Chapter 22: Settling in the Hut and Guarding the Tomb

  Zhou Tong left the world, Yue Fei cried so much that his heart was broken, and everyone else was also grief-stricken. Wang asked the servants to bring out the fragrant coffin, which had been prepared for his mother, but now Zhou Tong suddenly passed away, he could only make do with it temporarily. Zhang Da busied himself preparing the deceased's clothes and hat, while Tang Wen-zhong busied himself inviting monks and Taoist priests to come and perform rituals.

  "Sir Wang, Old Hero Zhou entrusted me with a task before he passed away, and I must inform you of it now that his spirit has not yet departed. On our way back to Qilin Village, we passed by Lishui Mountain, where he pointed to a high ground and told me that he wanted to be buried there after his death. He hoped to see how his four disciples would leave Qilin Village and return in glory. This would bring him peace even in death. He said that the land belongs to your family, and I was only to mention this to you after his passing. I don't know if you will agree?"

  "As it is the last will of an old hero, how can I not comply? The greatest hero of the Song Dynasty being buried in Lishui Mountain is an honor to my family. Magistrate Li, rest assured that if the old hero wants to be buried there, I will definitely follow his wishes." Wang's father readily agreed.

  "I'll take my leave first, and when the old hero ascends the mountain that day, send someone to inform me, and I'll come to see him off again." Li Chun said, came to Yue Fei's side, helped him up, and advised: "Son-in-law, a dead person cannot be revived, mourn with dignity and change. I know you and Old Hero Zhou have a deep father-son relationship, and it's hard for you to part with him. We all can't bear to part with him either. As the saying goes, 'Yan Wang wants you to die at three o'clock, and won't let you stay until five o'clock'. This is also an unavoidable thing."

  "My father-in-law, I know you have a good heart. But with my brother-in-law passing away so suddenly, how can I not be heartbroken? Over the past few years, he has shown me great kindness and taught me martial arts, as well as the principles of being a person. He also traveled far and wide to search for my younger brother, Yue Teng, and eventually fell ill from exhaustion. Thinking back on all this, doesn't it make me feel deeply grieved?" Yue Fei said with tears streaming down his face.

  Everyone who heard this respected Yue Fei even more for his character.

  At noon, all the staff outside prepared clothes and helped Zhou Tong bathe and put on his coffin. The hearse was parked inside Wangjiazhuang. In the village, a dojo was set up, four monks and two Taoist priests were invited to perform 49 days of Buddhist rituals, and then the hearse was sent to the high ground of Lishan Mountain.

  After the funeral, everyone left one after another. Only the four brothers of Yue Fei remained in the cemetery. The three officials understood what was in the children's hearts and didn't dare to stop them, so they let them follow Yue Fei.

  Yue Fei set up a simple grass shed in the cemetery and stayed inside guarding the tomb.

  Zhang Xian, Tang Huai and Wang Gui saw that their elder brother was determined to stay with the master to guard the tomb, so they had no choice but to stay behind and accompany him.

  It had been forty-nine days since the seventh of July, and winter was already setting in. Several officials took pity on their sons and took them away.

  In the cemetery, only Yue Fei refused to leave. Winter had gone and spring arrived, and before long it was the Qingming Festival in February. The officials and their children came to pay respects to Zhou Tong and also to persuade Yue Fei to return home.

  "Peng Ju, your old mother is at home with no one to take care of her. It's not suitable for you to stay here for long. You'd better pack up and return to Qilin Village with us." Wang urged.

  Yue Fei bluntly refused and said he would observe a three-year mourning period.

  "Dad, don't try to persuade him anymore. Brother Yue is a stubborn man, once he's made up his mind, no one can change it. Let me just dismantle this shed first and see where he'll live." Wang Gui said and was about to take action.

  Zhang Xian and Tang Huai saw this, clapped their hands in delight. They also walked over to help Wang Gui work together.

  The brothers went to dismantle the thatched hut in three or five minutes, and before long, they had dismantled it completely. As they were all their own brothers, Yue Fei couldn't lose his temper at them in front of the outsiders, so he could only kneel in front of his master's tomb and cry loudly.

  "Uncle and others, you all go back first! I'll stay with the three younger brothers to accompany Master for a while longer." Yue Fei turned around and thanked the three uncles before agreeing with them.

  "Dad, you all go back! We'll keep Master company for a while," said Wang Gui.

  "Alright! You must bring your brother-in-law back with you." Wang Yuanwai reminded them as he sat in his sedan chair and left. Zhang Da and Tang WenZhong, the two officials, also rode their sedan chairs back home separately.

  Four brothers picked up a mountain mouth and sat down, where you can see the beautiful scenery of Lishui Mountain and also see the smoke from Qilin Village.

  Zhang Xian, Tang Huai and Wang Gui ordered the servants to open the fruit box, bring out the offerings, wine and food. The four brothers raised their cups in the wind, with great enthusiasm.

  Tang Huaduan raised his wine cup, took a small sip, and said: "Brother Yue, the old lady is alone at home with no one to take care of her, isn't it miserable? Today you come back with us, I don't know how happy the old lady will be."

  "Big brother, since you've been guarding the tomb on the mountain, my literary and martial arts skills have become rusty. How can I obtain honor and fame in the future? This time you've come down from the mountain, you must teach me well." Zhang Xian said.

  "My three younger brothers, since our adoptive father passed away, I no longer have my heart set on this matter of fame and fortune. A lifetime is like a single autumn leaf, fame and wealth are not that important to me anymore." Yue Fei said calmly.

  "Big brother, if you think so, then our future achievements and bringing honor to our ancestors will be even more hopeless," said Wang Gui.

  "Big brother, have you forgotten what Master said to you before he passed away? Have you forgotten Master's last wish? Where has your sense of responsibility gone?" Zhang Xian asked.

  "Yes, big brother, the master's kindness is indeed unforgettable, but we cannot ignore the master's teachings. At present, the country is in trouble, if you don't take action, how can we serve the imperial court? Big brother, cheer up!" Tang Huai also persuaded from the side.

  Yue Fei listened to his three sworn brothers' words and fell silent. In his heart, he was also thinking of every word his master had said before his death.

  Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the grass behind me.

  "Who? Come out!" Yue Fei turned his head and shouted loudly at the bushes.

  "Spare my life, spare my life..." After the shout, a middle-aged man emerged from the bushes, his face pale and his whole body trembling, shouting repeatedly.

  "Big brother, don't be afraid, we are all good people. We came here to pay respects to our master and have a drink while chatting. We aren't some mountain bandits, why did you call us 'big king'? Have you seen any mountain bandits?" Yue Fei asked curiously.

  The middle-aged man finally relaxed after hearing Yue Fei's words.

  "It turned out to be a few masters, I thought it was those robbers. Everyone come out! They are not robbers." A middle-aged man shouted from the bushes.

  Suddenly, more than 20 people rushed out of the bushes, carrying bundles on their backs and looking frightened.

  "Gentlemen, you are drinking and chatting here, don't you know that not far ahead there is a place called Luanchaogang, where a notorious bandit has recently appeared? He is good at martial arts and has been robbing merchants who pass by. We are locals and familiar with the road, so we took a detour to avoid the bandit and came here via a small path. I'm afraid we have disturbed your pleasant gathering, please accept our apologies."

  "It doesn't matter, you are all from Neihuang, from here down the mountain, take the main road and you will arrive soon." Yue Fei said.

  The crowd thanked them profusely and happily went down the mountain.