Chapter 798

Yuan Hong's face turned ashen, but when he caught Zhou Andong's gaze, he immediately regained composure and said with heavy resignation.

"No matter how grave Tree Forest's crimes, the law will judge him—what's the point of this feudal superstition? Besides, he's your own nephew, your sister's son. If you pull this stunt, your sister will hate you for the rest of her life."

Niu Niu Hongjuan said coldly: "I'm helping her. If she doesn't appreciate it, there's nothing I can do."

"Absolute nonsense," Yuan Yuan Hongbiao laughed bitterly. "How exactly is this helping her?"

Niu Niu Hongjuan didn't get angry; she still smiled. "Given Tree Forest's crimes, he'll be punished down there—boiled in oil, fried, stir-fried, grilled. Can you imagine how terrible that would be?"

"Even if he somehow survives and is reborn, he'll be reborn as an animal—maybe some filthy creature. How much suffering will he endure? So letting Su Yuling smash his soul to dust? That's liberation. Tell me, isn't that kindness?"

Yuan Yuan Hongbiao gritted his teeth in fury: "You practice feudal superstition and still act so self-righteous—don't you feel guilty?"

Niu Niu Hongjuan raised an eyebrow. "People who do wrong don't feel guilty. Why should I?"

Yuan Yuan Hongbiao suddenly grew uneasy. "I'm not arguing with you!"

"Hey!" Niu Niu Hongjuan nudged Yuan Yuan Hongbiao.

"What?!" Yuan Yuan Hongbiao snapped back, barely holding back his anger.

Niu Niu Hongjuan let out a light laugh. "I feel like you're feeling guilty."

"I… I've never done anything wrong. Why would I feel guilty?" Yuan Yuan Hongbiao's voice rose sharply, ignoring everyone around. "I'm telling you, Niu Niu Hongjuan—this is Su Su Yuling's funeral. Don't go stirring up trouble here."

Niu Niu Hongjuan stopped speaking, knowing better. After all, this was Su Su Yuling's funeral. The woman had suffered enough; she wouldn't cause a scene here.

The others merely watched, not thinking much. Whose couple doesn't argue? It's just that today, it was the town chief and his wife.

Niu Niu Hongjuan looked at Seeing Jian Qiu beside Zhou Andong. "Dongzi, this is your girlfriend? I've heard she's beautiful, but I didn't expect her to be this gorgeous."

"Auntie, hello!" Seeing Jian Qiu politely greeted her.

"Good!" Niu Niu Hongjuan seemed in high spirits. "If you've got time these next two days, come over to my place. I'll cook you something special—wild game, stuff you rarely get to eat."

"Sure!" Seeing Jian Qiu agreed readily. Niu Niu Hongjuan was a bit overweight, tall and sturdy, but she left a good impression.

Niu Niu Hongjuan greeted Yuan Hongdang and the others, then turned to Yuan Yuan Hongzhan. "It's been four or five years since Old Lao Gada came back, hasn't it?"

"That's right," Yuan Yuan Hongzhan nodded. "Too far away, and I've got a job. Coming back with the whole family is too much trouble."

Niu Niu Hongjuan smiled. "You shouldn't have settled down there when you were discharged."

Yuan Yuan Hongzhan gave a bitter laugh. "What could I do? I've got three older brothers who can care for my parents. But my in-laws only had one daughter—my wife. If I brought her back, what would happen to them?"

Niu Niu Hongjuan nodded. "Lots of people gossip, calling you a son-in-law who moved in. Absolute nonsense. You're a man of loyalty and duty. Men like you are rare."

Yuan Yuan Hongzhan smiled but said nothing, when suddenly Huazhua shouted.

"Everyone, get ready—the coffin's leaving soon."

People grabbed flower wreaths and paper offerings. Huazhua placed the urn inside a paper sedan chair—sturdy enough, carried by four men.

Then nearly a hundred people marched in a long procession toward the western hillside. Just after eight, they reached the graveyard.

Su Su Yuling's husband's grave had already been dug up, covered with red cloth. With no surviving relatives, the ceremony was greatly simplified.

Huazhua placed the urn into the grave. "Su Yuling, you suffered your whole life. Now you've reunited with your husband. With him watching over you, you've nothing to fear. If you have time, go find your parents and brother—then your family will be whole again…"

Many people wept. The old village chief tilted his head upward, voice choked with emotion.

"This world is so unfair. Su Yuling fought so hard to live, yet heaven still didn't spare her."

"Where in the world is fairness?" Zhou Andong stared at a distant field of sorghum, bent and swaying in the wind. "What can sorghum say when the wind tosses it about? What can it say when sparrows swoop down and peck at it?"

Seeing Jian Qiu gripped Zhou Andong's hand, watching as the grave was slowly filled with shovelfuls of earth, tears welling in her red-rimmed eyes.

She didn't know if her tears were for Su Su Yuling, this wretched woman, or for the poor Su Su.

Someone lit the flower wreaths and paper offerings. Niu Niu Hongjuan threw the heavy machine gun and its bullets into the flames.

"Su Yuling, you must take the gun. Wait for Meng Shulin down there."

Yuan Yuan Hongbiao's eyelid twitched violently. His heart pounded furiously—he nearly had a heart attack.

The grave was filled. Everyone stood before it. Huazhua called out.

"Bow once! Bow twice! Bow three times!"

Afterward, the crowd turned silently and walked down the hill. Zhou Andong pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

He looked toward the horizon—green everywhere, full of life. Yet a life had vanished in this vibrant season.

Most people had already left. Seeing Jian Qiu whispered softly: "Let's go."

Zhou Andong nodded, glancing at Yuan Hai and the others waiting for him. "Let's head back."

When they returned, every table was full. The alleyways were packed. Everyone held giant bowls, squatting as they ate.

In the courtyard, many others held bowls—or even basins—lining up to get rice and stewed meat from the master chef.

Yesterday, Zhou Andong had told the old village chief: after the funeral, don't cook dishes—just stew several big pots of meat. Villagers could come and eat as much as they wanted.

The old village chief said nothing. Though people could now eat their fill, meat was still a rare treat. Since Zhou Andong offered, he wouldn't be the one to refuse.

Besides, the whole village had only about a hundred households. Zhou Andong had spent ten thousand yuan—plenty to feed everyone well, with money left over.

Then the master chef bellowed: "Stop shoving! There's plenty—enough for all of you. If I see anyone pushing again, get the hell out."

Everyone instantly fell silent and lined up properly.

The militia company commander walked over. "Young Master Zhou, Uncle Reporter Guan—there are two empty tables over there. We saved them for you."

Zhou Andong didn't refuse. He walked over and sat down—he was truly hungry.

The militia company commander brought over a large pot of stewed meat, placed it on the table, then served rice to Zhou Andong, Seeing Jian Qiu, and the old village chief.

Zhou Andong didn't hesitate. He scooped a generous ladleful of meat and broth into his bowl, stirred it, and started eating.

After eating a few bites, the old village chief glanced sideways at Zhou Andong, hesitated, hesitated again, then finally spoke up.

"Young Master Zhou, yesterday, Mayor Zuo came—was he here to ask you to invest?"