Proofread by Peter Gong
After the burial, there are some follow-up sacrifices, such as the Yuji, in which a small wooden sign called Shenzhu made of mulberry wood is set up, and the name of the deceased is written on it. It was used to substitute for the dead to be sacrificed. Zuku is held in the 100th day after the day of death, which means to stop endless cries. Wine is offered to the soul of the dead to let it leave its house. What’s more, folks are influenced by the Buddhism to do Buddhist ceremonies every seven days after the day of death, and set up worship. Because the Buddhists believe that soul is created 49 days after the birth and is scattered 49 days after the death. The fifth ceremony is the most grandest and the seventh ceremony is the last one that equals to Zuku. That kind of ceremony is regarded as a fool’s act by the orthodox scholar-official but it is common among folks and almost replaces the ritual of Yuji and Zuku to a certain extent.
And Ma Family chose Yuji and ceremonies every seven days, which is the common practice of some strong folk families. But just after seven days, Guo Qi told Ma Tian’en that he was going to move out. Because of the fact that he had to preside over the funeral for Ma Chaosheng, and his identity of the young master of Ma Family had been exposed, naturally he could not return to the Tian family, and lived in the Ma Family these days.
“Ah, haven’t my mother promised to adopt you, and then officially add your name to the Ma family tree? Why are you still moving out? ” Ma Tian’en asked with puzzlement. “He has just been recognized, so there will be gossip if he moves out right away even if I have no objection.”
“I will not only go out to live, but also I will fight with you before I leave. Is it convenient for you to do so?” Guo Qi glanced at Ma Tian’en. After all, she was a woman, who would have a difficult marriage if she had a bad reputation. But, of course, her reputation was already bad enough.
“Fight? Well, it is OK, but why shall we?” Ma Tian’en could not understand.
“You know, I’m a member of the Guo Family now. Although my master has returned to me my deed of selling myself since I saved his life in the early years, I have been working for the Guo Family. This time I came to Tian Family to revenge the Ma Family … I did not know the truth.” Guo Qi explained a little, then went on: “But I was indeed sent by the Guo Family in order to find a suitable puppet to unify all Zhas, so that the Guo Family can control the transport of food. Guo Family has already known the fact that I have been recognized by Ma Family. And I told them I indeed didn’t know the truth and it would only be good for Guo Family if I become the master of Ma Family, which is the reason why they don’t stop it. Liu Jin has been put into prison and his followers have also been investigated, which shows a subtle situation. This transportation of private salt was jointly done by Guo, Tian and Hu Families. In addition to the private salt placed in the Ma Family, others were transported by the Tian Family. And the Hu Family sold private salt in the capital. I, representing the Guo Family, was responsible for getting along with the Jiangnan Salt Gang and greasing the wheels. Now that Hu Family has been discovered, I am afraid that the private salt incident will eventually involve the Tian Family and the Guo Family. The Guo Family is one of the founding fathers, who will not be involved in the Liu Jin case. A case of private salt could not defeat them, but I, the housekeeper of the Tian Family, is most likely to be a convict with them. So the Ma Family must draw a line with me. Let’s find a chance to fight, and then I will take the opportunity to move out. I will take care of the docks and granaries, all risks of which will be taken by me. And you had better take charge of other business, which is of little problem. Also, look after my mother for me. ”
“You, will you be okay?” Ma Tian’en asked with worry.
“No, but I won’t die. Because the Guo family should not watch me die since I am now the eldest son of the Ma family. If the Tian Family gets its downfall, the Ma Family is their best choice. So, my sister, you still need to find a home son-in-law. If you let me control the Ma Family, the Ma Family will become the Guo Family’s pawn, and maybe one day it will become today’s Tian Family. Still, as I said, let’s have a fight, and then I take away what I want. Waiting for me to go to jail, you take back the dock and the granary. ”
“Pooh, stop talking like that. Hey, it sounds like you dig a pit and bury yourself,
right?”
“This is Providence. In fact, the pit I dug was for you, but I was out of luck.”
Guo Qi said seriously.
“I don’t think it’s retribution, nor God’s will, but people’s hearts.” Ma Tian’en countered. “It’s wrong to blame heaven for bad happenings. Liu Jin has done too many bad things, so everyone hates him, and he will finally be punished by someone as people’s hatred is enough. You did something wrong before, so you will naturally be punished, but if you don’t do bad things in the future, then everyone will like you and naturally treat you well. ”
“Then you haven’t done any bad things, why are you so miserable now?” Guo Qi
couldn’t help retorting.
“You……”
“Didn’t people just throw vegetable leaves on you? You see, human hearts are not necessarily just, and sometimes they are biased towards the side that they think is right. ”
“What did you tell me just now, find a chance to fight?” Ma Tian’en looked at
Guo Qi seriously.
“Yes.”
As soon as Guo Qi’s voice fell, Ma Tian’en jumped and punched him, hitting his face. Guo Qi took a few steps back, but did not react. Then Ma Tian’en rushed towards the door and kicked it open, shouting “Guo Qi hit me!”
“This sly girl!” Guo Qi thought secretly in his heart, and then watched Ma Tian’en turning around and making a face at him, saying, “Come, fight, fight to the end.”
Ha! Change your way of speaking, or you will never get married.”
“Ho, fight or not? Servants are waiting to see!”
Ma Tian’en ran to the yard early, and Guo Qi also rushed into the yard and fought with her. A group of servants were scared by the two fighting masters. They didn’t know how to stop them. Loyal Shun held Guo Qi’s thigh and cried: “Master, don’t kill our Miss.” Guo Qi didn’t really want to fight, but he was not able to shake him a few times, and then Ma Tian’en gave him a few more punches.
“Stop!” Mrs. Ma heard the news of the fight and rushed over with the help of Manny Li despite her weakness.
“How dare you fight just after your father died! Ma Tian’en, come here! ” Mrs. Ma saw that her girl wasn’t suffering much while Guo Qi seemed to be beaten, so she felt relieved.
Guo Qi glanced at Mrs. Ma. He should have knelt down to greet his mother, but he could not forget that this woman made him suffer so much. He could accept Ma Tian’en, but could not accept Mrs. Ma immediately, which was one of the reasons he proposed to move out. If it were not for Aunt Zhao ‘s conformity to rules, he would have wanted to take Aunt Zhao together, but Aunt Zhao was worried that it would affect his reputation. After all, no young master would support an aunt rather than his legal mother. Of course, he was also worried that if something happened, Aunt Zhao would be involved. Now that she was in Ma Family, at least Ma Tian’en would not embarrass her. But if something really happened, he didn’t know if she could resist. In the past, Guo Qi was not afraid of anything because he was all alone, but now he suddenly has a lot of concerns, and found that he had begun to worry about many things.
Ma Tian’en shouted, “Mom, he bullied me! I don’t want to see him! Guo Qi, get out of Ma Family! ”
“I’m the young master of the Ma Family and your elder brother. Today I’m going to teach you, an uneducated girl, a lesson, so that you will not be disgraced.” Guo Qi said, glaring at Ma Tian’en without concession.
“Mom, he’s going to hit me, blast him away!”
Mrs. Ma was a little bit confused, but when she saw that Guo Qi didn’t say hello to herself, she knew that he, with no wonder, had grievances in his heart. However, if he wanted to hurt her daughter, she would not let him go, even at the cost of her life.
“It is not your business to discipline her since I am her mother. If you hate to see her, please leave.” Mrs. Ma said impolitely.
“Why should I go? Ma Family is mine, and it is she who should leave because I am a man.” Guo Qi said impolitely, too.
“You beast, disrespecting your mother, and bullying your younger sister. Don’t forget that you haven’t been written into the genealogy!” Mrs. Ma was a little angry, and as soon as Ma Tian’en saw this, she thought it wasn’t worth it to make her mother ill for anger, so she hurried to Mrs. Ma and whispered, “We are putting on an act, don’t get angry, mom.”
Mrs. Ma glanced at her daughter and Guo Qi, who was domineering, wondered what they were going to do.
“Since you cannot stand me, I can leave, but I want Ma’s dock and granary. As for other shops, let this girl take care of them for me. These two things are the root of our Ma Family. Women and people outside of the family are not permitted to control them. Moreover, even if I agree, we Ma Family members will not agree. ”
After Guo Qi had finished speaking, Ma Tian’en motioned towards her mother
and nodded gently.
Mrs. Ma didn’t know what they were doing, but she saw that her daughter wanted her to agree, so she met her demand.
“Okay, you just go to the housekeeper to fetch the keys and the pairs of cards. I don’t want to see you again, I’m tired.” Mrs. Ma said, and walked outside supported by Ma Tian’en.
“Don’t worry, I’ll move out today. Take care.”