The Vigil

The two returned to the school, looking a bit disheveled, and found Xiao Lin and the town elders there.

Having failed to secure a suona, the guilt-ridden pair were informed:

Principal Tang's funeral was scheduled for the next day.

Tonight was the final night of wake-keeping, which was especially important!

They were required to keep vigil for the entire night.

The makeshift mourning hall was set up in the abandoned school on the mountainside.

"What, a whole night of wake-keeping?"

Juan'er's eyes widened in disbelief.

She had to spend the entire night at that dilapidated school?

The man beside her also looked extremely reluctant.

Elder Bai stepped forward a couple of paces and said in his raspy, smoky voice:

"It's tradition for filial sons and virtuous grandsons to keep vigil at the mourning hall! Those attending the funeral also need someone to offer tea, cigarettes, and hot water; this is etiquette! Since you are Principal Tang's closest relatives, you must go to the mourning hall!

Unless, you are not her relatives, and you can leave now!"

"We certainly won't stop you!"

The surrounding elders nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

They didn't care about anyone else, but Principal Tang's funeral had to be conducted according to Huayi Town's customs!

Seeing this, Juan'er gave a bitter smile and explained:

"Oh! You've misunderstood, haven't you? I'll definitely go. This is such an important matter, don't worry, I'll wear mourning clothes tonight and keep vigil for my aunt!"

"You're actually going?"

The man asked in surprise, blurting it out.

At his words, the slightly eased expressions of the crowd immediately changed.

Seeing her husband's lack of awareness of the situation, Juan'er glared at him fiercely and said through gritted teeth in a low voice:

"Don't you see what time it is? Can I not go?"

"Alright, that's good then!"

Elder Bai nodded and continued:

"Wake-keeping is about showing filial piety and cannot be taken lightly! If there's nothing else, you should go prepare as soon as possible!"

"Sigh, we've also informed the younger folks outside about Principal Tang's affairs, hoping they can make it by tomorrow!"

As they grew older, tears became harder to hold back.

Not wanting to watch the elders cry, nor wanting to hear any more about it, Juan'er and the man quickly packed their things and, taking the two children with them, headed to the mourning hall at the abandoned school on the mountainside.

The mountain path was not easy to navigate.

Juan'er and the man were panting from exhaustion, still having to hold onto the two children.

There were occasional stones on the mountain path, and it was easy to slip and fall.

The man was very unhappy:

"What kind of terrible roads are these, what a poor place, what ridiculous customs!? I'm telling you, you're not allowed to meddle in these stupid things anymore! I never want to come here again!"

"Do you think I want to? You didn't get this angry when you were taking their money! If you don't want the money, then scram! Even when working outside, you have to be polite to others, don't put on a grumpy face here!"

Juan'er retorted impatiently. If it weren't for the sake of legitimately inheriting her aunt's property, she would have turned around and left the moment they mentioned the wake-keeping!

When they first arrived, she had no idea there were so many rules before the funeral.

She sighed at the moment, complaining:

"It's so much better in the city, just cremate and bury, isn't that enough? Why insist on keeping vigil, it's so troublesome!"

"Exactly, I think this mountain is quite remote. Who knows how many people will actually show up for the funeral. With no relatives or friends here, these people are still making such a big fuss, they're just talking without feeling the pain!"

The man quickly agreed, sounding very impatient.

His words also made Juan'er thoughtful:

Her aunt had no relatives or friends here either; she didn't know how she managed for eighteen whole years.

This rugged mountain path, which felt uncomfortable even for them to walk twice, she must have walked countless times.

The makeshift mourning hall was very simple.

The old school building next to it was also in ruins, appearing somewhat abandoned.

When the two arrived, they noticed that many wreaths had already been piled up against the old walls.

Since you've come, make the best of it.

Juan'er walked into the mourning hall, put on the hemp clothing, and tied on the mourning headband.

No matter what, Principal Tang was her aunt, so she had to put white mourning hats on the two children as well.

She lit incense and kowtowed a few times with reverence.

She knelt on the straw mat beside the coffin.

The sky gradually darkened, and weariness swept over the few people in the mourning hall.

Looking at the dejected man beside her, Juan'er yawned and said sleepily, "Since no one is coming, let's just rest here for the night!"

As soon as she finished speaking, two figures suddenly walked in.

It was Xiao Lin and Xiao Ai. They had rushed over to keep vigil after finishing matters at the school.

Soon, several more figures walked in.

Even the elders from the daytime had actually come up the mountain path and arrived at the mourning hall.

Tonight was the last night of keeping vigil, and everyone attached great importance to it.

Seeing the mourning hall quickly fill with people, with some helping to boil water, offer cigarettes, and receive those who came to pay their respects.

The night added a mysterious color to the entire mountainside, and also increased the danger and difficulty of the path up the mountain.

Despite this, more and more people were coming to the mourning hall!

Everyone endured their drowsiness and kept vigil for Principal Tang here.

Seeing that the mourning hall was gradually getting more crowded, Juan'er was a bit confused:

Her aunt, as an ordinary principal, had stayed in this impoverished place for eighteen years, which was already quite rare.

She hadn't expected that so many people would spontaneously come to keep vigil in the mourning hall late at night!?

Even these older generations, disregarding the difficulty of climbing the mountain, insisted on coming to keep vigil for her aunt and prepare for tomorrow's farewell.

Glancing at Xiao Ai, who was in low spirits beside her, Juan'er suppressed her drowsiness and asked, "Why are so many people coming to keep vigil? Is this also a rule in your Huayi Town?"

"Everyone came voluntarily to see Principal Tang off."

Xiao Ai said with a somewhat muffled voice, not wanting to engage with Juan'er.

How could selfish people understand Principal Tang's character?

The people who came to the mourning hall included not only the parents of those children but also many people who had been helped by the principal before.

Some of these people were from nearby villages.

Some had rushed over overnight from other cities after hearing the news of Principal Tang's passing.

Staying in this temporary mourning hall for so long, Juan'er felt her legs go numb.

She wanted to go out for some fresh air.

Seeing the person serving tea occasionally go out to the mourning hall for a while, she thought that person must also be going out for fresh air.

She immediately squeezed out of the mourning hall and walked towards the outside.

Lifting the drooping curtain of the mourning hall, she looked up and was immediately startled, her face frozen in shock.

At this moment, besides the temporary mourning hall in the dilapidated school halfway up the mountain.

Even more people were standing outside!

They were packed densely, there were at least several hundred people!

Seeing Juan'er come out for fresh air, her husband also quickly followed her out. Upon seeing the scene before him, his expression was also one of shock!

How could there be so many people!?

What kind of person was Auntie?

The children had white paper flowers pinned to their chests, and the adults had voluntarily stayed to help receive the attendees of the principal's funeral.

Serving tea and offering cigarettes, boiling water, all required manpower.

At the foot of the mountain, there were still the principal's former students, on their way here~

Unlike ordinary funerals, many people came to the mourning hall, but it was not lively.

Everyone who came here carried a sense of solemnity, grief, and remembrance!

The night was cold and long, but it eventually welcomed the dawn of the next day.

The day of Principal Tang's funeral arrived with the rising sun.

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