Chapter 42: Mei San Shu Gong

  Everyone rushed to the door to look, and saw an old man with a gaunt face, white hair and beard, sitting in a bamboo chair, carried by two people. The visitor was Mei's third uncle, Mei Xia's father's third uncle. Beside him followed a young and pretty little maid, who was Mei Xia's servant girl Mei Xiang.

  Mei Xia's grandfather had three brothers. The eldest died young due to illness, the second was Mei Xia's grandfather, and the third was this Uncle Mei San. Because the eldest died young and the second was also in poor health since childhood, he passed away early in his middle age; Mei Xia's grandparents especially cherished and loved this youngest brother. From a young age, they sent him to live in a Taoist temple, hoping he could grow up healthy and safe.

  Mei San Shu Gong indeed did not disappoint everyone's expectations, living a healthy and peaceful life with very few illnesses. However, what Mei Gong and Po did not expect was that Mei San Shu Gong, having grown up in the Taoist temple since childhood, became infatuated with Huang Lao's techniques, showing no interest in the Mei family business and unwilling to marry and have children, his most passionate pursuit being the study of Lao Zhuang's works, often retreating from the world, absorbing the wind and drinking the dew, cultivating his mind and nurturing his nature. This left Mei Gong and Po at their wit's end.

  But Mei San Shu Gong had a very good relationship with the people, was kind and generous, and was deeply respected by the people of Lei Jiang. In the Mei family, he was even more revered and his words were like imperial decrees. Although Mei San Shu Gong never married in his lifetime, he loved children very much and had a deep affection for Mei Xia's father and Mei Xia herself. After Mei Xia's father passed away at a young age, Mei San Shu Gong showed even more care and concern for the mother-daughter pair. Whenever someone in the Mei family would bully or criticize Rui Hua, Mei San Shu Gong would stand up for them and support them. Therefore, when Mei Xiang secretly heard that some people in the clan were discussing how to quietly bury Mei Xia and her mother, Mei Xiang instinctively thought of going to cry and seek help from Mei San Shu Gong, who had long since retired from worldly affairs and no longer asked about mundane matters.

  Although Mei San Shu Gong was nearly 70 years old, he had a strong spirit and sharp senses due to his long-term practice. He could even hear the muttering of Mei Cheng, the housekeeper, from a distance, as if they shared a telepathic connection. As he was carried into the ancestral hall, he used his cane to try to stand up from the bamboo chair. Mei Xiang rushed over to support him, but Mei San Shu Gong pushed her away and slowly stood up by himself, using his cane to tap the ground as he walked step by step towards the main hall.

  "Third Uncle!" Everyone present came over to greet him, as if they had seen the mastermind.

  Mei San Shu Gong didn't answer and walked straight into the hall.

  In the hall below is placed an incense table. On the incense table is placed a censer, in which are lit incense sticks and white long-life candles.

  Mei San Shu Gong took out three incense sticks from the side, lit them with the flame of the long-lasting candle, and respectfully held them above his head before slowly inserting them into the incense burner. Then, Mei San Shu Gong put down his cane, bent his waist and knees, and was about to perform a grand kowtow ceremony.

  Rui Xuan was shocked and rushed over to support him with both hands: "Third Uncle, you can't do this! Rui Hua and Mei Xia are your juniors!"

  "The dead are great, the dead are magnificent!" Mei San Shu Gong said solemnly, firmly pushing away Rui Xuan's hand, and slowly knelt down on one knee. He faced the hall where Rui Hua and her daughter's bodies lay, clapped his hands to the ground, and respectfully kowtowed three times.

  Rui Xuan, Xiao Lin and Yiying Mei's family quickly came forward to help Mei San Shu up. As they lifted their heads, Mei San Shu was already filled with hot tears.

  He picked up his crutch from the ground and walked straight to Mei Cheng, the housekeeper, raising his crutch.

  Mei Cheng wanted to hide but didn't dare to, he could only subconsciously shrink his body and wait for Mei San Shu Gong's cane punishment.

  With a "thud", Old Man Mei's cane fell heavily to the ground.

  "Hmmph!" Old Master Mei San stood with his hands on his cane, sternly scanning the room. "Who among our Mei family just spoke those words? Saying that burying Rui Hua and her daughter in the ancestral tomb is disrespect to our ancestors? Who said it? If you have guts, come out and admit it! Our Mei family has thrived in Lei Jiang for generations, passing down poetry and books, farming and reading. We've never produced such cowardly and shameless people!"

  "Lei Jiang has always revered loyalty, filial piety and righteousness. How could someone utter such heartless words?! My niece-in-law died for the people, my granddaughter suffered for her fellow villagers. These two delicate women, with their pure bodies, together faced national calamity, saved their compatriots, and brought honor to our country! This is great loyalty; this is great filial piety! They are the pride of my Mei family's ancestors! Also, they are Lei Jiang's good daughters. I am proud that the Mei family has such virtuous women!" The old man spoke while banging his cane on the ground, producing a "thud thud" sound, his hoarse voice growing more agitated and sonorous, with tears welling up in his cloudy eyes.

  From a quiet beginning to sobbing and then to wailing cries all around.

  After a while, everyone slowly stopped crying.

  Mei Cheng walked over, accompanied by a hint of caution, and asked softly: "Then please let Third Uncle decide! What do you mean by..."

  "Rui Hui mother and daughter were buried in Mei's ancestral tomb mountain! The mother-daughter archway entered the Mei family hall, enjoying annual sacrifices!"

  "Ke Mei Xia is just an unmarried girl, entering the ancestral hall according to the ancestors' teachings are all male descendants, isn't that not in line with the rules?" someone muttered beside her.

  Mei San Shu Gong was furious, using his cane to point at the crowd, coldly smiling and saying: "There are many men among you, do you have my niece's courage? A young unmarried girl, she can sacrifice herself to save her fellow villagers, dare to use her body to guard against the tiger, such loyalty, but you are still arguing about your ancestors' rules here?"

  No one dared to make another sound.

  "Then let's do it according to Third Master's wishes! But the problem is that neither the mistress nor the young lady has a ready-made coffin..." said Housekeeper Mei with difficulty.

  "If there's no ready-made coffin, use mine!"

  "What should Miss do?" Mei Cheng hurriedly asked again.

  "Just put the mother and daughter in a coffin together! Let them accompany each other over there!" Third Uncle said with a wave of his hand, turning his head away in pain.

  "Third Uncle, I have something to say." Rui Xuan interrupted.

  Mei San Shu Gong slowly turned around and asked: "What are your orders, Madame?"

  "Third Uncle, Mei Xia and our son Xuehua have been engaged for a long time, and everyone in Leijiang knows about it. The children were originally preparing to get married, but the little devils invaded and ruined their wedding... But since they had an engagement, Xia'er is already our Ru family's daughter-in-law who hasn't crossed the threshold yet; moreover, before she left, Xia'er started calling me 'mom' and the master of the house 'dad', I cannot disappoint the child's good intentions! Xia'er was born as a member of the Ru family, and will die as a spirit of the Ru family. The Ru family will welcome Mei Xia with a grand procession to bring her home!" Rui Xuan said firmly.

  The people around couldn't help but pause. According to local customs, they knew that doing so would make the Mei family much easier, but it would bring a lot of trouble to the Lu family. Unconsciously, everyone's eyes focused on the head of the Lu family - Lu Xiaolin.

  Lu Xiaolin didn't hesitate at all: "Let's do it as you wish!"

  "Then I'll thank you on behalf of Mei Xia, my nephew and his wife! Dear relatives!" Mei San Shu Gong was extremely grateful, bowing deeply to the ground.

  Rui Xuan and his wife returned the courtesy with tears in their eyes. When they lifted their heads, all three of them had tears streaming down their faces.

  The whole audience was in tears.