Chapter 277: To the grave

“What do you mean?” Madam Qiao’s eyes rose sharply and she stared at Third Aunt coldly.

Third Aunt widened her eyes as if she was taken aback and shouted: “Oh, sister-in-law! What are you doing? I’m being kind! I don’t care if you don’t appreciate it but don’t scare me so badly!”

“You!”

“It’s alright! Since this is the case, let Third Sister carry it! It’s getting late, let’s go!” Lian Li quickly stopped Madam Qiao, preventing her from making a fuss.

Lian Li secretly rejoiced. Thanks to Xiao Man reminding him, he remembered the temperament of his wife. If she was really asked to carry a basket, 90% of the time she would absolutely ‘accidently’ drop the basket on the ground.

If that was the case, would Lian Fang Zhou and her siblings let it go? Once the matter became serious, everyone would say she had done it on purpose!

His wife would think she was clever and had found a good excuse to vent, but not everyone was a fool. How would they believe in this ‘accidental’ coincidence?

Madam Qiao caught Lian Li’s gaze filled with implied warning and snorted heavily, rolling her eyes at Lian Fang Zhou and Third Aunt, saying: “You remember it then, you rushed to say it! It was not me that was unwilling to help you, remember!”

Lian Fang Zhou’s expression was odd and a little angry as she called everyone to go, hearing Third Aunt saying sweetly: “That is so and I will remember it clearly, I will definitely not wrong you, sister-in-law!”

Madam Qiao was so furious with her attitude that as soon as everyone had moved ahead, she started cursing.

The Lian family had lived in Dafang Village for several generations. Lian Fang Zhou’s parents were buried west of the ancestral grave and the tombs of the couple were very similar.

It had not been cleaned for more than half a year and vegetation grew quickly in the spring. At this time, the graves were already covered with weeds, creeping vines, shrubs, and a few wildflowers in full bloom. The surrounding trees had also grown extremely fast and their branches stretched out, almost covering the two tombs.

“Let’s clean them up! Carefully, these weeds are growing too fast!” Lian Fang Zhou instructed.

Lian Ze and the others agreed, quickly moving to mow the grass, pull out the weeds and roots, and remove the shrubs while Lian Fang Zhou picked up a hatchet to remove the branches and small trees that had grown too close.

Lian Li pretended to sort out the offerings, money, paper, and other things while Madam Qiao cried “It’s hot!” and sat down, wiping her forehead with a handkerchief.

Lian Fang Zhou and her family had never thought that they would actually help so they ignored them while they worked.

Unexpectedly, Madam Qiao suddenly stopped Ah Jian and said bitterly: “Hey, Ah Jian, you aren’t one of our family members! You don’t have to do this kind of thing as an outsider! Quickly stop, or people will say we are bullying you and there is no one at home!”

The hands of Lian Fang Zhou and her siblings had all contributed to a shared meal. Lian Ze was especially proud of Ah Jian and respected him greatly after he had taught him martial arts. He couldn’t help but be furious when he heard this. He raised his eyebrows and wanted to say something when Lian Fang Zhou hummed softly, so he went back to work.

Which of the second branch didn’t respond to Lian Fang Zhou’s wink? Everyone continued their work as if they hadn’t heard Madam Qiao’s words.

“Auntie, Ah Jian is a distant relative of our family and is willing to help. Us brothers and sisters are all grateful!” Lian Fang Zhou said lightly.

Ah Jian smiled: “It is these brothers and sisters who have taken me in. They are doing their best! Besides, I have strength.”

When talking about strength, Ah Jian glanced at Madam Qiao, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Madam Qiao suddenly remembered the losses she had suffered by his hands and her face turned pale. She hummed twice and dared not speak anymore.

Lian Li obviously remembered the past as well and his movements froze.

“Okay, don’t talk nonsense, let’s help too!” Lian Li said, standing up.

“I’m so exhausted from walking, how can I help!” Madam Qiao glared at him.

“You! You are fine!” Lian Li gave her an angry look, coldly humming as he stepped forward to help.

Looking at the busy people, Madam Qiao suddenly felt that she was out of place sitting along and felt a little uncomfortable. To solve this, she simply moved her body and placed her back towards the Lian siblings.

None of them paid her any attention.

After some careful cleaning, the two tombs looked very neat and tidy.  Lian Ze and Ah Jian cultivated the soil while Lian Fang Zhou chose a sapling with a finger-sized diameter. Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che hung up the white banners and handed them to Lian Ze to plant on the grave.

Then everyone started to place the offerings, lighting the candles and incense. They toasted the wine, burned the paper money, and bowed down to present the offerings before putting them away and setting off the firecrackers.

It was funny, but when they bowed down to pray, Madam Qiao also stepped forward. Though she did not kneel, she surprisingly lit three incense sticks and prayed, chanting: “Bless my family. Ah Hai, who is also your nephew will have a good life and be a light for your face. Your abilities are limited, so I won’t ask you to bless him to be a high official in the future, I will just ask you to bless him to be a top talent this time…”

Lian Fang Zhou and the others silently rolled their eyes.

The crackling firecrackers sounded particularly crisp in the open space and the smell of sulfur and smoke diffused through the air. Several people covered their ears with their hands and Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che laughed and chattered. After waiting to pick up the little firecrackers that didn’t pop, Lian Fang Zhou gave them a gentle smile.

Life always went one and though loved ones who have passed away should not be forgotten, the sadness of the past should not always be remembered.

When the firecrackers were finished, Lian Fang Zhou smiled and said: “Let’s check if there are any sparks left. If there is a wildfire, it will be troublesome!”

Madam Qiao clicked her tongue and whispered disdainfully: “It’s troublesome! How is it so easy to start wildfires in this season?”

Of course, no one paid attention to her.

After their inspection was complete, everyone gathered their things and walked back.

They had been walking for a while when Madam Qiao suddenly walked over to Lian Fang Zhou and said: “It will be the Tomb-sweeping festival in two days. You have worshiped your parents but don’t forget that there are ancestors!”

This sounded very bad!

Lian Fang Zhou didn’t bother to give her a good face and said bluntly: “Eldest aunt looks down on us too much! Do you need to mention this? We will be ready to offer incense and offering, eldest Aunt doesn’t need to worry!”

“You’ve already prepared?” Madam Qiao’s voice was a little sharp. She had originally meant for Lian Fang Zhou to hand over some silver so their families could prepare the offerings ‘together’. After all, the two families shared one set of ancestors, right?