SFS Chapter 473: The Funeral
Chapter 473: The Funeral
Si Huawen uttered these three guiding lines of scripture in a trembling voice.
Each sentence was louder than the last.
When he said the last sentence, he almost shouted it out.
handed down.
When a person has just died, their soul is in a state of flux and cannot understand its own situation. Therefore, at this time, the eldest son or daughter should kneel beside the deceased and loudly recite guiding words for the dead.
In this way, after hearing their children's words, the deceased can find their way and smoothly reach the Pure Land.
Almost as soon as Si Huawen finished giving directions—
The steward, who was waiting outside, immediately arranged for people to burn the travel money.
Find peace in sweetness.
Money is spent when things are tough.
After a person dies, in addition to their children giving them directions, they also burn paper money. But how can they use money if they don't have any?
The Si family prepared a lot of ghost money and gold ingots.
There were also paper figures and horses, clothes, luxury cars...
As the housekeeper burned paper money, he cried and said, "Old lady, may you rest in peace!"
Several servants were also crying as they burned, their eyes red and swollen.
Grandma Si was a kind person who never deliberately made things difficult for the servants. She always had a smile on her face and paid the servants the highest wages.
Now that Old Mrs. Si is gone, the servants are truly heartbroken.
How could such a kind old lady just pass away like that?
inside the house.
As Si Huawen's voice faded, cries of grief erupted from the crowd.
"mom!"
"grandmother!"
"Grandma!"
"..."
Because loved ones shouldn't cry before they've been given directions.
That's why the room was so quiet right after Mrs. Si passed away.
Upon hearing the crying, Yue Qianlan, who was standing outside, instantly broke down, crying out, "Grandma! Grandma!"
Although Yue Qianlan had only been married into the family for a short time.
Grandma Ke Si's kindness towards her was genuine.
Just a week ago, Mrs. Si was talking to her about what would happen after the baby was born.
But now.
The old man is gone just like that.
With the help of the maid, Yue Qianlan knelt down in the bedroom.
Si Huawen suppressed his grief and began to arrange the funeral arrangements for his grandmother. "Huabo, Huafeng, you two go and invite Uncle and Aunt over right now."
After an elderly person passes away, the first thing to do is to move them to the funeral bed in the main hall.
However, an elder needs to be present to guide the process when the body is placed on the deathbed.
The old man had three brothers.
The eldest son died young.
Old Master Si is the second oldest in his family.
Uncle and Aunt Si are both 89 years old, but thankfully they are in good health.
“Okay, brother, we’ll go right away.” The two brothers nodded and immediately turned to invite Uncle Si’s third uncle.
Si Huawen then said, "Hua Tao, Hua Jing, and Hua Zhong, the three of you get ready. We'll set off immediately after dawn to inform each family of the death."
The Si family has many relatives.
The old lady Si's maternal family had several younger brothers.
Therefore, we need to arrange for more people to set off separately.
"Okay big brother."
Si Huawen then looked at Si Xushang, "Xudong, all of you brothers who are married, go to your respective parents-in-law's homes to report the death."
"Okay dad."
"Hua Wu and Hua Li, you two go and carry the funeral bed out."
"Okay big brother."
After arranging all the time, Si Huawen looked at Si Huashang and said, "Huashang, come and help Mom change her clothes."
Before an elderly person is placed on their deathbed, they must bathe and change clothes, wearing a bright red robe.
Normally, if the mother dies, the daughter will help with bathing and changing clothes; if there is no daughter, the daughter-in-law will do it.
"Okay big brother."
When changing clothes, a string of firecrackers needs to be set off first to tell the spirits that it's time to change clothes.
The younger generation needs to kneel on the ground with their heads down, and cannot raise their heads throughout the entire process.
Si Huazhong immediately went outside to set off firecrackers.
This is the advantage of having many children.
When an elderly person passes away, they can have someone to help them and remain calm and composed.
Bang bang bang--
As the sound of firecrackers rang out.
Si Huashang sat on the edge of the bed, crying, and said, "Mom, I've come to change your clothes."
Zhao Yunong and Si Huawen were kneeling in the first row. Hearing the voice, Zhao Yunong looked up and reminded Si Huashang, "Huashang, don't cry when you're changing Mom's clothes. If your tears fall on Mom, it's not good for her."
If the tears of the living fall on the dead, the soul of the deceased will not find peace.
Upon hearing this, Si Huashang immediately took the tissues handed to her by the maid, wiped away her tears, and, forcing back her tears, helped the old lady bathe and change her clothes.
Almost as soon as they changed their clothes, Si Huabo and Si Huafeng invited the third uncle of the Si family.
The elderly couple walked to the bedside, weeping, and held Mrs. Si's hand, "Second sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, why did you leave without saying a word!"
Just three days ago, Aunt Si was chatting with Old Mrs. Si.
The two also said that they would go to the temple to offer incense and pray to Buddha together on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year next year.
But now.
The words were still ringing in my ears.
But the person was already gone.
With Aunt Si as a witness, Old Madam Si was carried to the funeral bed in the main hall.
After being placed on the bier.
A meal should be placed in front of the deceased's head.
Incense sticks need to be inserted at the heels of the feet to guide the way.
A perpetual lamp must also be lit on the side, symbolizing illuminating the way home.
After everything was prepared, it was still past 5 a.m.
Si Huashang looked at Si Huawen, her eyes red, and said, "Eldest brother and sister-in-law, second brother and sister-in-law, and other brothers and sisters-in-law, you must be tired after a long day. Go back to your rooms and rest. There will be a lot to do tomorrow morning. Nanxing and I will take care of things here for Mom."
Since Grandma Si's accident, no one has had a chance to rest. At least they managed to doze off for a while on the plane.
Shi Nanxing nodded, "Yes, yes, you guys go and rest, there's still a lot to do."
According to Hong Kong custom, the body of the late Mrs. Si must be kept at home for seven days.
It can only be taken to the funeral home after the seventh day after death.
For these seven days, someone needs to keep watch every night to ensure that the ever-burning lamps and the guiding incense never go out.
Day two.
Guests continued to come to pay their respects.
at the same time.
The masters who came to perform the rituals for the deceased also arrived the next day.
The ritual lasted for six days and six nights.
The funeral was not held until the seventh day.
The funeral procession was very, very long.
Children under one year old and pregnant women are not allowed to attend funerals, so Grandpa Jiang, Grandma Shi, and Yue Qianlan stayed at home to take care of the three babies.
With their great-grandparents and Yue Qianlan by their side, the three little ones were quite well-behaved.
This was the first funeral Jiang Ning attended since her rebirth.
Watching Grandma Si transform from a living person into a small box, and finally buried deep underground, Jiang Ning felt indescribable emotions and burst into tears in Shen Jingnian's arms.
Shen Jingnian gently patted her back, silently comforting her.
In addition to Si's relatives and friends, those who came to the funeral included the students whom the late Mrs. Si had sponsored during her lifetime.
these years.
Grandma Si has always been committed to helping students in impoverished areas.
In total, they helped more than 10,000 people.
Among them are ordinary people, as well as entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, and university students.
At this moment, everyone gathered together because of Old Mrs. Si, and they were all crying very sadly.
......
The day after the funeral.
Si Huashang and her eight sisters-in-law sorted through the old lady's belongings.
Everything was normal at the time.
Until.
Si Huashang found that among her mother's belongings were newspapers from twenty-six years ago, right after the accident that happened to the family of three, as well as missing person notices looking for her and Jiang Ning.
A thick stack.
One can only imagine what kind of life my mother led over the past twenty years.
Si Huashang felt a sharp pain in her heart, making it hard to breathe. She hugged the things to her chest and choked out, "Mom, if I come home again, I won't see you anymore! Mom, I miss you so much!"
There is no mother anymore.
From now on.
She doesn't have a mother anymore!
They had only been reunited for six years!
Why couldn't God let Old Mrs. Si live for two more years?