Mats were spread on both sides of the coffin. At this time, the brothers and sisters of the Zhou family were all there. Man Bao looked around and wanted to sit next to the eldest sister, but Zhou Dalang stopped him and said in a low voice: "Just sit here and accompany the elder brother. Remember to return the gift when the guests come to worship, do you know how to return the gift?"
Man Bao nodded hesitantly.
Old Zhou's family had never held a funeral, but other families in the village had. Man Bao also went there, knowing that the filial sons guarding both sides would bow their heads and bow their heads in return.
Just after dawn, guests came to the door with a funeral ceremony. The first ones to arrive were the Qian family, followed by some other families in the village.
Old Zhoutou's house and many people in the village borrowed tables, chairs and benches, knowing that there were many people eating, they simply placed them along the road in front of Lao Zhou's house under the big banyan tree at the entrance of the village.
Meals were also distributed to the neighbors' homes to cook, and each family was in charge of ten tables. The chopped meat was distributed to each family, and there were bags of flour mixed with wheat bran...
No one thinks it's wrong, so many people are invited, and it's not a big family, who can still have all white noodles and white rice for the banquet
Besides, this is still the first year after the disaster.
When the real funeral started, Lao Zhou and Qian didn't care about it at all. Even the sons and daughters of Lao Zhou's family didn't get involved. Outside, Xiao Qian led a few sisters-in-law and the old people in the village to do it together. down.
Old Zhou Tou helped Qian Shi out, and the two of them also sat beside the coffin, but they didn't wear sackcloth, but tied a white linen cloth around their waists.
The two of them threw some millet festivals to the brazier from time to time, their eyes were a little red.
For all the villagers who came to worship, the husband and wife solemnly returned the salute.
The members of Zhang's family saw that Lao Zhoutou and Qian Shi were bending over to thank the person who just offered incense, and when they looked up, they met eyes.
Old Zhou Tou pressed his wife's hand, put on his shoes and went out, "Cousin, cousin, are you here?"
Boss Zhang frowned, "You are an older brother, why are you sitting there?"
Zhang Lao Er looked around and said, "Brother, you don't care about him, I'm not happy, my cousin feels guilty, by the way, cousin, where should we sit?"
A young man came up and said, "It's Zhang's cousin, come on, your table is in the yard, I'll lead you there."
Zhang Laoer handed the small bag to the person who collected the funeral ceremony at the door, and he walked over with his hands behind his back, looked at the table and said, "This table is not enough."
As soon as the voice fell, the people who were left behind by the Zhang family finally arrived, and a lot of people rushed in, men, women, and children crowded into a pile, and one was even hugged in his arms, looking like only seven or eight Looks like a month old.
Not to mention one table, three tables may not necessarily be able to sit down.
Old boss Zhou stared dumbfounded, staring at these people he knew or didn't know.
Qian's brows twitched, but she didn't speak, and she didn't get up. Instead, she grabbed a handful of millet knots and threw them into the brazier, making it make a crackling sound.
Thinking of the steamed buns and vegetables that so many people wanted to eat, Lao Zhou felt a pain in his heart. He stretched out his hand to grab Boss Zhang, pulled him aside and asked, "Cousin, who are these? How come I don't know many of them?"
Boss Zhang's face darkened, and he said: "So you married a wife and forgot your mother, which one is not your cousin? Those two are from the cousin's family, and the other is from the second aunt's family..."
"Second aunt?" Old Zhou's face turned dark, "Isn't my grandpa and grandma the only daughter of my mother, why is there a second aunt?"
"It's my cousin!"
Damn it!
Old Zhou Tou almost couldn't help cursing, he couldn't speak, his heart ached beyond measure.
But his mental activity was not lacking at all. He stared at Boss Zhang, if it wasn't because he was his uncle's son, he really wanted, really wanted...
Old Zhou closed his eyes, took a deep breath and said, "Cousin, sit down first, sit down first, no, no, burn incense to the second brother first..."
"Let's enjoy the incense for a while," Zhang Lao Er, who came over with a bowl of water, said dissatisfiedly, "I said cousin, it's almost noon, and your meal hasn't been served yet? We came out early in the morning. I'm already hungry, why don't I eat something first and then enjoy the incense?"
"That's right, that's right," an old lady holding a child said with a sad face, "We adults can be hungry, but children can't be hungry."
Old Zhou turned around and was about to leave. The village chief finally squeezed in from the outside and said quickly, "Come on, come on, this is cousin Zhang's family. I haven't seen you for many years. Is your health okay?"
"Okay."
"How can it be considered okay? Look, Uncle Xiaoyin is younger than your son, and you actually came here in person. Uncle Xiaoyin is so happy to know about it. Come on, let's give Xiaoyin a gift first." Uncle Yin burns incense, and I'll ask the kitchen to prepare meals for you first."
At last the Zhang family was appeased, the village head pulled the old Zhou head aside, and said profusely, "Uncle Jin, today is Uncle Yin's big day, you have to suppress your temper, don't you just come Do you have more people, just be patient, just be patient."
"How can you bear it? His family has brought me three tables, and they may not be able to sit at the three tables." Old Zhou Tou said angrily: "He is my uncle's family. It is unreasonable to call him. If you call, your direct relatives will come. It’s fine, then I got the sons of my uncle and aunt who have turned so many detours, how much relationship do I have with them, and how much relationship does my family Zhou Yin have with them?”
"Okay, okay, it's my heart to come."
Old Zhou Tou took a deep breath and swallowed it reluctantly, but before he could breathe out, Uncle Lai's son came over with two small bags, and he said with a embarrassed face: "Brother Jin, What do you think about this?"
He opened the bag for old Zhou to see.
Old Zhou saw what was inside at a glance, and almost didn't come up in one breath.
The village chief was terrified, and quickly supported him. In fact, seriously, Lao Zhoutou is not young anymore, so don't get angry.
Sitting on the outside, Zhou Lang couldn't help but took off his shoes and ran down, asking, "Father, what's wrong with you?"
Uncle Lai's son showed him the bag, and Zhou Zhou Lang looked confused. Isn't this the small cloth bag that everyone usually uses to store money and food
He opened it directly, and seeing a few grains of wheat mixed with a large pile of yellow-brown bran inside, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.
Who gave gifts like this when they came to dinner
It's better not to send it!
Zhou Zhoulang closed the bag and asked angrily, "Who sent it?"
Uncle Lai's son quietly pointed to Zhang's house not far away, "A total of two bags have been delivered..."
Zhou Zhoulang looked at the Zhang family who occupied three tables and couldn't sit down, and the Zhang family who was going to the next table to squeeze people out were silent.
That's his grandma's natal family, and the person who comes here has to be called cousin, what can I say
Zhou Zhou Lang peeped to see his father.