Under Lu Beichuan’s arrangement, Old Master Lu’s funeral was grand and perfectly in order. On the day the news came out, the ancestral home was decorated in mourning white. The countless people that came to offer condolences came from all walks of life. There was weeping, regret, and sorrow.

  Lu Beichuan was taking charge outside while Ye Zhen was taking charge inside with the help of Mrs. Lu. There were no mishaps until Old Master Shen came.

  The members of the Shen family and the Lu family had been friends for generations. Old Master Shen and Old Master Lu had also been friends for a long time. They had grown up under the eyes of the elders of their families. That his old friend had passed away overnight was a big blow to the aging Old Master Shen.

  Shen Weiyin helped the sad Old Master Shen into the mourning hall.

  Old Master Shen stood by the coffin and took his last look of his friend.

  “It’s my fault. If only I had persisted in getting this old guy to go to the hospital for a physical, he would have been cured by now!”


  Shen Weiyin tearfully persuaded Old Master Shen, “Grandpa, don’t be too sad. Take care of your body.”


  “Take care of my body……” Old Master Shen remorsefully patted the coffin. “We worked hard together in our youth, but now, time has taken its toll. I thought I would go before you. How could I have anticipated that you would go before me?! I’ve always told you to take care of your body in these past years. You wouldn’t listen to me when I told you to take more trips to the hospital. You said you knew your body well. Take a look at yourself. There’s no traces left of that confident man of our youth!”


  He said many grief-stricken words. The mourning hall was filled with the sound of crying and sobbing.

  Lu Beichuan walked over to Old Master Shen and offered him three incense sticks. “Grandpa Shen, take care of your body.”


  Old Master Shen wiped his tears and nodded. He took the incense and walked to the photo of Old Master Lu. He respectfully bowed three times before sticking the incense into the incense burner.

  “Grandpa Shen, go take a rest in the living room. I’ll go see you after I’m done with this side. Please excuse me for the poor hospitality.”


  Old Master Shen sighed and patted his shoulder. “I understand. You’re the eldest grandson of the Lu family. Now that Old Master Lu is gone, the burden of the Lu family has been placed on your shoulders. It’s not a light burden. You have to stand firm. Don’t falter in your responsibilities!”


  Lu Beichuan was neither haughty nor humble. There wasn’t much sadness on his face. Instead, there was all the more tenaciousness and impassiveness. “I understand.”


  Shen Weiyin also put incense into the incense burner for Old Master Lu. “Beichuan, sorry for your loss.”


  Lu Beichuan nodded and motioned to a servant next to him to take them to the living room.

  In the huge living room, they could hear the crying from the mourning hall. Even with a garden between the living room and the mourning hall, the smoke from the incense had made its way here. The smoke from the incense could be seen from a distance. Other than the mourning hall and living room, the rest of the ancestral home seemed deserted.

  Ye Zhen was dressed completely in black. In coordination with Mother Lu, she entertained guests who had come here to pay their respects. After being busy all day, she didn’t even have the idle time to grieve.

  Old Master Shen and Shen Weiyin came to the living room with a servant leading them here.

  Although Ye Zhen didn’t want to see Shen Weiyin, she knew that it was inevitable to see her on an occasion like this one.

  Fortunately, on an occasion like this one, no one would say anything if she didn’t look happy seeing her.

  Without a trace of a smile, Ye Zhen greeted, “Old Master Shen, Miss Shen, please take a seat over here.”


  A servant brought over two cups of tea. Old Master Shen didn’t take the tea. He only surveyed the room and sighed. “Things have remained the same, but the people are no longer here…… The years have flown by. The people that should have left and the people that shouldn’t have left, they’re all gone. I’m the only one left……”


  Old Master Shen fell silent. He looked at Ye Zhen. “Sorry for your loss.”