maintain a respectful distance from matters of feudal superstition.
Does Jia Zhangshi calling out to Lao Jia to do work for her count as feudal superstition?
Of course!
But no one had taken Jia Zhangshi seriously before.
Now that Chen Jianye has explicitly brought it up, it's actually a problem.
"Jia Family Sister-in-law, stop wailing."
Yi Zhonghai's face changed drastically, and he quickly reprimanded her.
"I'll wail! I lost my son, can't I wail?"
Jia Zhangshi lay on the ground, wriggling like a fat maggot.
"You can wail, but don't engage in feudal superstition. If word gets out, it'll tarnish our Courtyard's reputation."
Yi Zhonghai sternly warned her.
"My Dongxu!"
Jia Zhangshi lay on the ground, her hands covering her large face, weeping loudly.
She didn't mention Lao Jia, allowing Lao Jia to drag the person away.
Yi Zhonghai looked at Chen Jianye: "Jianye, I'll see you back."
He already regretted it in his heart.
He should have known Chen Jianye was so troublesome and shouldn't have let Chen Jianye come to help.
He should have just stayed quietly in the Chen Family's house.
"No need to see me, I can walk by myself."
Chen Jianye turned and left.
Yi Zhonghai, however, followed him: "Jianye, you don't need to participate in Jia Dongxu's funeral. Stay home and study hard."
"First Master, is that appropriate?"
Chen Jianye asked with a smile.
"You're the only one in your family, so you can't spare the time. I believe Jia will understand."
Yi Zhonghai was very understanding.
"Alright then, I won't participate."
"First Master, please explain to everyone that it's not because I'm stingy or unwilling to help, but because you wouldn't let me participate."
Chen Jianye said sincerely.
"That's right, I arranged everything."
Yi Zhonghai nodded.
He thought to himself that if he continued to let him participate, Jia would be in chaos because of him.
Chen Jianye entered the house and continued to cook.
Yi Zhonghai returned to the crowd.
"First Master, why didn't you let me make a move just now? This kid is too arrogant, he doesn't respect you at all."
Sha Zhu said angrily.
"If I let you make a move and you seriously hurt him, would you be willing to go to jail?"
Yi Zhonghai asked irritably.
Sha Zhu shook his head repeatedly.
"Then do you have money to compensate him?"
Yi Zhonghai asked again.
Sha Zhu continued to shake his head.
"Then that's it. You have nothing, so I'd have to cover for you in the end."
"Did my money come from thin air?"
Yi Zhonghai said with a speechless expression.
"Of course not, your money is also earned by yourself."
Sha Zhu said with a ingratiating smile.
Yi Zhonghai stopped talking and discussed Jia Dongxu's funeral arrangements with Liu Haizhong and Yan Fugui.
A grand funeral was probably out of the question.
Jia had lost its head of household, and if Jia Zhangshi were to spend a lot of money on a grand funeral, it would definitely upset her.
A simple ceremony that was respectable would suffice.
After finalizing the arrangements, everyone went home for dinner.
Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground, staring intently at the corpse, tears streaming down her face.
She would cry loudly at times, and at others, she would murmur to herself.
When she was tired, she would lie down on the bluestone slab.
Qin Huairu called Jia Zhangshi to go back to the house to rest, but the latter acted as if she didn't hear, ignoring her.
Early the next morning, Jia Zhangshi was still lying on the bluestone slab.
"Jia Family Sister-in-law, wake up. Today we need to arrange Jia Dongxu's funeral."
An Old Woman Jia who was emptying a chamber pot came forward and pushed Jia Zhangshi.
"Ah! Hiss!"
Jia Zhangshi woke up with a start. Seeing the corpse in front of her, a wave of sadness surged through her heart.
Then she felt her whole body ache.
Sleeping on the floor all night, her entire body was sore from being prodded.
"Jia Family Sister-in-law, the dead cannot be brought back to life. People, they must look forward."
The Old Woman Jia offered a word of comfort, then went to the public restroom in the Backyard to empty the chamber pot.
Jia Zhangshi looked at Jia Dongxu's corpse, enduring her physical discomfort to stand up.
"Grandma, go home and rest."
Bang梗 came out of Jia's house and said in a low voice.
Qin Huairu was by Bang梗's side.
After Jia Dongxu was crushed, Bang梗 took a look, was so scared he couldn't eat, and barely fell asleep at night in Qin Huairu's arms.
"Mom, go home and rest for a bit."
Qin Huairu followed up.
"It's not over yet. My son can't die for nothing."
Jia Zhangshi patted the dust off her body, and her eyes once again showed fighting spirit.
She still had important things to do.
"Mom, what are you going to do?"
Qin Huairu asked, puzzled.
"You and Bang梗 and Ding Dang eat breakfast, then come with me. I'm taking Dongxu to the Rolling Mill to demand compensation."
Jia Zhangshi's tone was low.
"Ah? Couldn't First Master just bring Dongxu's compensation back?"
Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat.
Dragging Jia Dongxu's corpse to the Rolling Mill to collect compensation, what kind of operation was this?
"Do you trust Yi Zhonghai? I certainly don't."
Jia Zhangshi ignored Qin Huairu's attitude and swayed to the front Courtyard to find Old Ding.
She wanted to borrow Old Ding's flatbed cart.
"Jia Family Sister-in-law, I have to work. How can I lend you the flatbed cart?"
After Jia Zhangshi explained her intention, Old Ding looked troubled.
The flatbed cart was not only for making a living, but also for his family's food, clothing, and daily expenses.
"Go get a yuan from Yi Zhonghai, tell him I said so."
"Today, you'll follow me and help with things."
Jia Zhangshi said with a cold face.
"Alright then, I'll put the flatbed cart at the door for you."
Old Ding immediately agreed upon hearing this.
A yuan was a considerable amount, and borrowing the flatbed cart for a day was worthwhile.
"First, put the flatbed cart at the door, then come to my house door later."
Jia Zhangshi instructed.
Returning to the Middle Courtyard, Jia Zhangshi knocked on Sha Zhu's door again.
"What is it, Granny Jia?"
Sha Zhu's eyes were bleary, looking like he hadn't fully woken up yet.
"Come to my house door, I need your help with something."
Jia Zhangshi said with a cold face.
"Help is help, it's like I owe you money."
After Jia Zhangshi left, Sha Zhu mumbled.
Jia Zhangshi also found two strong men in the Courtyard.
A major incident had happened in Jia, and everyone thought Jia Zhangshi was asking for their help to prepare for Jia's funeral, so they naturally wouldn't refuse.
Before long, Old Ding returned, first knocking on Yi Zhonghai's door and explaining his purpose.
"Jia Zhangshi told you to ask me for a yuan, why?"
"I didn't agree to it."
Yi Zhonghai looked confused.
"Ah?"
Old Ding was also stunned, looking at Jia Zhangshi across the way.
His expression seemed to say, Jia Family Sister-in-law, are you messing with me?
"Yi Zhonghai, Jia Dongxu was your apprentice. Now that he's gone, what's wrong with you giving him a yuan?"
Jia Zhangshi said self-righteously.
"A yuan isn't the problem, but why did you call so many people so early in the morning? You should have discussed with me how to handle this first."
Yi Zhonghai
"There's nothing to discuss, I have an idea."
Jia Zhangshi said impatiently.
"Alright, if you have an idea, you do it yourself."
Yi Zhonghai smiled bitterly, pulled a yuan from his pocket, and handed it to Old Ding.
"Come, you guys lift Dongxu up and move him onto the flatbed cart outside."
Jia Zhangshi instructed.
Several strong men from the Courtyard exerted themselves together, grabbing Jia Dongxu's hands and feet through the cloth, and lifted him up.
They dragged him outside the main gate.
"Old Woman Jia, do you want to bury Dongxu directly?"
"That doesn't seem right."
Yi Zhonghai quickly said.
"None of your business."
Jia Zhangshi's attitude was very cold.
Yi Zhonghai just assumed Jia Zhangshi was in a bad mood because her son had died, and he didn't bother to argue.
He could only follow them outside the main gate.
"Let's go, to the Rolling Mill."
Once Jia Dongxu was on the cart, Jia Zhangshi ordered.
Old Ding gripped the flatbed cart's handle.
"Wait, where are you going?"
Yi Zhonghai jolted.
"To the Rolling Mill, to ask the Leader for my Dongxu's compensation!"
"My Dongxu died at the Rolling Mill, there needs to be an explanation."
Jia Zhangshi shouted loudly.
Yi Zhonghai was stunned.
Looking at Jia Zhangshi's furious state, it was clear she wasn't planning to collect the compensation nicely.
