Chapter 37 Grandma Cui

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Grandma Cui "Almost wiped out?" "Are most Reincarnators orphans?" Hu Ma was inexplicably shocked by the last few words this Reincarnator left behind. When he wanted to ask more, she had already disconnected. But this also sparked many speculations in his mind. The first Reincarnator had already warned me about the importance of keeping my secrets safe. And now, meeting the second Reincarnator, she revealed some issues regarding the trust among Reincarnators in this world, and the problems with their so-called ’family’ here. Listening to their words, there was always an inadvertent revelation of the cruelty, even brutality, of this world. Now, in the wider world, what kind of relationships have they formed? Particularly, he recalled some things this woman had said about the world, and the words from the first Reincarnator with the codename Er Guotou. It seemed that many others were directly reincarnated into this world, as if they suddenly recalled their past lives. Even in such cases, were they mercilessly crushed to death with a stone roller by their own biological fathers? This world could accept Grandma Huai helping ill-fated children reincarnate, yet it couldn’t accept Reincarnators who awakened memories of their past lives? On the other hand, I appeared more like a case of possession, yet Granny seemed to have accepted me... It seems that the issue of Reincarnators is far more complicated than I thought. Unfortunately, this mysterious Reincarnator seemed emotionally stirred and was unwilling to talk much with him. "Let’s head back first!" Early the next morning, the heavy-hearted Second Master spoke to Hu Ma. He had also negotiated with the old shopkeeper and unexpectedly found that this group of dignitaries from the city, although prideful, turned out to be quite reasonable. As a guide, he hadn’t led them to what they wanted; in fact, he hadn’t completed the job and had even interrupted their business. Yet, the old shopkeeper still gave him three taels of silver as reward money. This way, he could conclude the journey early and help Hu Ma bring Granny’s remains back to Dayang Village. "Returning to one’s roots after death is a major matter. A good person like Granny, who helped so many during her life, should be laid to rest in the old fire pit after her death..." Helping Hu Ma prepare Granny’s remains, wrapping them in layers of black cloth, Second Master’s expression was somber. Hu Ma knew where Granny had gone, but Second Master didn’t. He was genuinely grieved. And since this was Granny’s instruction, Hu Ma naturally wouldn’t object. Simply reflecting quietly. People in this world value returning to one’s roots, and even Second Master felt it was crucial for Granny to enter the old fire pit. But according to Granny, the Hu Family originally came from outside and had mentioned something about an "ancestral hall." Could it be that the Hu Family actually had something similar to the old fire pit outside their original home? This identity’s background is far more complex than I imagined. However, for the current him, thinking about these things was pointless; healing himself was more urgent. Presently, Hu Ma and Second Master finished preparing Granny’s remains. They thanked the people from the city and together embarked on the return journey. Originally, Hu Ma planned to carry Granny himself, but Second Master worried he couldn’t manage. So, he cut vines to make a rope and carried Granny on his back, sighing to Hu Ma, "Your Granny just wanted you to take care of your health, settle down, and start a family. You must listen to her..." "Now that Granny has dealt with the evil spirit sent by your family’s enemy, you don’t need to keep the stove sealed anymore..." "How about this: after we get back, you come with me to the blood food mine, earn some silver, and I’ll see if there’s a suitable girl for you to marry?" "..." Hu Ma listened with a hint of helplessness. Though Second Master had a child body of sixty years, he was surprisingly interested in these matters... When they came, there were more people, making the forest seem relatively normal. Now, returning with just two people, a corpse, and a ghost, the forest felt eerie and mysterious. Hu Ma, though heavy-hearted, still perceived occasional rustling, an unsettling feeling persistently present. Deep in the forest, many things seemed to be secretly watching him. When he occasionally turned his head, he would even catch a glimpse of a somewhat familiar tree stump quietly resting behind a cluster of trees, as if a figure in a broad-robed gown sat there, quietly observing him. Already in a foul mood, these ghostly sights vexed him further, and he angrily pulled the Mountain Opening Saber from his back. Normally, the mysteries of the deep mountains would have intimidated him. But now, if anything dared to provoke him, he would unleash his fire qi and fight them. "Don’t panic..." It was Second Master who noticed. He placed a hand on Hu Ma’s shoulder and said softly, "Your Granny was a Ghost Walker, you know." "Ghost Walkers not only help people but also the spirits in these woods." "Those things didn’t come to harm you; they came to see your Granny off." "..." Upon hearing this, Hu Ma sheepishly sheathed his Mountain Opening Saber. After taking a few steps forward, the meaning of Second Master’s words sank in. Turning around, he slowly bowed towards the stump that was already fading into the distance. The surrounding trees and wild grasses suddenly rustled. Faint, indistinct shadows could be seen bowing and clasping their hands as if returning his gesture in solemn acknowledgment. On this return trip, Hu Ma encountered, or rather sensed, more evil spirits and dark entities than at any time since his arrival in this world, yet the journey was unusually smooth. He and Second Master took a day and a half to return to Dayang Village. The people in the village were still unaware. The Old Clan Chief, leading a donkey laden with two large baskets of freshly dug potatoes from the field, had just returned. Seeing two figures, one tall and one short, from afar, he was shocked and hurried the donkey forward a few steps: "Why are you back?" "Didn’t I tell you to serve the city dignitaries well? Did you offend them and get chased back?" "..." "The dignitaries weren’t dissatisfied. They even settled my payment." Second Master looked at the Old Clan Chief. His voice choked as he began to speak, "Big Brother, I found Granny too." "She’s... gone." "..." "What?" The Old Clan Chief, who had just been expressing his displeasure, was now utterly shocked. He stared blankly at the human-shaped form wrapped in black cloth behind Second Master. After a long moment, his legs went soft. He trembled as he staggered forward, wailing, "Oh, my poor, unfortunate Granny..." A cry of grief immediately spread throughout the village. People nearby rushed over. Hearing that Granny had passed away, they all wept in sorrow. They helped carry Granny’s body back to the main hall of Hu Ma’s house and brought out white mourning cloth and hemp rope, draping them over Hu Ma. Second Master instructed Hu Ma to keep vigil over Granny in the main hall. He asked the Old Clan Chief to oversee things there while he himself took a sickle and rope and went out. He was going out to cut yin wood for Granny’s cremation. According to the village custom, the dead were not buried in coffins unless there were special circumstances. For ordinary families, specific corpse-burning wood had to be prepared. This wood, carried personally into the old fire pit by kin with karmic and blood ties, was the most crucial element. The more esteemed the family, the better and more plentiful the corpse-burning wood used, and thus the more dignified the funeral rites appeared. Hu Ma hadn’t expected that, not long after Second Master left, neighbors from all around would come rushing over. These were people who normally feared his family, not daring to speak to him, and who would even avoid Granny when she was alive. Yet now, they all came. They helped where they could, wailed in mourning as was proper, and some even brought over bundles of dry firewood. This followed the same principle as Second Master’s errand: in Dayang Village, the most honorable funeral was one where the family did not need to prepare the corpse-burning wood themselves. Instead, it was respectfully gathered, with each neighbor contributing a piece. This was a symbol of great respect. "Granny, my younger family members were ignorant before. I, this old woman, have come to apologize to you..." To his surprise, not only did the neighbors come, but even Grandma Cui from the Cui Family arrived with her family members. Hu Ma didn’t recognize the Cui family members at first. It was only when he saw Cui Xie’er among them that he understood. As soon as Grandma Cui entered the main hall, she burst into tears, weeping loudly and, in front of everyone, scolding her own children and grandchildren for their past ignorance. The Old Clan Chief came over to console her. Grandma Cui immediately stopped crying and went to sit under the shelter outside, drinking tea with others. The Cui Family’s eldest son, a weathered man now over fifty, also brought his younger brothers to kowtow before Granny’s memorial tablet: "Years ago, our family was ignorant. Granny, please don’t hold it against us. We’ve come today to see you off on your final journey." "..." After their lamentations, they rose and spoke with the surrounding villagers. Catching sight of the pile of hardwood firewood already stacked before the altar, the Second son of Cui, a man about forty, frowned and said, "What is all this? You should be preparing the finest coffin for Granny; that’s the proper thing to do!" Suddenly, the entire mourning hall fell silent. Everyone looked at the Second son of Cui in astonishment. "Second Son of Cui, what are you saying?" The Old Clan Chief, who was outside, also heard this. His expression changed drastically. He strode into the hall and rebuked, "Granny worked for our Dayang Village her whole life! Shouldn’t she enter the old fire pit?" "..." The Second son of Cui frowned and waved his hand dismissively. Meanwhile, the Cui Family’s eldest son quickly held back the Old Clan Chief, smiling. "Uncle, please don’t be angry yet." "Come, let’s go outside to talk." "..." The Old Clan Chief frowned as the Cui brothers, accompanied by several elders from inside the hall, escorted him out. Hu Ma remained silent but saw everything. Flames of anger surged within him. He glanced at Little Hongtang on the beam above, signaling her to follow them out discreetly and find out what they were saying.