425 The Last Rites

“Big Brother, you…” Chu Ming did not know what to say. In his memory, Chu Yuan had never been like this before.

Was this still him?

“It’s fine, Big Brother. It’s all in the past.” Chu Ming looked at Chu Yuan with a complicated expression. Although he did not understand what had caused Chu Yuan’s change, Chu Yuan’s attitude was much better than before.

“I’ll be holding vigil for Father tonight. You and sister-in-law should rest early. Father will be buried tomorrow. I want to spend the last night with him.” Chu Yuan knelt on the futon in front of the coffin after he finished speaking.

“Big Brother…” Chu Ming hesitated. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t.

The next morning, Chu Ning got up at six.

Chu Jinng’s coffin would be carried to a nearby mountain that morning. After the ceremony was completed, they would leave in the afternoon.

However, what surprised Chu Ning was that she saw Chu Yuan kneeling on the futon on the first floor, keeping vigil over her grandfather.

“Eldest Uncle, you’ve been here the whole night?” Chu Ning asked in astonishment.

Based on Chu Yuan’s personality, he would not do such a thing.

“Chu Ning, what I did in the past was indeed a little overboard. When we return to M City, I’ll make it up… No, I’ll do what an elder should do.” Chu Yuan still did not get up, speaking to Chu Ning with his back to her.

“Huh?” Chu Ning wondered if she had heard wrongly…

How was this possible?

Was this something that a profit-seeking person like Chu Yuan would say?

“Dad passed away. I’m the oldest in the Chu family, so I should take good care of this big family. Chu Ning, I’m very guilty and brokenhearted, but this is the retribution I deserve.”

At this point, Chu Yuan finally stood up shakily and turned to look at Chu Ning. “I know that the treasure is just a lie you made up, but Xiao Tao and Xiao Mei still believe it without a doubt, including my wife. I’ll try my best to make up for my past mistakes.”

Chu Yuan looked at Chu Ning with sincerity and remorse.

He had already gone through most of his life’s journey, but when he had knelt before Chu Jinng’s coffin the previous night, he suddenly realized that, other than money, he had no kinship.

“Eldest Uncle, this…” Chu Ning looked at Chu Yuan, at a loss for words.

She did not know just what Chu Yuan had gone through. Why did he seem like a different person after one night?

“Good child, I don’t expect all of you to forgive me, nor will I defend myself, but I have to do something to make up for the emptiness in my heart. Don’t mind me.” Chu Yuan smiled again. Then, he turned around and knelt down.

At 7 am, the field in front of the Chu residence was filled with Laoshan villagers. They had all stopped what they were doing that day to send Chu Jinng off.

Chu Ning looked at the field before her. There was almost no more space there. Many villagers even stood on the road adjacent to the field.

There were a few hundred people. Such a funeral procession was very rare in Laoshan Village’s history.

“Big Brother, get up,” Chu Ming said softly as he stood behind Chu Yuan.

At this moment, Chu Yuan was not kneeling on the futon. Instead, he was hugging the coffin and crying bitterly once more.

The coffin had been secured by wooden sticks and ropes. Outside, there were a dozen villagers responsible for carrying the coffin.

“I was supposed to be the one in mourning for Dad, but according to the rules, you’re Dad’s eldest son. So, Big Brother, you should do it,” Chu Ming said.

“No, Second Brother, I’m not qualified. You can send Dad off for the last time,” Chu Yuan replied softly as he wiped his tears.

“Chu Tao and Chu Mei are still sleeping?” Chu Yuan further asked.

“They might be tired from yesterday. Let them sleep,” Chu Ming sighed.

Although Chu Yuan had come to his senses, Chu Tao and Chu Mei did not come back for the funeral. They came purely for the ‘treasure’ that Chu Ning had mentioned.

“I got it.” Chu Yuan nodded and left the central room.

“Dad, what’s wrong with Eldest Uuncle? We haven’t seen him for a day and he’s like a different person. Did he get agitated because he didn’t find the treasure?” Chu Huan really wanted to laugh, but thinking of the backdrop of that day, he could only ask.

However, Father Chu didn’t reply.

“Xiao Huan, enough.” Chu Zhe gestured for Chu Huan to keep his mouth shut.

Naturally, he could tell that Chu Yuan was different.

A few minutes later, Chu Yuan’s wife, Chu Mei, and Chu Tao came down as well.

Even though they were rubbing their drowsy eyes, they were not the least bit displeased that Chu Yuan had woken them up.

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