Chapter 60
After achieving such an honor and returning to the city, Fang Yu should have been busy attending endless celebratory banquets. Many powerful families in the city wished to host him, but they were shocked to encounter a funeral instead. For a time, everyone sighed with pity and regret, having no opportunity to socialize or curry favor through feasts.
The next day, the house was draped in white mourning. Servants and maids all changed into plain clothing, with white sashes tied around their waists. Overnight, the residence that should have been vibrantly hung with red silks, filled with the sounds of music and clinking cups, became completely shrouded in a somber atmosphere.
The house was filled with noise and commotion. Servants hurried back and forth, tending to countless tasks. Having already changed into the coarse hemp mourning clothes, Fang Yu remained in his study for over an hour, carefully reviewing the many rules and rituals required for the formal period of filial mourning.
Confucius said: "While [parents] are alive, serve them according to ritual. When they die, bury them according to ritual and sacrifice to them according to ritual."
Nowadays, observing mourning was a mandatory system bound by state law and required utmost caution.
The mourning period lasted three years. During this time, one could not take up an official post, participate in imperial examinations, marry, attend grand banquets, or visit places of entertainment for pleasure. In the first year of mourning, one must avoid intimacy with women; even between husband and wife, it was best to sleep in separate rooms and reduce conjugal relations... In short, there were a great many rules and restrictions.
Fang Yu's head ached from reading it all. Missing next year's metropolitan exam was one thing, but the prohibition on conjugal relations was simply extinguishing human desire.
"Master, all the masters have arrived. You should go to the mourning hall now."
Fang Yu put away the book and stood up. "Alright."
The mourning hall was filled with monks, chanting scriptures one moment, then beating gongs and blowing horns the next. Incense, candles, and spirit money were all burning, making the air thick with smoke and noise. Madam Chen's coffin rested in the center. He had to wear his mourning clothes and follow behind the monks performing the rites, stopping and starting, going through the motions before finally kneeling before the coffin to burn paper money and wail in mourning...
Although Fang Yu had never personally arranged a funeral before, he was generally aware of the procedures. However, the practices of this time were far more complex and intricate.
Just before entering the mourning hall, Qiao Hezhi stopped Fang Yu.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell from all the noise and bustle at home?"
Qiao Hezhi was dressed entirely in white mourning clothes, his waist cinched with two ropes of hemp, making him appear exceptionally slender. Fang Yu's mind drifted momentarily to the saying, 'If you want to look beautiful, wear mourning white.'
"What are you zoning out for! It might be fine for you to enter the mourning hall, but I've heard these rituals are quite mysterious, full of nuances." Qiao Hezhi pulled him aside to a quiet spot and tied a small sachet to Fang Yu's waist. "I requested it from the monks. They said it not only protects the person but can also safeguard against other things."
Fang Yu looked at the delicate little sachet and couldn't help but smile. "So mysterious? It even smells of incense. It must not have been cheap."
"I stitched the pouch myself. I only asked the monks to prepare and bless the contents. Since it's intended to ward off more than just ordinary harm, the charge was naturally higher."
There you go, getting your money taken and feeling reassured about it. "Why didn't the master give you an umbrella? Isn't that what's written in those stories—female ghosts hide inside umbrellas? They slip in when the umbrella is closed and jump out when it's opened. So convenient."
"You and your glib tongue. Are you the female ghost then?"
Fang Yu pursed his lips, secretly smiling, which annoyed Qiao Hezhi so much he gave him a hard punch.
"Ahem!" Mother Qiao walked in from outside. Seeing the young couple still bantering and flirting here, she frowned and said, "Guests coming to offer condolences are starting to arrive outside."
"With the son-in-law keeping vigil before the coffin, you come with Mother to receive the guests outside. Besides relatives from the Fang family's hometown in the countryside, many influential families from the city have also come to offer condolences. We must not be negligent."
Fang Yu patted Qiao Hezhi's hand gently and said, "Those from the countryside, if they are well-mannered, receive them properly. Hezhi, you know how to handle things. Go on."
Qiao Hezhi nodded.
The monks had calculated that the burial would take place tomorrow at maoshi two marks past the hour (approximately 5:28-5:29 AM). According to mourning customs, close friends and relatives would come to offer condolences that evening, and the family had to host a dinner for them. The next morning, a simple meal would be served. If the burial time was early, they would eat after returning from the mountain. If it was late, they would eat before going up.
Since Fang Yu could not accept banquet invitations, influential families in the city naturally sought other ways to connect. A funeral was not like a wedding feast; one couldn't just show up without an invitation for a happy event. For such a sorrowful occasion, it was considered good-hearted for others to bring gifts and offer condolences. Naturally, people wouldn't miss this opportunity, so the number of visitors far exceeded the original plan.
It truly was a case of 'when poor, you're forgotten even in a bustling market; when rich, distant relatives seek you out even in deep mountains.'
With his father-in-law and mother-in-law coming over to help manage the guest reception, Fang Yu was most at ease. Twirling the small sachet at his waist with his fingers, he went to keep vigil in the mourning hall.
The busyness continued until nightfall. The Fang family had only one son. Fang Yu spent the entire night before the coffin, with the chanting and drumming, burning spirit money, and wailing. When he finally got a little free time, he still had to go out to receive guests. Early the next morning, he followed the coffin up the mountain for the burial. He was busy until the seventh-day memorial rites had passed before peace finally returned to the household.
Fang Yu stood with his hands clasped behind his back under the eaves of Changshou Hall, looking at the plaque, and couldn't help but sigh softly. This plaque hadn't fulfilled its purpose; from now on, this place would likely become very quiet.
[长寿 Chángshòu): long life or longevity]
"Achoo!"
After handling most of the filial duties alone for so many days, his body was beginning to struggle. Coinciding with the changing seasons, two nights ago the wind picked up and it rained. He had stood vigil in the mourning hall for much of the night, feeling a creeping chill settle in, but he was too busy to pay it much mind. Only now, with the strain finally easing, did he notice how weak and unsteady his arms and legs felt.
"Xuezhu, go to the medical hall and get me some medicine for common cold. I'm going back to my room to sleep."
"Is Master unwell?"
"It's nothing serious, just a simple headache and slight fever," Fang Yu said. "No need to make a big fuss. I don't want Zhengfu to worry."
"Understood. Shall this servant help Master back to his room to rest first?"
Fang Yu waved his hand. "Just go and get the medicine."
By the late ninth month of the lunar calendar, the lingering heat in Yuncheng could no longer stir up much of a ripple anymore. This autumn had seen a lot of rain. Villagers who harvested their crops late suffered from the rain while drying their grains. The rain-soaked grain began to spoil, turning moldy and making it useless—neither fit for people to eat nor safe to feed to livestock. He had only heard his father-in-law mention this in passing during these busy days. After resting for a day, he would still need to sort out the accounts for the autumn harvest with the tenant farmers.
Thinking about this, Fang Yu fell asleep. When he opened his eyes again, candles were lit in the room, and outside was pitch black. He didn't know what time of night it was.
As he tried to prop himself up, he felt his forehead, as if it had dried after a heavy sweat, chillingly cold. His whole body lacked strength. Hearing the movement, a figure hurried in from outside the bedroom, quickly fetching a pillow to place behind his back.
Fang Yu saw that the person sitting by the bed, looking directly at him, had distinctly red eyes but pursed lips and wore a stern expression. "Feeling unwell and not saying anything sooner, insisting on bearing it alone. Now look, you've fallen ill."
"You've slept for more than three hours. If you hadn't woken up soon, people would have thought your soul had been taken."
Seeing Fang Yu remain silent, just looking at him motionlessly, Qiao Hezhi felt a pang of anxiety. He tentatively reached out and pinched Fang Yu's cheek. Perhaps because of the cold, or maybe from sleeping too long, his face was warm and slightly flushed.
"You... why aren't you saying anything?"
Seeing the person before him pouting slightly, lowering his eyelids, and talking for a while, Fang Yu chuckled softly. He clasped Qiao Hezhi's hand against his own face, tilting his head, and said, "My head hurts terribly, and you're still scolding me."
Just woken up and still bearing some illness, Fang Yu's voice wasn't as clear and sharp as usual. There was a hint of nasal tone, making his pleading tone sound genuinely pitiful.
"Fine, I won't scold you anymore," Qiao Hezhi said, his heart aching for him. He turned to the table, fetched a bowl of medicine, and said, "Just reheated, the temperature is just right. Drink it quickly, you'll recover faster."
Qiao Hezhi scooped a spoonful, blew on it in front of his lips, and brought it to Fang Yu's mouth. Fang Yu obediently drank several mouthfuls.
"After the medicine, I'll have Siyu bring some plain congee. You didn't eat anything this afternoon, don't go hungry."
Fang Yu nodded. Following Qiao Hezhi's lead, he ate the congee.
Illness strikes like a collapsing mountain. No matter how healthy one usually is, once ill, all strength vanishes, and the mind feels heavy and sluggish.
After feeding him medicine and congee, Qiao Hezhi felt Fang Yu was still warm. He went to get a cloth, dipped it in water, and wiped his face and body.
Fang Yu had originally intended to use his illness to cling to Qiao Hezhi and act spoiled, but seeing him bustling around with a furrowed brow that never relaxed, he couldn't bear to pretend anymore. He took Qiao Hezhi's hand and said, "It's not that serious. You don't need to worry so much."
"How can I not worry? Logically, you're not someone who falls ill often, yet you suddenly became sick like this." Qiao Hezhi's eyes shifted, and he leaned close to Fang Yu's chin, whispering, "Could it be because you spent too long in the mourning hall and were affected by the monks' chanting of the sutras for the deceased?"
Fang Yu slapped his own forehead, thinking here we go again. He didn't know when his fulang would rid himself of this superstitious habit. He hooked an arm around Qiao Hezhi's slender shoulders and back, pulling him under the quilt. "It's not that mysterious. Besides, haven't I been carrying the sachet you gave me these past few days?"
"Be careful! You've messed up my hair! You're the one who said it might be swindling me for money; you can't guarantee it's completely effective either."
"My dear, I just have a common cold. How about you test whether I'm actually alright?"
Qiao Hezhi quickly pushed Fang Yu away. "Don't be reckless! Have you forgotten the rules of mourning?"
Fang Yu sighed. "Of course I haven't. Since I'm a patient, please stay and keep me company for the night."
"I will definitely take good care of you," Qiao Hezhi said, climbing out of bed. "Although with the funeral at home, everything should be kept simple, but there's been a lot of rain this year, and some crops have suffered. Father and Mother have decided to distribute grain and some supplies to aid the disaster victims. After all, such a rare joyous event as passing the provincial exam should still be celebrated. We'll do it in the Qiao family's name. You should go along for a visit then, and that will be appropriate."
"My father-in-law and mother-in-law have truly worked hard for our affairs recently. I should also properly express my gratitude."
"What gratitude? Father and Mother said that now, with no elders above you, you are alone. They said they must take better care of you from now on."
Fang Yu held Qiao Hezhi's hand. "Who says I'm alone? I still have my fulang, and in the future, we'll have children."
Qiao Hezhi smiled and gently patted his forehead. "Alright, I know. After drinking the medicine, go to sleep early. You'll recover faster. I'll stay right here and keep watch."
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