Eight-Stage Suona Procession Leads the Way! (Welcoming the Third Branch Master, Idiot! Seeking Recommendations!)

As dawn broke, Su Chen walked along the mountain path to the mountainside, arriving near Principal Tang's mourning hall.

His ancient-style, plain attire drew many curious glances.

The suona in his hands was wrapped in a special black cloth.

Though hidden, the extraordinary aura he exuded kept most people from approaching him easily.

His gaze swept across the surroundings.

Principal Tang's mourning hall was set up in a derelict school on the mountainside.

The crumbling walls made it hard to recognize that this was once a place filled with the sounds of learning.

As the sky gradually brightened, more and more people gathered, converging from the foot of the mountain.

They slowly made their way up the slope, like a continuous stream flowing against the current.

Among them were former students of Principal Tang and residents of the town.

Some had also traveled from surrounding towns.

They carried stacks of paper money or wreaths.

They placed the paper money at the mourning hall, where fresh flowers were piled high, surrounding Tang Ying's photograph.

Wreaths were placed on both sides of the mourning hall; those that couldn't fit were moved to the old school walls nearby.

Then, Juan'er, who was standing by, handed them the mourning clothes and hats that had been prepared.

After putting on the mourning clothes and hats, they bowed twice to Principal Tang's coffin in the mourning hall.

Similarly, Juan'er greeted the guests and bowed in return.

As more and more guests arrived, the abandoned school on the mountainside appeared as a vast expanse of white from a distance.

White mourning clothes, a white mourning hall, and white banners and wreaths.

Before they knew it, it was eight in the morning.

The crowd at the foot of the mountain had only grown larger.

In addition to Principal Tang's former students and town residents.

Su Chen looked out and saw many children, led by their parents, with white flowers pinned to their chests, walking towards the abandoned school on the mountainside.

These children were all Principal Tang's students.

Parents brought their children to see Principal Tang off.

On the way to the mourning hall, Su Chen had also inquired about Principal Tang and learned about her story:

Huayi Town had no schools at all, and then this makeshift village primary school was established. The small classroom had only a few students, as children of school age were busy with farm work and couldn't attend. Their families were unwilling to spend extra money; the elders felt that having children help with farm work was more useful than sending them to school. Because of this, teachers who came to support the education left one after another, making the children's education even more difficult.

Facing such difficulties, Principal Tang did not retreat. She visited every household in the ten-mile radius of Huayi Town, persuading families to send their children to school for an education. At the same time, she lobbied various relevant organizations to create better conditions for the children's schooling and to find more teachers willing to volunteer.

Her efforts paid off. Principal Tang's eighteen years of persistence finally succeeded in establishing a town school, allowing children of all grades to receive an education there! These eighteen years of hard work resulted in every child being able to continue their studies without being held back by poverty, in the hopeful and aspiring young faces! And in the heartfelt calls of "Mama Tang"!

Su Chen stood on the mountainside, looking towards the mountain path, imagining Tang Ying enduring her illness over the years, sweating as she walked along the difficult and rugged mountain roads.

Hardship, yet unwavering resolve!

More and more men and women, old and young, walked towards the abandoned school, forming long queues to place wreaths at the mourning hall, kneel, offer incense, and kowtow!

Seeing this scene, many villagers in the crowd couldn't help but push their way forward just to reach Principal Tang's mourning hall and pay their respects!

Cries were suppressed.

Coupled with the vast expanse of white surrounding them, it felt as if something was gripping everyone's heart.

It was a stifling, uncomfortable feeling.

Almost everyone in Huayi Town had come to attend the funeral.

They occasionally lowered their heads to wipe away tears, or reminisced about Principal Tang's life; no one could smile.

Inside the mourning hall, Xiao Ai looked at Juan'er angrily, gritting her teeth:

"Everyone pooled money to ask you to invite the suona players, and now you're telling me you couldn't get them? This is a major funeral, do you think this is a game!?"

"Do you think I didn't want to? You didn't see how arrogant Master Li was, otherwise you would have..."

Juan'er said with a wronged expression, already regretting her actions.

She hadn't expected so many people to attend the funeral, nor had she anticipated the scene to be this grand!

An endless stream of students and young people in mourning clothes, enough to cover half the mountainside!

The man hid to the side, not daring to speak.

Xiao Ai's eyes were red with anger, and her whole body trembled!

Just then, a rough voice was heard from outside the mourning hall!

"Li Family Band, suona has arrived!"

The highly penetrating voice stood out starkly amidst the calm and solemn funeral scene!

The rough and penetrating voice carried a solemn sense of ritual.

The crowd outside the mourning hall parted like a receding tide of white snow, slowly moving to both sides.

A temporary path about a meter wide was cleared.

At the end of the path, a middle-aged man appeared, holding a suona with a black handle!

"Master Li!"

"Master Li is here!"

"The head of the Li Family Band, Li Hongzheng!"

The surrounding people whispered amongst themselves. The Li Family Band was well-known in these ten miles around. Being able to invite them for any event was considered quite difficult.

They wondered, this time, how many stages the Li Family Band had been invited for.

Hearing the commotion outside, the people in the mourning hall also hurried out. Upon seeing Li Hongzheng, Juan'er was extremely surprised.

After all, Li Hongzheng had refused her so decisively yesterday.

However, at this moment, she dared not blame Master Li.

She quickly bowed in greeting, respectfully welcoming him.

After bowing, Juan'er then looked up at Master Li.

Li Hongzheng's expression remained unchanged, and he walked solemnly towards the mourning hall.

Behind him, several disciples also appeared!

Three disciples, each holding a suona.

Adding Li Hongzheng's.

A total of four suonas appeared before her.

Four stages!

Two large suonas, one medium suona, and one small suona!

These were the four most skilled suona players from the Li Family Band.

Some young people, not knowing the customs, quickly asked the elders beside them:

"Uncle, why are suonas divided into stages?"

"The stages of suona have specific meanings. It's either four or eight. For the living, it's four or eight sedan chairs; for the deceased, it's four or eight stages of suona!"

"I see!"

"Four stages, why only four stages!?"

"Four stages require a bow of greeting; eight stages require the filial children to kneel. Since that woman just bowed, it seems they invited four stages!"

"Master Li personally playing for four stages isn't too bad!"

The crowd was clearly a little disappointed, consoling each other.

According to their expectations, with Principal Tang's status, it should have been at least eight stages of suona leading the way!

Looking at the scene before them, there were clearly only four stages of suona!

Outside the mourning hall, Xiao Ai's tears began to flow. For a moment, she didn't know if it was anger or grievance.

But soon, everyone's expressions changed!

Juan'er's eyes also narrowed, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing!

Three more disciples followed from behind, holding various musical instruments.

It was the erhu, the flute, and the sheng!

The last, a burly man, carried a drum!

All eight men had solemn yet sorrowful expressions!

It was actually eight stages!!

Su Chen, who was observing the funeral from not far away, nodded with satisfaction upon seeing this scene. Eight stages of suona leading the way!

It was a fitting send-off for Principal Tang!

Eight stages of suona, Filial children kneeling in welcome!

Juan'er's face flushed with emotion, and she quickly knelt down.

Eight stages of suona, played personally by Master Li!

This was the Li Family Band's respect for Principal Tang.

The guests in mourning attire in the distance, Principal Tang's students, and the villagers of Huayi Town all looked moved by this scene.

Some were so emotional that their eyes turned red, holding back tears.

PS:

There's one more update, which might be a bit late. If you can't wait, you can go to sleep first.

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