Neighbors who were helping whispered amongst themselves, "Ai! Life is so unpredictable. Who would have thought that the Gu Family matriarch would pass away before the Gu Family patriarch?"

"Indeed, the Gu Family matriarch was always so robust, with more strength and volume in her voice than the average young man. Had it not been for this accident, she could have easily lived another ten or eight years without any issues."

"Alas, everyone has their own fate! Come, Youyou, come inside with auntie."

Youyou was led into a side room by an older woman, who handed her two sets of white mourning clothes. Youyou put on one of them and gave the other to Zijin.

Zijin nodded and without another word, put it on as well.

The neighbors looked on with surprise at Youyou, and also... at the distinguished stranger behind her.

Youyou understood what they were surprised about and explained, "He is Jin Zijin, the hunter from the north end of the village. He’s given up hunting and shaved his beard, so he looks like this now."

"What?"

Can shaving a beard and giving up hunting lead to such a big change? If they weren’t similar in build, you might think they were two different people.

His face is completely different, isn’t it?

It makes you wonder what your own husband would look like without a beard.

Youyou didn’t elaborate any further and pulled Zijin into the main hall.

Zijin didn’t need to stay until evening; he just had to wear the mourning clothes and bow a few times before he could leave.

But he ended up kneeling and paying respects with Youyou for nearly an hour, until Youyou grew impatient and urged him with her eyes to leave.

They wouldn’t be able to return to town today, they would have to sleep in the old house that hadn’t been lived in for a long time. He would have to tidy it up.

The whole day was very quiet, no one spoke, everyone just did as the funeral master instructed, carrying out their respective duties. Speaking would have been disrespectful to the deceased. Those kneeling in the room were the departed’s closest kin, who of course wouldn’t show disrespect to her.

By evening, the day’s funeral rites were complete, and the burial could take place the following morning.

Young people could hardly bear such toil for one day, let alone Grandfather, who was of advanced years.

After standing up, Youyou quickly went to support him.

"Grandfather, please have a seat!"

Whenever Youyou visited in the past, Gu Feng was always delighted, but today, as it was the funeral for the old lady, he couldn’t muster any joy.

He just sighed deeply and nodded to Youyou.

Despite the usual bickering between Grandfather and Grandmother, Youyou knew that their decades of marriage bore deep affection—for instance, the sky-is-falling expression on Grandmother’s face when Grandfather was ill couldn’t be faked.

She comforted him, "Grandmother has passed on, but Grandfather, you mustn’t harm your health with sorrow. Grandmother would be worried, and so would we."

Gu Feng nodded and said to Youyou, "Youyou, your health isn’t good either, and you’ve tired yourself out today. You should rest too."

"Grandfather, my health has improved a lot, I’m not tired," said Youyou.

Gu Lao San and Gu Lao Er exchanged glances, Gu Lao San picked up on the cue and nodded, moving forward to support Gu Feng.

"Father, better you go back to bed and rest a bit. Tomorrow morning before dawn we have to lay Mother to rest," he said.

Gu Feng was indeed exhausted, both physically and emotionally, so he did not decline; he cast a worried glance at Youyou and then went to rest in the inner room with the support of Gu Lao San.

Once Gu Feng left, the atmosphere in the room changed; those harboring animosity towards Youyou no longer hid their feelings.

Youyou sneered, thinking that it was finally happening.

It was for the best. The most inscrutable and sullen uncle had taken Grandfather away to ensure his stability, leaving the rest behind to confront her.

Or rather, for her to confront.

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