The dilapidated temple was a place Su Qing once lived.
Su Qing still remembered how it used to be... she could see the faint shadows of the past.
But now it was overgrown with weeds.
Even the roof had large and small holes.
Seeing it become like this, Su Qing couldn't help but sigh.
Time is always a merciless knife.
However, she wasn't just lost in thought, because she had other things to do.
That was to move the old beggar's body back.
Initially.
Su Qing's plan was to bring the coffin herself and then take it back.
But after thinking about it, she felt that doing so would be too frightening.
And it wouldn't put the little girl at ease.
So, she ultimately decided to find people to help move it back.
Coincidentally, Su Qing was already in this line of work.
Although she didn't have funeral business, she still knew the pallbearers in the industry.
Even though today was the Ghost Festival, as long as the price was right... there were still people willing to work.
"Miss, this coffin... it's fine to move it back to your residence, right?"
The old beggar was placed inside the coffin.
The pallbearers set up the wooden poles, performing the ritual of moving the body while conversing with Su Qing.
"Mm..."
Su Qing said:
"A funeral still needs to be held, so it's better to move it back first. This place is too dilapidated, it's not suitable."
"I don't understand, Miss, why bother? Wouldn't it be fine to place it in the charity graveyard outside the county town? Then, when the grave is dug, just bury it directly, right? Why go to such great lengths to hold a funeral for a stranger?"
Upon hearing this, Su Qing shook her head, glanced at Su Qianxue, whom she was holding by the hand, and said calmly:
"He's not a stranger... I adopted his granddaughter, so naturally, I must hold a funeral for him, to give him a dignified departure."
"Miss is too kind... If it were anyone else, they would probably be very superstitious. Let alone holding a funeral for her grandfather, even just giving a simple wooden coffin would be an act of charity. Only someone like Miss... would do it so perfectly."
"It's not about perfection, just a clear conscience. Besides, I'm in this line of work! I'm not so superstitious about these things. But you've worked hard, helping out on the Ghost Festival."
Su Qing shook her head slightly upon hearing this...
How could what she was doing be considered perfect!
"It's nothing, nothing... It's the hardship of the trade! Miss gives money, we do the work. Besides, the rituals and such are almost done! What do we have to complain about!"
The pallbearer said with a laugh, then told Su Qing:
"Miss, please step aside, it's time to lift the coffin!"
Su Qing nodded and moved out of the way.
Soon the procession set off, heading towards Su Qing's residence.
Su Qing's actions were incomprehensible to most people, even considered a bit foolish.
But some also felt that Su Qing was excessively kind.
She did things that should have been done by children.
Su Qing didn't care about others' opinions...
The reason she did these things, besides promising Su Qianxue.
It was also to thank the old beggar for raising Su Qianxue to be so old!
Su Qing was not someone who didn't know the suffering of the mortal world.
The old beggar lived the way he did, yet he still saved the best for Su Qianxue...
Such a man deserved Su Qing to hold a funeral for him.
Perhaps for others, a funeral meant expense... but for Su Qing, it was nothing.
Su Qianxue, by Su Qing's side, naturally heard Su Qing's conversation with others...
Su Qianxue was very smart and sensible...
As a child from a poor family, even with the old beggar's devoted care, she was still very sensible and precocious.
So, she naturally understood.
The things Su Qing did... had actually far exceeded what she had requested.
She didn't think this was something Su Qing should do.
Because she didn't think she was worth the price.
She didn't understand, but she didn't dare to ask too many questions.
She could only attribute it to Su Qing being too kind.
At the same time, she felt indebted to Su Qing.
Su Qianxue positioned herself very lowly...
Because she was used to being humble.
Along the way, Su Qing didn't say much to Su Qianxue.
Nor did she ever have any intention of lecturing her.
Time would slowly change everything.
Being too hasty could easily break a child.
Su Qing held Su Qianxue's hand and returned home.
She had already asked the sparrows to inform Leng Xiang about the arrangements earlier...
So by the time they arrived home, everything was almost set up.
When the pallbearers saw everything arranged...
Besides admiring Su Qing, they only sighed that Su Qianxue had been taken in by a kind lady.
Looking at the dirty Su Qianxue, someone knelt down and rubbed her head.
"Little girl... you've really met a benefactor! If it were anyone else, who would hold a funeral for a beggar?! Who would give a beggar dignity?"
The pallbearer said with emotion:
"I hope... you will treat Miss in the future just as you treated your grandfather! I've seen too many ungrateful people, and I don't want Miss to encounter such people. Miss... she really is a good person..."
The pallbearer had seen too many people who took others' kindness for granted.
So he didn't want a good person like Su Qing to encounter such ungrateful people.
Nor did he want Su Qianxue to become such a person.
Su Qianxue looked up at the pallbearer... and slowly nodded.
She actually understood everything.
"Alright, stop talking... let's go! Why are we getting involved in this!"
"Understood, understood."
The pallbearer shook his head helplessly.
He cupped his fists towards Su Qing, expressing his respect.
Good people are always respected...
Su Qing didn't pay attention to the pallbearers, she just chatted with Leng Xiang, letting them leave.
"Master..."
Leng Xiang looked at Su Qianxue, who was kneeling in front of the mourning hall, her eyes full of confusion:
"Why are you doing these things?"
"That child is the reincarnation of the Cat Immortal who protected me all the way... And the person brought back is the old beggar who raised her to be so old."
Su Qing didn't need to explain too much; with Leng Xiang's usual intelligence, she would surely understand the reason for Su Qing's actions.
"Is it just to repay a kindness?" Leng Xiang asked abruptly.
Su Qing shook her head slightly and said: "That's only one aspect..."
"What's the other aspect?"
"The other aspect? Honestly, I don't know how to explain it myself..."
Leng Xiang nodded thoughtfully, withdrawing her gaze from Su Qianxue.
Su Qing didn't pay too much attention, she just said:
"Oh, right, Leng Xiang... please take that girl to take a bath! I'm going out to buy her some clean clothes. Constantly wearing those ragged clothes isn't a solution."
Hearing this, Leng Xiang just nodded.
"I understand, Master."
Su Qing nodded slightly, told the sparrows not to bully the little girl, and then went out.
Leng Xiang walked over to Su Qianxue, her tone flat, and said:
"Come with me, Master told me to take you for a bath. You're too dirty, and you need a change!"
Su Qianxue instinctively looked up at her upon hearing this.
She naturally couldn't see, but she could feel that Leng Xiang seemed to dislike her.
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