Chapter 22

As Jiang Ning was preparing to go up the mountain, Liu Ming'an encountered He Wu on his way to fetch water.

"Brother Ming'an, are you going to fetch water?" He Wu asked.

Liu Ming'an looked at He Wu, who seemed a bit awkward as he greeted him, and smiled, replying, "We're out of water at home. Brother Wu, is there something you need?"

He Wu and his brother He Wen were complete opposites. While He Wen indulged in drinking, gambling, and all manner of vices, He Wu was honest, kind-hearted, and good-natured. When Liu Ming'an's mother was bedridden, He Wu took pity on the mother and son, bringing them vegetables, helping to fetch water, and chopping firewood. Even after Liu Ming'an's mother passed away, He Wu voluntarily came to help with the funeral arrangements. Because of this, Liu Ming'an always held a brotherly respect for He Wu.

Liu Ming'an understood He Wu's nature. He wasn't good with words, or perhaps it could be said he was naturally a bit slow, and felt uncomfortable making small talk face-to-face. Now that he had come specifically to greet him, he must have something to ask.

He Wu was a rough man with thin skin, and with Liu Ming'an asking him so directly what he needed, he found it hard to open his mouth and ask for help.

Liu Ming'an waited patiently, a smile constantly on his face, giving off a sense of approachability.

He Wu seemed to be thinking about something, then suddenly reached out and grabbed the carrying pole with the empty buckets from Liu Ming'an's shoulder, placing it on his own. He then strode off towards the well.

Liu Ming'an was stunned and didn't react immediately. He only heard He Wu say, "I'll fetch the water for you first, then we'll talk."

"Brother Wu, I can do it myself. Just tell me what you want me to do, I'll definitely try my best to help you," Liu Ming'an said as he caught up with He Wu, trying to take back his things.Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

He Wu blocked Liu Ming'an with his hand and strode forward stubbornly. "You're a scholar, you don't have much strength. Let me fetch the water for you."

Liu Ming'an knew how stubborn He Wu could be and couldn't persuade him otherwise. He could only smile helplessly and follow along, watching as He Wu filled two buckets of water, then carried them back to his courtyard and poured them into the vat. He Wu made three trips in total, filling the large vat to the brim.

During this time, Liu Ming'an glanced into the house, thinking Jiang Ning might be hiding inside again, but didn't think much of it.

After finishing with the water, He Wu stood by the vat to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. Only then did he gather the courage to speak. "Brother Ming'an, I want to ask you for a favor."

In the past, Liu Ming'an would have invited him inside to sit and talk, but now, out of consideration for Jiang Ning, the two could only stand in the courtyard.

Seeing that He Wu had finally broached the subject, Liu Ming'an quickly responded, "Brother Wu, you said we're brothers. If you need help with something, just say the word. There's no need to ask for favors."

"They all died... not one of them survived... We couldn't even find the bodies..."

"Mother, I want father. I don't want to eat meat anymore, I want father! Waa..."

Memories from deep in his mind surged forth like a tide. Liu Ming'an's face turned pale, and he clutched Jiang Ning's note tightly, almost unable to stand.

"Jiang Ning, don't go!" Liu Ming'an mouthed silently.

Liu Ming'an supported himself on the table and slowly sat down. His mind was in chaos, with past memories and present reality intertwining, leaving him unsure of what to do.

After sitting dazed for quite a while, Liu Ming'an finally felt his mind clear a bit. At this point, there was nothing else he could do but trust that Jiang Ning was no ordinary person, and that she would surely return safely.

Liu Ming'an rubbed his temples hard, then caught sight of the white paper on the table out of the corner of his eye. Only then did he remember that He Wu was still waiting outside for him to write the funeral couplet.

Spreading the paper for the funeral couplet on the table, Liu Ming'an switched to a thicker brush. After dipping it in ink, he hesitated to put brush to paper.

Liu Ming'an had never written a funeral couplet before, but he knew that it was meant to mourn the dead and comfort the living, mainly to commemorate the deceased and express respect and remembrance for them.

In Liu Ming'an's memory, common funeral couplets were usually along these lines: "Voice and image have faded, but virtue and benevolence remain," or "Leaving a legacy for a hundred generations, bestowing love for a thousand autumns; Voice and image linger, lofty spirit endures," or "High morals spread through the village, shining integrity illuminates posterity."

But were these praises of virtue really suitable for someone like He Wen?

Liu Ming'an recalled He Wen's behavior in life, and found it difficult to write such insincere words.

After much consideration, Liu Ming'an picked up his brush and wrote on the white paper what he considered to be a more appropriate funeral couplet:

"This body turns to dust and mud, possessing nothing,

In the next life, cultivate oneself and virtue to become a good person."

The horizontal scroll read: "With death, sins are absolved."