The Ji family’s courtyard was very big. After Ji Jie and Ji Ru discussed, they decided to hold the funeral at home. Going to the funeral home felt too cold.
When Fang Yusheng and Fang Yu arrived, many people from the Ji family had already arrived.
On both sides of the Ji family’s courtyard hung two white lanterns.
Qiao Jiusheng’s car was parked in the open-air parking lot outside the Ji family’s house. Fang Yusheng said to Qiao Jiusheng, “You might not be able to go back tonight. Put on your gloves. It’s cold at night.”
“Okay.” She took the gloves out of her bag and put them on. Seeing that Fang Yusheng was also cold, she took a pair of leather gloves for him to wear.
After they were ready, the two of them got out of the car. Qiao Jiusheng carried Qiao Qian. They walked out of the parking lot and met Han Luofan at the entrance of the Ji family’s house. Han Luofan did not come alone. He still had his parents with him. Secretary Han, who could only be seen on television news usually, came personally today.
He was wearing a black suit. He had a few strands of white hair that had been combed to the back of his head. His gentle face looked calm and composed, but it was also covered with a suitable regret. Cai Jie was also wearing a black dress. They probably didn’t plan to go back tonight, so Cai Jie put on a winter down jacket.
Han Bing used to have a good relationship with Qiao Jiusheng’s mother. When they met, they should greet each other. Qiao Jiusheng greeted Uncle Han respectfully and Auntie.
Han Bing looked at Qiao Jiusheng and nodded before saying, “Xiao Sheng, Yusheng, you’re here too?”
“Yeah.”
Cai Jie also greeted them before the six of them entered the house.
Fang Yusheng and his wife carried Qiao Qian and followed behind Han Bing and his wife, Cai Jie. Han Luofan stood beside Fang Yusheng. The moment they entered, they heard sorrowful music. They raised their heads and looked through the crowd towards the mourning hall. Ji Chen’s coffin was placed in the hall of the Ji family’s main house. Qiao Sen and Ji Qing knelt on both sides of the coffin in the mourning hall and kowtowed to everyone who came to pay their respects.
Han Bing was from Ji Chen’s generation, so he did not need to kneel.
He stood with his wife, Cai Jie, and bowed slightly to the coffin. Ji Qing and Qiao Sen stood up at the same time and bowed to him.
“My condolences,” Han Bing said to Ji Qing.
Ji Qing also replied, “Thank you, Uncle Han. You still remember my father.”
“How many years have we been old friends…” Han Bing and Cai Jie stood aside. Qiao Jiusheng and Fang Yusheng knelt down in front of the coffin and kowtowed. Ji Qing and Qiao Sen returned the kowtow. The four of them looked at each other and did not say anything.
There were many people who came to attend the funeral. In addition, the Ji family had calculated the best date and time for the funeral. It was tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Ji Chen could only stay at home for one night. Before dawn, he had to be cremated and sent to the cemetery to be buried. Hence, everyone who came to attend the funeral had to rush to the Ji family before tonight.
The Ji family was very lively. The juniors in mourning clothes passed through the crowd. When the guests saw this, they all sighed with emotion at the Ji family’s prosperity.
At night, Ji Yinbing and Yan Nuo came over from the house.
Ji Chen was Ji Yinbing’s fourth uncle. When he died, according to the customs in Junyang City, Ji Yinbing had to wear white mourning clothes. Yan Nuo and her were not officially married yet, so they did not have to wear them. When some people saw Ji Yinbing, an unfamiliar woman wearing white mourning clothes, they whispered to each other.
They were all guessing this person’s identity.
Han Bing’s status was noble, and the head steward of the Ji family arranged him to be seated at the honored guest table. The person beside Han Bing was talking to him, and he realized that Han Bing was a little absent-minded. He only thought that he was feeling sad for the death of Ji Chen’s old friend.
Han Bing suddenly heard someone at the same table ask, “Who is that lady? Is she also a descendant of the Ji family? Why haven’t I seen her before?”
Someone replied, “I don’t see her wearing white mourning clothes. She must be a relative of the Ji family.”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
“The Ji family is so big, and there are many siblings in the Ji family. There are also many juniors below. It’s fine if you don’t know them!”
This conversation sounded in many places at the same time. Han Bing heard it and lowered his head thoughtfully.
Ji Yinbing walked through the crowd and arrived at the mourning hall. She was talking to Qiao Jiusheng and the rest. Qiao Jiusheng said, “I didn’t expect that after all the twists and turns, we’re actually considered a big family.”
Ji Yinbing was also filled with emotions. Her cousin was Qiao Jiusheng’s sister-in-law, her close friend was Qiao Jiusheng’s husband. In that case, they were really family. Fang Yusheng asked Yan Nuo, “Are we considered relatives?”
Yan Nuo was expressionless, but he replied, “They can’t be together.”
“Tsk.”
Ji Yinbing told Qiao Jiusheng what Ji Chen had said to her before his death, making Qiao Jiusheng sigh.
After Qiao Jiusheng heard this, she sighed. “Your mother is really pitiful. As the younger daughter of the Ji family, she should have been pampered. Sigh…” Qiao Jiusheng pitied that woman very much. Fortunately, she had a proud daughter like Ji Yinbing in her life.
Ji Yinbing was speechless.
She also felt that her mother’s life was too miserable.
Ji Yinbing was only focused on talking to Qiao Jiusheng and the rest, so she did not notice a pair of stunned eyes staring at her figure in the crowd. That person’s gaze was filled with shock and… nostalgia.
Cai Jie pulled Hanbing’s arm and asked him, “What are you looking at? They’re talking to you. Didn’t you hear them?”
Han Bing did not react and continued to stare at the mourning hall.
Cai Jie looked at it curiously. She could not turn her eyes away.
She also saw Ji Yinbing.
Ji Yinbing had already taken off her big red dress and changed into a navy blue winter dress, but she was still wearing the small black windbreaker jacket outside. She was still wearing the pair of jade earrings with gold embedded in them. The hat covered her hair, and the face that was revealed was exquisite, flawless, fair, and charming.
For a moment, Cai Jie thought she saw Ji Yue.
In the past, Ji Yue had also dressed like this. Among a group of well-bred young ladies, she would always be that dazzling existence.
After so many years, both she and Han Bing had aged, but Ji Yue’s descendant had perfectly inherited Ji Yue’s beauty.
Cai Jie subconsciously observed Han Bing’s reaction.
Unsurprisingly, she saw a shocked face. Cai Jie thought that if not for the occasion, Han Bing would definitely run to find Ji Yinbing. She was so busy that even Ji Yinbing did not have time to rest.
Before dawn, Ji Chen’s body was cremated.
Everyone sat in the motorcade and escorted Ji Chen to the cemetery. After Ji Chen was buried, Ji Yinbing and the rest returned to the Ji family. The Ji family’s relatives and friends had not left yet and would stay for lunch. Qiao Jiusheng and Fang Yusheng brought Qiao Qian back to the Qiao family. This little fellow did not rest well last night and had to go back to catch up on his sleep.
