Chapter 404: Chapter 403: I Guarantee You’ll Live to See That Day
Shen Hua did not delay.
Mama was always prompt in her actions. Seeing Yicui busy packing, she glanced at the sky, yawned wearily, and still, with exhaustion pushing her, she hurried out the door.
In Fengzhou City’s streets, the sound of gongs and drums quickly echoed to the heavens. The coffin in the procession was especially conspicuous, intentionally heading toward a specific destination.
The house where Clan Elder Shen lived was still the one Shen Wei had bought before his death. It was located in the busiest area of Fengzhou City.
He was well-informed and now deeply worried. In his heart, he saw the situation as clearly as if he was looking in a mirror.
"Disaster!"
"Why didn’t she die out there?"
"How could she disregard the big picture and reveal the affair between her stepmother and uncle?"
Clan Elder Shen’s son tried to persuade him.
"Why are you so angry? After all, the Shen Family will deny this to their death. Once the rumors die down, everything will be fine."
"You speak as if it’s so easy! People are practically pointing at our noses and cursing us, saying the most offensive things possible!"
"Shen Qu must be out of options. I reckon Shen He Wen will return tomorrow. We absolutely cannot let Shen Hua off easily for this affair."
"Right now, a crowd is blocking the Shen Residence, and our reputation is utterly ruined. Do I really need to remind you of the principle that the honor or disgrace of one affects the whole? The entire Shen Family has suffered this time. Future marriage prospects for the younger generation will likely be affected. How can I not worry?"
He gripped his walking stick tightly and thumped it heavily on the ground.
He knew about the past romance between Shen He Wen and Mrs. Xue over a decade ago. With a man like Shen He Wen, who appeared proper but was sneakier than anyone, a resurgence of old flames was not surprising.
As for... Shen Wei, his death might have been fishy too.
A perfectly healthy person, gone just like that.
But he never interfered.
Who could blame him? Shen He Wen had offered more.
As a clan elder, he had a duty to discipline, and if it were anyone else, he would have expelled them from the Shen Family registry for such indecent behavior long ago.
Yet in this case, he had merely turned a blind eye.
"Old Master."
A servant boy rushed in from outside.
"What’s the hurry? Show some decorum."
The servant quickly lowered his head.
"Miss Shen has arrived."
For a moment, Clan Elder Shen was taken aback.
"Which Miss Shen from which house?"
You have to understand, everyone in the clan has the surname Shen, and all the girls could be called Miss Shen.
The person beside him paused, then, guessing something, whispered into Clan Elder Shen’s ear.
Outside the residence, Shen Hua waited politely without barging in.
Behind her followed a large crowd of townspeople who had joined in unbidden from the street.
Shen Hua waited briefly, growing impatient until, at last, the awaited person arrived.
Clan Elder Shen was helped out to meet her.
What he saw was a dense crowd of people and... a huge coffin.
His gaze slowly settled on the instigator.
"You!"
Shen Hua’s hand rested on the coffin lid, her index finger curved, tapping it, "Do you like it?"
The girl lifted her chin slightly, "Are you satisfied with what you see?"
"This is the most expensive and finest coffin from my store. It just arrived, and I eagerly had it sent here for Clan Elder Shen."
"You must be insane!" Clan Elder Shen swayed, his vision darkening, nearly meeting his maker.
"It’s only right to offer respects to Clan Elder Shen without deception, and I couldn’t do a good deed anonymously. I’ve paid for a procession to make noise all the way here, the most famous team in Fengzhou City, with over a decade of experience and having handled thousands of deceased. It was a last-minute arrangement, and I paid them triple the usual rate, but this is for Clan Elder Shen. I am, of course, willing to spend the money, and I should be willing to splurge. Look, you’re so pleased that your hands are trembling."
Clan Elder Shen was so angry he was shaking. He struggled to calm his breathing.
"I’m not dead yet! How dare you curse me! Impudent!"
"You’re becoming more and more undisciplined!"
His son hurriedly supported the man who was about to collapse.
"Your mama’s brother was bamboozled by you, and now you’re here to stir up trouble with my father? Scram!"
Shen Hua could tell others to scram, but she couldn’t stand it when others told her to scram.
The girl’s face darkened on the spot.
"How do you know they were tricked by me?"
She looked on with disdain: "Are you implying you spend your days beneath my stepmother’s bed, able to see everything?"
At these words, the onlookers gasped once again.
The Shen Family is in such disorder!
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
Clan Elder Shen stared at her sternly: "You truly are lawless and unrestrained!"
"Your father has passed away, I have been considerate towards you. But you! Your conduct is improper. If you continue this behavior, I fear your reputation will be completely ruined, what family would dare to take you in, what suitor would dare to marry you? I had thought once you were married, perhaps you’d become more gentle, but I was wrong. The mistakes you’ve made are truly outrageous. The Shen Family can no longer tolerate you! No one owes you anything from the beginning to the end, yet you intensify your misdeeds time and time again! Shen Qu cannot control you, there is after all, a barrier between you. Today, as the elder, I must —"
Before he could finish, Shen Hua interrupted.
She complained somewhat: "You needn’t bother yourself about whether I can get married or not."
She glanced at the white-haired Clan Elder Shen: "Don’t talk so far into the future, who guarantees you’ll live to see that day."
The girl patted the coffin lid: "Wouldn’t you rather lie down inside for a while?"
"The musicians are all here, I reckon, carrying Clan Elder around Fengzhou City for a spin, to get a feel for it in advance."
"If there’s anything unsatisfactory, just speak up. Once you really close your eyes for good, having your funeral arrangements done to your greatest satisfaction will let you pass on comfortably, won’t it? Someone halfway into the grave, having spent a lifetime worrying about the clan’s affairs, deserves to live for themselves for once."
"Shut your mouth!"
Clan Elder Shen was so angry that he was gasping for breath, and as things seemed to go awry, the crowd quickly escorted him back, and the Shen Residence’s side gate was firmly shut.
Obviously unwilling to argue with Shen Hua any longer.
Seeing this, a coldness flashed in Shen Hua’s eyes.
"Missus, this—"
Shen Hua smiled slightly.
"Let’s go back."
"When you’re old, you just don’t know gratitude."
But who asked her to be considerate?
The girl smiled.
"The coffin is laid out right at the entrance, you might be able to use it today."
Upon hearing this, Yicui hurriedly settled the account with the musicians.
The crowd: ...You really are fierce.
The girl left with a triumphant smile on her face, even bouncing uncontrollably in repressed glee.
But she didn’t execute it well and stumbled, almost falling.
Shen Hua’s face collapsed in an instant, perhaps feeling embarrassed, she pursed her lips, maintained her composure, and left with a dignified and noble grace.
But she couldn’t help it, emitting an annoyed and supposedly soft whine from her mouth.
The crowd: ...Help! Maybe blind, but she’s so cute.
The services provided by the woman with the basket were undoubtedly beyond reproach.
She walked around the coffin.
"Oh, such extravagance."
"Better safe than sorry, I think Miss Shen is wise!"
"When Miss Shen was in trouble initially, this clan elder didn’t show his face either. He seems amiable, but probably belongs to the same group as those black-hearted people of the Shen Family, I bet the whole lot of them are rotten inside."
"These people still expect Miss Shen to be docile, if she were docile, she’d probably have lost her life a long time ago."
The crowd: ...Although I feel what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. But I really want to agree.
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