Master Sun had been waiting at the Jiang Family home for half a day when, at 10 a.m., the family patriarch’s spirit-raising funeral procession began.
It was said that this time was calculated by a great master as an auspicious moment at Jiang Yongnian’s request.
Commencing the procession at this hour, with burial at 10:10, was said to be the best for the future generations of the Jiang Family.
Jiang Yongnian was a devout believer, hence the spirit-raising did not begin until almost noon.
Master Sun found it odd.
In their local custom, burials were always done early in the morning, with the best timing being before the sky even brightened.
Who ever heard of waiting until nearly noon?
However, since it was the master who had spoken, and it was another family’s domestic affair, Master Sun did not feel it was his place to comment; he followed the guests and joined in escorting the coffin out of the Jiang residence.
Before they could even leave the Jiang Family home, an issue arose.
For some unknown reason, during the spirit-raising, they simply could not lift the coffin.
The Jiang Family’s funeral this time was a return to the old traditions.
Following the established old customs.
For the spirit-raising, Jiang Yongnian had recruited twelve strong men, said to specialize in lifting coffins and raising spirits.
That was their livelihood, to do this very work.
Master Sun had looked them over. Each one was robust with well-developed muscles, broad-backed and thick-waisted.
Yet, during the spirit-raising, they all turned out to be of no use.
Twelve strong men stood at either end of the great beam, and despite exerting tremendous strength equivalent to that of nine bulls and two tigers, the Golden Thread Sandalwood coffin did not budge an inch.
Master Sun could hear the guests whispering among themselves.
Some spoke crudely, "Is it that the old man doesn’t want to leave? Perhaps the Jiang Family committed some taboo, angering the old man?"
Others put it more kindly, "Mr. Xiaojiang is just too honest. It must be because the Golden Thread Sandalwood coffin is too heavy. Imagine the weight of such a huge solid-wood coffin – it’s completely normal they can’t lift it."
Turning his head, Master Sun saw that Jiang Yongnian’s expression was very unsightly.
The spirit-raisers stood before Jiang Yongnian, whispering something softly.
Jiang Yongnian’s face grew paler by the second.
After a while, Jiang Yongnian called over a few additional relatives to help, all of them young and sturdy men.
Master Sun glanced over and saw an additional twenty-odd men surrounding the coffin, creating a full circle.
Seeing this, everyone thought, this time the coffin was sure to be raised successfully.
With the director prompting, "Raise the spirit—"
The next second, those strong men all exerted force together.
Veins popped on their faces, their expressions turning beet red.
Master Sun watched as the veins in their arms bulged under their short sleeves as if about to burst.
Still, the coffin did not move at all.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd fell silent for a second before starting to whisper amongst themselves.
"Did the old master pass away with discontent?"
"Could there be some issue, with so many unable to lift a single coffin?"
"The old master must have left with reluctance..."
"If you ask me, cremation is better. A small urn is definitely movable."
"Nonsense, if the old master truly left with discontent, even a small urn would be immovable."
Listening to their chatter, Master Sun felt a tremble in his heart, as Jiangli’s words lingered in his mind.
"Look, look, a master has arrived!"
As Master Sun was deep in thought, Boss Zhao suddenly nudged Master Sun’s arm.
Master Sun looked up to see a middle-aged man with a goatee, dressed in a Taoist Robe, approaching from inside the Jiang Family’s side hall.
This was a man fully attired for the part, seemingly very knowledgeable.
He walked over with a grave expression.
Upon seeing him, Jiang Yongnian reacted as if he had seen a savior, immediately showing a trace of joy.
It was the first time Master Sun saw such a vivid expression on his face.