20. The Funeral

Yue Yan, now Chen Yan, looked at his reflection in the mirror and he liked it. He was grieving, yes, but he doesn't want anyone to see that he was still that very sad.

For once, Yue Yan who has never liked the idea of being at the receiving end of freebies was very glad to be getting one now. His mood was good albeit his dreams were hunted by his current issues.

He's accepted that it was normal to still be inflicted by something as tragic as that. He didn't mind much. He believes he will get through it all.

After their conversations two days ago about letting a third party handle the burial rights, Yan had told Zicheng that he would like them to go and check them out today.

He had told him last night that he would like for them to make the enquiries about their services today.

Zicheng came to call him when he was ready and together they left.

******************************************************

They checked about five funeral homes before deciding on one. They made arrangements for the burials through a representative who comes over to discuss the details with them at their home.

Like Li Zicheng said, they didn't need to be going to their office for everything. The undertaker took care of what needs to be done and in a week later everything was ready.

With Li Zicheng's help, Chen Yan was able to bring Tingting's old mom called Mama Xiuying, from his village to the guild.

The main Ceremony was done just among them with the crown Prince and Xu Bao, also in attendance.

As part of the rituals, Yan and Mama Xiuying were made to pour some water over one hand of the deceased in a bathing ceremony. They did that for all three of the corpses.

This was really hard on the two. Yan's memories of that cruel moment arrested his thoughts and he wailed uncontrollably.

Even the Mama Xiuying had to be the one to support him in other for him to carry out the rituals.

Their bodies were then placed in caskets, one big casket and two small ones, each by its sides. The caskets were decorated with flowers, candles and sticks of incense.

A drawn portrait of each of them was placed alongside and flowers hung around the caskets.

Yan knows that Tingting was a Buddhist and so he instructed the funeral home to plan his deceased family's funeral the Buddhist way.

This is his only chance to show his last respects to them, he does not have the money yet but since his new friends were willing to lend it to him, he intends to do everything the right way for his family.

He would worry about how to settle the debts later, he has a longer time for that, but for his family, he only has this one chance.

He does not intend to be stingy. He was going to splurge on their funeral though he has no money.

He does not have the money but since his new friends are willing to lend it to him, then he would spare no expenses.

As he is still alive, he has the rest of his life to pay for this debt but he has only this one time to do all he can for his deceased family and that I exactly why he is going to give them a befitting burial.

After the necessary funeral rites were over, which were attended by him, his mother-in-law Mama Xiuying, and the new friends here,

he then invited their neighbours to come and enjoy the delicacies he has arranged for them.

This part of his arrangement, his friends found weird, for someone who is in mourning to be thinking of merrymaking afterwards.

But for Chen Yan, who has witnessed the sufferings of his loved ones when they went hungry, Yue Yan wanted their spirits to enjoy the food offerings, along with all the people who had come to the funeral in this moment.

It was his last respects for the family of four and he wanted them to have a good life in their next ones.

He wanted them to go on this journey to the other worlds with their stomachs full and happy because they have enjoyed their offerings with a lot of people eating together with them.

He secretly burned an incense and prayed for the spirit of the original Chen Yan to go onto the next life, for he will continue to live this one well for him.

The merrymaking part of the funeral ceremony carried on for three days.

By now, those around the area now know that there's someone called Chen Yan at the guild too but some were able to recognise him as the former owner of the place.

By the third day gossip carried on and spread about the former owner of the guild having returned after five years of his absence.

Some of the elderlies even went as far as to question him as to why he had abruptly left the guild.

Chen Yan was confused and so Li Zicheng stepped in and gave some excuses to the elders and told Chen Yan that he'll explain everything to him after the funeral.

Chen Yan chose to have them cremated instead of being buried with Tingting's mother's permission.

On the day of cremation, a hem carrying a white banner on a long pole leads the walk to the place cremations were to be held.

He is followed by elderly hems carrying flowers in silver bowls. Next, was a group of eight monks, holding a broad ribbon that extends to the casket behind them.

The caskets were not to be carried by pall bearers but were pulled in by two funeral carts, the first cart carried the caskets with the kids' bodies while the next cart following after that carried the casket with Tingting's body.

During the service at the cemetery, monks sat facing the caskets and lead the mourners in singing prayers.

The caskets were then placed on a stack of bricks and Mama Xiuying, Chen Yan and friends tossed lit candles, incense and wood beneath them to start the burning.

Later the ashes for each deceased body was gathered and kept in a an urn. These were given to Chen Yan and Mama Xiuying with their names written on their respective urns.

Zicheng took the urns from their hands and had them put at a safer place. Both Mama Xiuying and Chen Yan were not doing so well that day after receiving the urns.