Chapter 4: The Funeral

After Lady Liu and Lady Yu left the Xiao residence, Lady Sun finally breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced at Lin Qiuran several times and asked, “Qiuran, what you said just now—was that to make your mother leave, or…?”

Lady Sun wanted to ask whether Lin Qiuran’s words were said casually or if she truly meant them.

As Xiao Xun’s mother, Lady Sun naturally wished for Lin Qiuran to keep the child. Yet she couldn’t force her; what if Lin Qiuran secretly wished to harm herself or deliberately injured her pregnancy? If the child was lost, the mother might suffer severe consequences as well.

But today, hearing Lin Qiuran say she wanted to give birth to the child—even if it was just a pretext—gave Lady Sun a glimmer of hope. Still, she had to ask.

Lin Qiuran nodded. “I want to keep the child myself. Xiao Xun is gone, and it pains me deeply, but the dead do not return. Mother, I did have feelings for Xiao Xun, but I feared that giving birth without a father would leave us mother and child alone and unsupported. However, after all these days, seeing how you and Father treat me better than your own daughter, always thinking of me, my heart softens.”

Her voice faltered as she lowered her head. Tears did not come; she merely wiped the corners of her eyes. Though she thought keeping the child would benefit her—her natal family was unreliable—it was better to stay with the Xiao family.

Better to raise her own child than someone else’s, though she could never say this to Lady Sun or Xiao Dashí.

Both of them were grateful she would bear the child and promised to care for her and the baby even more. Lin Qiuran had already considered keeping the child, and the visits from Lady Liu and Lady Yu today only strengthened that resolve.

Remarrying was uncertain; it was safer to stay with the Xiao family.

Tears streamed down Lady Sun’s face—tears of joy. Xiao Dashí entered and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

Lady Sun cried into his arms, choking on her words. “Your son… Qiuran said she wants to keep the child.”

Xiao Xun’s death was a heavy burden on them both. Xiao Dashí’s hair had turned white these days; he looked older by more than a year. The loss of a younger generation to an elder was a tragedy, but Lady Sun hoped Lin Qiuran would keep the child.

Xiao Dashí wept as well, and the two of them embraced, weeping bitterly. Lin Qiuran sighed. From an outsider’s perspective, Lady Sun and Xiao Dashí had it tough too.

After they cried themselves out, Lady Sun washed her face and went to the kitchen to simmer fish soup. It was still morning when she boiled two eggs for Lin Qiuran’s breakfast.

Alongside the food, she brought a small pouch of money and some yellowed papers—property deeds.

Sitting opposite Lin Qiuran, Lady Sun said, “Qiuran, eat first. I want to tell you about the family affairs.”

Lin Qiuran nodded, eating as she listened.

Lady Sun continued, “Our family owns these three rooms—the deeds are here—and three acres of land, with the land deed too. After Xiao Xun’s death, the government gave no compensation, but they waived five years of land taxes. The money I mentioned before—there’s about three taels left, plus five taels from selling Lingzhi mushrooms. I’m getting old; from now on, you will manage the household.”

Lin Qiuran said, “Mother, that’s not right.”

Lady Sun replied, “Don’t refuse. You’re both daughter and daughter-in-law. It’s your duty. We don’t have much money; you’ll have to bear with it.”

Lin Qiuran understood Lady Sun’s intention was to ease her mind. But was she not afraid she might run off with the money?

She glanced at Xiao Dashí, who nodded. “If your mother gives it to you, then take it. Buy whatever you need.”

Lin Qiuran nodded and took the small silver coins, leaving the copper coins untouched. “You and Father will still need money. I’ll save the bulk.”

Lady Sun smiled broadly. “Eat quickly. Your father and I are thinking of making a gravestone for Xiao Xun, even though there is no body. We’ll invite the villagers; the house has plenty of food. I’ll handle everything—you don’t need to worry.”

There was fish too; at least he would have a proper farewell.

Lin Qiuran almost forgot about this. Although there was no corpse, the funeral rites still had to be done. Setting up a symbolic grave was to ensure rest in peace. Besides, the Xiao family would attend others’ funerals; they had to return the courtesy.

Preparing the feast was Lin Qiuran’s specialty. If others saw her skills, she might find a livelihood.

“I’ll take care of this, Mother,” she said.

Though the era was far from abundant, and meat was scarce, she could manage. Scarcity would showcase her skills.

Lady Sun said, “You’re pregnant. Why trouble yourself?”

Lin Qiuran replied, “This is Xiao Xun’s funeral. I must see him off properly. Besides, since you’ve left the house in my care, you should listen to me.”

Lady Sun paused, then nodded. “I’m not stopping you; I just worry about your health.”

Lin Qiuran said, “I know what I’m doing.”

She was pregnant but had to support herself. Besides, Lady Sun and Xiao Dashí were in their forties, and life expectancy was short in this era. She couldn’t rely entirely on them. She never expected that returning to her former trade would be to prepare for her late husband’s funeral.

Lin Qiuran glanced at the fish soup Lady Sun had made that morning. It was a bit bland, pale, not the pure milky white she would have aimed for, though the fish was fresh. If she made it, the taste would be better.

She thought that if the dishes turned out well, she could bring them to the county town to sell—start small, test the waters, and expand if successful.

The next day, Lady Sun went door to door informing neighbors about the funeral. Lin Qiuran learned the Xiao family was connected to many villagers. Xiao Dashí had brothers, but contact had been broken years ago.

The Xiao family lived at the east end of the village, with relatives at the west end. For Xiao Xun’s funeral, they arranged four tables, each seating ten, with six dishes per table.

In the village, this was a respectable feast. Everyone was poor; six dishes were quite generous. Lin Qiuran already had ideas for the menu.

Lady Sun busied herself, though Lin Qiuran said she would handle the preparations. She still helped—four fish could be made, and vegetables from the garden picked and washed.

They also gathered Xiao Xun’s clothes for burial.

This time, Lady Sun did not weep. Though her son was gone, she still had her daughter-in-law and grandchild. If Lin Qiuran could keep her child, that was a blessing enough; she no longer cared if the baby was boy or girl.

In the afternoon, Lin Qiuran planned the dishes: fish as the pure meat dish, one per table. The other dishes from recent lunches could be added: stir-fried pumpkin with some meat, green pepper with eggplant for vegetables.

The household had plenty of eggplants, so she would make “Three Fresh Delights from the Earth” — a classic dish with eggplant, potatoes, and peppers. That made four dishes: three hot, one cold, with two meat and two vegetable dishes.

Two more were planned: smashed cucumber with a special sauce—so good it could be called “shoe sole dipping sauce,” as Lady Sun said—and minced pork with tofu, which Lady Sun would replace with some meat the next morning.

These six dishes would complete the feast.

Meat was hard to come by in the village; if they missed the pig slaughter, they’d have to go to the county town, ten miles away. Lady Sun would have to rise early to fetch it.

That evening, Lin Qiuran took out the money. “Mother, I’ve eaten all the chickens at home. Should we catch a few young ones?”

Lady Sun nodded. “You always think ahead, Qiuran.”

Early the next morning, Lady Sun left for the county town before dawn. Xiao Dashan brought back a coffin, and white cloth was tied around the Xiao residence.

Lin Qiuran wore mourning attire, with a white flower pinned at her temple.

The elders and neighbors buried Xiao Xun in the ancestral grave, sparing Lin Qiuran the task. She merely wiped a tear symbolically.

Lady Sun’s eyes were red as she burned paper offerings, whispering to the new grave, “Please protect Qiuran and the child. Keep them safe…”

After scattering the paper money, Lady Sun breathed easier and invited everyone to lunch before rushing home to help.

But when she returned, Lin Qiuran had everything orderly. Lady Sun didn’t know how to assist.

Lin Qiuran had experience preparing feasts—ten or twenty tables with a dozen dishes each. The key was prepping ingredients early—frying, marinating, steaming—so cooking and plating were effortless.

She’d sautéed the minced pork, fried the tofu, steamed the eggplant, and prepped the “Three Fresh Delights.” The main fish dish was already fried with a light coating of flour.

Lady Sun thought the frying oil was excessive but said nothing, respecting her daughter-in-law’s authority.

Lady Sun asked, “Qiuran, what should I do?”

Lin Qiuran replied, “It’s time to serve the dishes. Let me stir-fry the rest.”

Serving always started with cold dishes, then hot. The smashed cucumber with sauce was poured over immediately, making the flavors more intense. With a crowd and few dishes, portions had to be ample. The smashed pepper eggplant was served in a full basin.

Many from the Xiao family came, including Lady Liu, who didn’t bring her daughter-in-law this time after their last unpleasant meeting.

Villagers watching this scene felt both pity and relief; at least the Xiao family had an heir. If needed, Lin Qiuran could remarry.

Lady Liu, hearing the whispers, grew anxious. Soon the meal was served, and conversations ceased.

The smashed cucumber was a common dish, but the Xiao family’s version was unique—tangy, spicy, crisp, with a hint of garlic that refreshed the palate and eased the summer heat.

The spicy eggplant was soft and melting, with garlic and chili perfectly combined, making it delicious.

One auntie remarked, “This is Qiuran’s handiwork—really good!”

Had it not been a funeral, the Xiao family would have been proud and asked for the recipe.

Lady Sun oversaw the serving, urging everyone to eat well. The next dish was the “Three Fresh Delights,” prepared in one pot and divided into four plates.

Seeing Lin Qiuran serving carefully, Lady Sun said, “You can’t serve so little. You’re the cook; you can’t expect guests to leave you leftovers.”

Lin Qiuran smiled. “Then I’ll keep some for myself.”

Lady Sun warned, “If you’re hungry, eat it. I’ll do the cooking.”

Lin Qiuran arranged the dishes again. She planned to rely on this skill for work, so she was determined to handle the cooking herself.

“Mother, let’s serve,” she said.

Lin Qiuran’s final dish was braised fish, pre-fried and then simmered in sauce. It took a long time.

When all the dishes were served, Lin Qiuran portioned some rice for herself and ate quietly in the kitchen. After a morning of work, she was hungry.

Except for the two cold dishes, she saved the rest.

She made an extra fish, while outside Xiao Dashí and Lady Sun ate with the guests, inevitably mentioning Xiao Xun.

Lin Qiuran ate comfortably alone.

She first tasted the fish—fresh, firm, and springy. The fried skin softened in the sauce, and dipping the meat in the broth enhanced its flavor.

The minced pork with tofu was delicious, fried in lard. A spoonful mixed into rice was intoxicatingly fragrant.

If the household had more fat, she had another favorite dish: pork and dried tofu, which absorbed more sauce than regular tofu.

After the meal, many praised Lady Sun and Xiao Dashí’s good fortune. “With such a capable daughter-in-law, the family won’t be short of care.”

Someone told Lady Liu, “Your daughter really has skill. You’ve raised a good girl.”

Lady Liu thought bitterly, What use is a good daughter if she’s raised for another family? Stubborn as a mule, she refused to remarry.

When Lin Qiuran finished and stepped outside, many villagers had already left. Aunt Yu, a close friend of Lady Sun, said, “Qiuran, your cooking’s excellent. If we have any events, we’ll ask you to be the cook.”

Lin Qiuran was delighted.

Lady Liu, seeing this, quickly pulled her aside. “Child, what are you thinking? Do you really want to stay in the Xiao family and have the child here?”