Chapter 475: Lin Chen from Linhu Village came to mourn

Quzhou Prefecture.

The Li residence was shrouded in a solemn white, with two white gauze lanterns hanging high at the gate.

The main gate was wide open, and many guests entered with solemn expressions.

The Li family was also a prominent family in Quzhou. With the passing of the old Master Li, many families in the entire Quzhou Prefecture sent people to mourn.

However, when the representatives of various families saw the two figures sitting in the front hall, they all had calculations in their hearts.

The Quzhou Prefect and the Martial Administration Office both sent people, but they were only deputies.

Old Master Li had served as the Quzhou Prefecture Martial Administration Office and the Quzhou Prefecture Prefect, and later held a post in the Jiangnan Dao Martial Administration. It stands to reason that with the passing of the old Master, the Quzhou Prefect and the Martial Administration Office Chief should both come.

But now, two deputies came, which is very intriguing.

"The Li family has no successors. This Li An does not have the talent and means of the old Master. The Li family is obviously going downhill. Those two must know this, so they didn't come to mourn."

"It's not the same as before. Old Master Li was only at the Sixth Rank realm during his lifetime, and now the Prefects and Martial Administration Office Chiefs of each prefecture are at least at the Fifth Rank realm, and there is no lack of Fourth Rank ones. Our Quzhou Prefecture's Prefect and Martial Administration Office Chief are at the Fourth Rank realm."

The Jiangnan Dao also belongs to a special line in Daliang. Most of the officials in the entire Jiangnan Dao have been replaced. In the entire Daliang official system, its importance is already comparable to the capital. The newly appointed Dao Chief of the Jiangnan Dao is at the First Rank realm.

A dignified Fourth Rank expert, why should he mourn for an old man who has retired for many years and was only at the Sixth Rank?

Understanding the attitude of these two main officials of Quzhou Prefecture towards the Li family, many families on the scene also had ideas. Competition within Daliang is also fierce. The Li family has quite a few businesses in Quzhou Prefecture. Now that old Master Li has passed away, Li An obviously cannot keep it. It is better to take action to seize the Li family's property one step earlier. If it is late, I am afraid that even soup will not be able to drink a mouthful.

……

In front of the mourning hall.

Li Qi knelt on the ground in plain clothes, her face full of tears. The grandfather who loved her most had left like this. Although the grandfather left very peacefully and it was a happy funeral, she was still incomparably sad in her heart.

Li An, who was on the side, saw his daughter crying, and his face also dimmed. He said to a young man on the side: "Xiao Han, help Qi'er up."

"Hmm."

Sheng Han nodded, stepped forward to support Li Qi's arm: "Qi'er, get up, the old Master left very peacefully, don't be too sad."

Li Qi did not get up, but turned to look at Sheng Han: "Brother Han, didn't your grandfather come?"

Hearing Li Qi's inquiry, the expression on Sheng Han's face had a trace of unnaturalness, and he explained: "Grandfather, he caught a cold and is also lying in bed, I'm afraid he can't come."

"Is Master Sheng sick?"

Li An heard Sheng Han's answer, with a look of surprise on his face, and asked with concern: "Is Master Sheng's illness serious?"

"Thanks to Uncle for your concern, the doctor said that he only needs to rest for half a month."

"That's good."

Li An breathed a sigh of relief. The Sheng family's power in Quzhou is not as good as their Li family, but his daughter took a fancy to Sheng Han, and he also felt that Sheng Han was good. At a young age, he is already at the Eighth Rank. With the support of the Li family and the Sheng family, it is not impossible to break through to the Fifth Rank in the future. By that time, the Li family in Quzhou will not be afraid of being missed by others.

Li Qi looked at her father's expression, but her mind recalled the words her grandfather said to her by the bedside three days ago.

"Qi'er, when you took a fancy to Sheng Han back then, I didn't agree. It's just that your girl's character is stubborn, and I could only let you go. But do you know why I didn't agree with your marriage contract with Sheng Han?"

"Grandfather, if you don't like me being with Sheng Han, I will go and cancel the marriage contract, as long as you are well."

"Silly girl, what silly things are you saying? Since the marriage contract has been set, how can it be easily canceled? The reason why I didn't agree is because the Sheng family's rise is not glorious. Sheng Han's grandfather, before entering the Martial Hall back then, had a marriage contract with a rich lady. Relying on the silver money given by this rich lady, he bought martial arts resources and ranked at the top of the Martial Hall, receiving the attention of the Martial Administration Office. It's just that after he broke through to the Ninth Rank, he canceled the marriage contract with the woman and married the daughter of his mentor."

"There is such a thing, why didn't you tell me, Grandfather?"

"I also found out after sending people to investigate. Sheng Han's grandfather took three thousand taels of silver from the woman back then, and finally gave the woman six thousand taels to cancel the marriage contract. It seems that he didn't owe anything, but how can the three thousand taels when he was poor be compared to the six thousand taels after he became rich? The Sheng family's way of doing things is not thick, and the family style is like this. I am worried that the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked."

"Grandfather, Brother Han shouldn't be such a person."

"Qi'er, Grandfather asks you, have you ever told Sheng Han about the relationship between Grandfather and Lin Chen back then?"

"No…… Grandfather, you told me not to tell anyone, I didn't tell Brother Han."

"If you didn't tell, that's good. I hope he is not the same person as his grandfather. Grandfather tells you these things to entrust you with one thing. After I leave, see if Sheng Han's grandfather will come to mourn me. If he comes, then it's fine. If he doesn't come…… I'm afraid the Sheng family feels that my Li family is going to fall, and has other ideas."

……

"Qi'er, what are you thinking about?"

Her thoughts were pulled back. Looking at Sheng Han's concerned expression, Li Qi inexplicably felt a bit disgusted, but she still suppressed her emotions and asked: "Brother Han, have you told your grandfather about the news of my grandfather's passing?"

"This…… The doctor said that grandfather is physically weak now and cannot withstand stimulation and sadness. My father and I have been hiding it and haven't told grandfather, just because we are afraid that grandfather will hear about this and be overly sad, making his body worsen."

Hearing Sheng Han's answer, the last hope in Li Qi's heart was extinguished.

Grandfather was right, the Sheng family really wanted to change their minds, and Sheng Han must also know about it.

"Qi'er, Sheng Han is right. Master Sheng is also at the age of eighty, and if he is sick, he cannot be stimulated again. You have to understand."

Li An listened to his daughter's tone of blame and questioning, and helped Sheng Han out on the side.

"Dad, let's cancel the marriage contract with the Sheng family."

Li Qi looked at her father. The words she said made Li An and Sheng Han stunned at the same time. The difference was that after Sheng Han reacted, a trace of joy flashed in his eyes. This trace of joy was not captured by Li An, but Li Qi saw it clearly.

"Nonsense, Qi'er, what are you talking about? This marriage contract was set by the two families. How can it be canceled without reason? How can you let your grandfather leave with peace of mind?"

Li An scolded: "I know you are sad and sad because your grandfather passed away, but you shouldn't be impulsive. Sheng Han also said that Master Sheng is sick and cannot come. We have to understand."

"I can't understand, Dad…… I have decided to cancel this marriage contract."

"Qi'er, I know you are angry now. Let's put the matter of canceling the marriage aside for now. Can we wait until your grandfather's funeral is held?"

Sheng Han opened his mouth on the side, with a face of understanding. However, Li Qi felt incomparably hypocritical in her eyes at this moment. She only blamed herself for being blinded by lard before and failing to see Sheng Han's true face.

"Dad, this is what grandfather told me before he left. If Sheng Han's grandfather didn't come to mourn, then the marriage contract between me and Sheng Han would be abolished."

Seeing that her father still wanted to persuade, Li Qi directly moved out her grandfather. Li An's words were blocked instantly.

"Qi'er!"

Sheng Han raised his voice, and his face also turned cold: "I know your grandfather passed away, you are sad in your heart, but you shouldn't be so unreasonable. My grandfather is sick and lying in bed. If I ask my grandfather to drag his sick body to mourn for our marriage, isn't this unfilial?"

"So, you and I cancel the marriage contract, then you don't have to be unfilial, and continue to be your Sheng family's filial grandson." ===== CHAPTER 476 =====