Chapter 1567: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 1567: Zhang Sheng's Sense of Crisis

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Past ten in the morning.

Everyone came together to the funeral home.

Niu Chunsheng's body lay there, quiet and still, in a farewell hall.

The mortician had already applied makeup, so the skin-and-bones frame didn't look too ghastly.

A white cloth covered the body, only the head showing.

Fresh flowers filled the surroundings, making him look presentable enough.

His slightly parted mouth made him look as if he were fast asleep, so peaceful you felt he might start snoring the next second.

The farewell ritual began.

The funeral home's master of ceremonies followed the procedure, speaking words of remembrance for Niu Chunsheng.

After the words, family and friends began their farewells.

Queue up, offer incense, see him one last time, then turn and leave.

Once the process finished, Niu Chunsheng's body was taken to the cremation chamber beside the funeral home for cremation.

During this, relatives weeping, friends shedding tears, bystanders sighing were inevitable.

Lin Xiaofang and Niu Linxin even fainted from crying several times.

Life's greatest pain is nothing more than parting in life and death.

In this departure, a hundred-odd jin of flesh and blood turned into two or three jin of ashes — arriving lightly in the mortal world, departing lightly.

Only in the deep of night, in a sudden glance back, do longing and memory suddenly become a thousand-jin boulder pressing on the chest, leaving one breathless.

From now on, his life exists only in the memories of relatives and friends.

The three Wang brothers bustled all morning — receiving guests, arranging transport vehicles, organizing the funeral banquet.

Twelve noon.

Niu Chunsheng's body was cremated.

Unlike a rural funeral, after Niu Chunsheng was burned, his remains weren't placed in a golden urn; instead an extra step was taken — the bones were processed into ashes and put into an urn.

Because Lin Xiaofang and Niu Linxin didn't plan to bury Niu Chunsheng back in his rural hometown.

If buried back in the rural hometown, paying respects every year would be very troublesome.

They planned to bury Niu Chunsheng in the cemetery north of the county town, and the cemetery not only requires purchasing a plot but only accepts ash interment.

Past one in the afternoon.

Niu Chunsheng's ashes were brought back into the county town and temporarily placed at home.

The three Wang brothers rushed back and forth, taking guests to Lixin Grand Hotel for the banquet.

After the banquet ended and all guests were seen off, it was already nearly three in the afternoon.

Wang Dashan took out a pack of cigarettes, handed one to Wang Erhai, and couldn't help but sigh:

"Uncle Chunsheng never did a dishonest thing in his life, and he was devoted to both family and work — why did he go so early? Heaven has no eyes."

Wang Erhai gave a bitter smile:

"Who knows? Maybe Heaven has always been like this."

Wang Xiaohua, standing nearby, spoke up:

"This has nothing to do with Heaven — he just pushed himself too hard, ignored his own health, and that's what led to this. Big Brother, Second Brother, you two take it easy at work — health is most important!"

Wang Dashan said:

"I'm perfectly healthy, and I haven't formally worked in a long time — it's you two who need to watch your health!"

Wang Erhai took a deep drag:

"Indeed need to watch my health — I don't want my daughter to lose her dad while she's still so young. From now on I'll set aside time every day to exercise. Third Brother, you watch out too!"

Wang Xiaohua nodded.

Time flew to past five in the afternoon.

Wang Dashan and Li Xiulan left for Guangzhou first — they still had to catch a flight back to Anhui tonight.

Wang Erhai and Wang Xiaohua also said goodbye and left.

Niu Linxin hurriedly took the initiative to see them both downstairs.

Reaching downstairs, Niu Linxin suddenly asked Wang Xiaohua:

"Brother Xiaohua, you say if I had been more sensible before, would Dad have lived a bit longer?"

Wang Xiaohua was stunned, hurriedly comforted her:

"Lin Xin, don't think like that — this has nothing to do with you. Your dad's illness wasn't caused by you."

But Niu Linxin cried:

"It was caused by me. If I'd made him angry less, worried him less, he wouldn't have worked himself so hard — if he hadn't worked himself so hard, he wouldn't have gotten sick! Brother Xiaohua, what should I do from now on?"

Niu Linxin threw herself into Wang Xiaohua's arms, crying.

Wang Xiaohua could only comfort her:

"Don't overthink it. After you go back to school, study hard — not for anything else, just to fulfill your dad's dying wish. If you get into a good university, your dad's spirit in heaven will find some comfort."

Niu Linxin nodded:

"Brother Xiaohua, I'll definitely study hard. I'll never let my dad down again."

Wang Erhai couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Everyone has left; what use is it doing this now?

Perhaps there's still some use, though — at least Niu Linxin has become sensible; she should have no problem living independently in society from now on.

Wang Erhai and Wang Xiaohua persuaded Niu Linxin for a good while, and only left after she stopped crying.

Wang Xiaohua returned to the Town; although he had taken leave today, a lot of work still needed processing, so he had to hurry back.

Wang Erhai, on the other hand, went back to Liguo Mountain.

He arrived at Liguo Mountain, and it was already nearing off-duty time.

He had just sat down in his office chair when he called Zhang Sheng:

"General Manager Zhang, Aunt Xiaofang asked me to tell you, thank you for being able to attend Uncle Chunsheng's farewell ceremony today."

Zhang Sheng's voice came from the other end of the phone:

"No need for politeness; Niu Zong and I are not only business partners, but also friends in life. Sigh, to tell the truth, him passing away so young is truly heartrending."

Wang Erhai then said:

"Regarding Uncle Chunsheng's company business, as agreed before, you take it over; however, the profits of his company must go to Uncle Chunsheng's family. I hope General Manager Zhang can keep your promise."

Zhang Sheng laughed and readily agreed:

"That's a given; even without you saying it I'd do the same. They're a widow and orphan — if I still went and seized their benefits, that would be too unconscionable! Besides, your Third Brother already called me just now; I know how to handle it."

"My Third Brother called you?" Wang Erhai was stunned.

He hadn't expected that Wang Xiaohua would call Zhang Sheng a step ahead of him.

He even less knew that the call Wang Xiaohua made to Zhang Sheng was far more pointed in wording than what he was saying now.

Although Zhang Sheng disliked hearing what Wang Xiaohua said in his heart, those words also alerted him, making him realize that Wang Xiaohua truly attached great importance to the proper settlement of Niu Chunsheng's company and family.

If Zhang Sheng played tricks in the middle, there was a very high possibility Wang Xiaohua would actually go deal with him.

Although Wang Xiaohua is currently just a minor township cadre, Zhang Sheng didn't dare underestimate him either; after all, Xiao Xueqing stands behind Wang Xiaohua, and he's not the same as ordinary grassroots township officials.

At the same time, it also gave Zhang Sheng a sense of crisis:

This kid Wang Xiaohua — if he can never become his own camp's person, then later when he grows up, I'm afraid he'll be even more troublesome...