books44 Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Lin Qingyu thought that Lu Wancheng was just speaking offhand but unexpectedly, he really wa concerned about his funeral. He thought that Xiong Si’s clothes were too ugly and said that he would wear his own clothes into the coffin. The thought that the white clothes worn by the funeral procession was too monotonous and asked if it was possible to have them wear a riot of colors instead. When Lu Wancheng found out that what he wanted couldn’t be inscribed on his tombstone, he picked a fight with Lin Qingyu.
“Why not?” Lu Wancheng said angrily, “I don’t have the right to decide what to write on my own epitaph?”
Lin Qingyu mocked, “‘Here lies Salted Fish. Finally sleeping in death.’ After thousands of years, how do you think future generations would think of you?”
Lu Wancheng smiled, all carefree and leisurely. He said, “They would probably think me a talented person who was ahead of his time. Then, they would put me on top of ‘The Dayu’s Eight Great Masters’ or some such sort...”DiisCoover updated novels on
Lin Qingyu interrupted ruthlessly, “Even in dreaming, one must have a sense of proportion.”
Lu Wancheng looked very disappointed that his carefully created humorous stanzas couldn’t be engraved on his tombstone. Sitting on his wheelchair, he sighed with his head lowered. Seeing it made Hua Lu’s maternal instincts overflow. Lin Qingyu ignored him and went to the study to handle his own matters.
It didn’t take long for Hua Lu to find him with a plate of freshly washed jujubes. She seemed to want to say something but hesitated. “Shaojun, would you like some jujubes?”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Hua Lu hesitated for a long time then said, “This is the Young Master’s final month. I think you should treat him better and accommodate him more.”
Lin Qingyu smiled lightly: “But, he doesn’t want to be accommodated.”
Hua Lu was surprised: “Huh?”
“He’s thinking up of every means to get us to relax. How can we fail to live up to his kindly intentions?” Lin Qingyu’s voice had a touch of untraceable tenderness, “Tell everyone in the Blue Wind Pavilion that during these last few days, we will do what needs doing. We shall carry on as usual.”
Hua Lu didn’t quite understand, but she believed in Shaojun. She has been serving the Eldest Young Master for so long and yet she still didn’t dare to say that she understood him. It has been but less than a year since the Shaojun married into the family and yet he had already seen through the Eldest Young Master.
This was probably what the literati called a bosom friend.
The coffin was where the deceased would lay in eternal rest. It was the most important thing in the funeral ceremony. Lin Qingyu remembered what Lu Wancheng said and he really did take him with him when it came time to choose the coffin. The Xiong Si couldn’t move the coffins into the Hou Mansion for them to choose from so they could only be inconvenienced to take a trip to the shop.
Particular kinds of shops like the Xiong Si were usually located in some hidden out of the way street. This entire street was filled almost exclusively with shops that dealt with the business of death. The largest one among these was called Wu Wang Tang and this was Xiong Si commissioned by Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng to the front of the shop. Huan Tong timidly followed behind. He had his arms around himself, rubbing his arms. He felt that this street was much colder than outside. A chill wind was whizzing and from time to time, they would pass by shops with paper figures placed at their door. It made goosebumps rise on the skin of those who saw it.
The shop assistant of Wu Wang Tang learned that the Shaojun of the Hou’s Mansion was coming and he had been waiting at the door since early that morning. “This humble servant pays his greetings to Shaojun.” Upon seeing Lu Wancheng in the wheelchair, he said in surprise, “Could this be...”
Huan Tong said, “This is our family’s Young Master Hou.”
Lu Wancheng greeted the shop assistant with a smile, leaving him stunned. He has been in this business for so long but he has never seen anyone who personally came to the Xiong Si to choose his coffin.
As her words faded, a stream of clear tears slowly slid down from the corner of her eyes and scattered into splashes.
Lin Qingyu retracted his gaze and said, “Let’s go.”
Lu Wancheng was silent for a moment, then said with a smile, “I think that Cedar coffin is pretty good. Are there any other styles for me to see?”
Wu Wang Tang deserved their famous reputation in the capital. They got things done quickly and well. In a few days, except for the Cedar coffin that Lu Wancheng wanted, everything else was already ready. In Lu Wancheng’s own words, he could ‘peace out and say ‘see ya later” to everyone at any time.
After everything was prepared, the shop assistant went to the Hou Mansion to settle the accounts. Lin Qingyu was satisfied with how good a job he did and personally rewarded him. The shop assistant took his reward and said with a smile, “I must return to the shop to handle matters. This humble servant won’t be disturbing Young Master Hou and Shaojun any longer.”
Lu Wancheng asked casually, “Does your Wu Wang Tang get busier in winter?”
“That is for certain.” The shop assistant said, “There are many old people who can’t survive the winter. But today, there was only one deceased, a young woman... Young Master Hou and Shaojun should still remember. It was Madam Hou who you saw at Wu Wang Tang that day.”
Lu Wancheng was taken aback. “She was fine just the day before yesterday. Why so sudden?”
The shop assistant sighed. “Madam Hou couldn’t bear the pain of bereavement. After finishing the funeral for her husband, she drowned herself in the lake that night.”
Hearing this, Hua Lu covered her mouth, he eyes turning red. Huan Tong too was quite moved. Lin Qingyu glanced at Lu Wancheng, and said to the shop assistant. “You’ve worked hard. Please go on ahead.”
After the shop assistant left, Lu Wancheng was noticeably quieter. Lin Qingyu could probably guess why he was. It must have something to do with Madam Hou.
Sure enough, after Lu Wancheng finished drinking his medicine, he suddenly asked him, “Qingyu, you should still...not regard me as your husband, right?”
Lin Qingyu said, “I’ve told you before. I treat you as a friend and a confidant.”
Okay, alright. Just a friend and confidant.
But the passing of a close friend would still hurt and make one sad.
“I don’t want to be even be a close friend anymore.” Lu Wancheng was a little anxious, “Just treat me as... a tool.”
A tool... a tool to be thrown away after use? A tool without any emotional involvement?
Lu Wancheng wanted him to do this?
Lin Qingyu sneered. “Lu Wancheng, who do you take me for?”
Lu Wancheng was stunned: “...Qingyu?”
“Do you think that after you die, I will be like other widowers, washing my face with tears all day, seeking death, tiring of living?” Lin Qingyu’s voice was cold, like a snowy winter day, “You think I will abandon myself to despair, remain at a standstill, live my life missing you? You are wrong, Lu Wancheng. If I was so vulnerable and indecisive, when I married you, I would have smashed my head to my death on our bridal bed. “Lin Qingyu looked at Lu Wancheng, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. He said calmly, “Don’t worry. I will watch you go, and then...I will live well.”
Lu Wancheng stared at him for a long time, his eyes seemed filled with limpid autumn waters. He said, almost like a sigh, “What should I do, Qingyu? You have really... completely grown on my sexuality.”