Chapter 203: Moving the Graves

Lian Li was stunned by the dishes on the table. He doubted that even the Village Chief’s family had such a feast during the New Year.

While it was nothing special to Lian Li and Yun Huizhou, it was an extremely lavish meal for the villagers.

When Lian Li saw He Guilian serving the food, she, Lian Wen, and Lian Huzi all wore expressions of intense craving mixed with the pain of losing something precious.

Yun Huizhou, however, didn’t care about their expressions at all. He picked up his chopsticks and immediately began placing food into Lian Li’s bowl.

“Eat up.”

He Guilian’s cooking skills were mediocre, but neither of the two men were picky eaters. Under the expectant gazes of the other three, Lian Li and Yun Huizhou finished every single dish on the table.

It was mostly Yun Huizhou who finished it. Lian Li noticed that this meal clearly exceeded Yun Huizhou’s usual appetite; toward the end, Yun Huizhou must have been forcing himself to keep eating.

He did it specifically to ensure that Lian Wen and the other two were left with nothing.

Lian Li turned his head and, as expected, saw that the trio’s expectant looks had turned into utter disappointment. He Guilian’s eyes even held a hint of fury.

However, her anger was useless. Lian Li and Yun Huizhou ignored her completely.

Just as the original owner of this body had once felt angry at their actions, they had never paid him any mind then, either.

The two spent the entire day at the original owner’s house. In the evening, Yun Huizhou showed a rare moment of “mercy” and gave the three of them two steamed buns.

Watching the three of them scramble for those two buns, Lian Li looked confused. “Where did you get those buns? Didn’t I only give you three?”

Yun Huizhou replied, “These are two of those three.”

Lian Li asked, “Huh? Then what did they eat this morning? Where’s the last one?”

Yun Huizhou said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “The other one was given to the three of them to share this morning.”

Lian Li: “…Impressive.”

The next day, before dawn, Lian Li and Yun Huizhou hauled Lian Wen’s family out of the woodshed and waited at the village entrance.

After a short while, several figures appeared on the path, moving closer from the distance.

These were the professionals Lian Li had hired long ago specifically to handle the relocation of the graves.

Lian Li went forward to negotiate with them for a moment, then led them up the mountain toward the site of the original owner’s parents’ graves.

Lian Wen’s family had once again had their mute acupoints sealed by Yun Huizhou to prevent them from speaking when they shouldn’t.

Yun Huizhou stood beside the three of them, clutching his blade. They didn’t even dare to let out a peep, following the crowd with their heads bowed like timid quails.

Upon arriving at the graves, the Master in charge looked at the sky. Seeing that it was still early, he signaled the others to begin clearing the weeds and rubble around the tomb.

Yun Huizhou had already cleared a wave of weeds with his blade qi a few days prior, but he hadn’t had time to tidy them up before hearing Auntie Liu’s footsteps.

Now that they were here, most of the severed weeds were still scattered around. The Master led the group in gathering the weeds, bundling them together, and placing them on a small cart.

Sifting through the original owner’s memories, Lian Li realized they were taking these weeds back to use as kindling.

Normally, they would have had to cut the weeds themselves, but this time it was much easier. Since Yun Huizhou had cleared the area recently, they only had to pick them up.

Once the debris around the grave was mostly cleared, someone else stepped forward to cut the weeds at the base of the mound, clearing a patch of bare earth.

When the time was right, the Master set out offerings, lit incense, and burned spirit money. He then poured a flask of wine into cups and had Lian Li and Lian Wen offer a toast to their parents.

Lian Li naturally did whatever the Master instructed. Although Lian Wen was unhappy, he didn’t dare disobey.

The Master muttered incantations off to the side. Lian Li caught a few words; it was mostly calling upon the local Earth God and the “neighbors” of the grave, thanking them for looking after the elderly couple during this time, and explaining that they were moving the two to a new location, asking for forgiveness for any disturbance.

After saying this, the Master had Lian Li and Lian Wen burn a large amount of spirit money. This money was for the neighbors and the Earth God as a gesture of gratitude.

After thanking the Earth God and the neighbors, the Master announced the address of the new grave site that Lian Li had provided, effectively informing the original owner’s parents where they were moving.

He then recited some auspicious words for the relocation.

Once finished, the Master checked the sky again, estimated the time, and announced the breaking of the ground.

Under the watchful eyes of Lian Li and Yun Huizhou, Lian Wen picked up a hoe and turned the first spade of earth.

From that point on, the work was mostly handled by the professionals Lian Li had hired. The brothers only had to kneel when the Master said kneel and kowtow when he said kowtow.

The entire process wasn’t particularly tedious, mainly because the Lian family line wasn’t extensive; the only sons were Lian Wen and Lian Li.

Lian Wen had no say in the matter, and Lian Li himself didn’t understand the intricacies of grave relocation, so everything was left to the professionals.

Aside from the tasks they were required to do personally, the hired men handled everything else.

In the end, every necessary ritual was observed, yet they didn’t have to worry about a thing throughout the process.

By the time they finished the entire procedure and brought the remains of the original owner’s parents down the mountain, it was nearly noon.

As their large group descended from the mountain, many people saw them, even though they didn’t enter the village.

The village was small; the news of Lian Li moving the graves hadn’t even taken an hour to spread through the entire community the day before.

Now, seeing Lian Li actually moving his parents and spending a significant amount of money to hire specialists, the villagers couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

A year ago, who could have known that the sickly Lian family’s second son, who looked like he wouldn’t live long, would actually make something of himself?

They heard he hadn’t returned alone, but with a great martial hero.

No wonder he wasn’t afraid of being bullied by Lian Wen and He Guilian at all.

Furthermore, they had heard that the place they were moving to wasn’t some other village or town, but the city itself.

Lian Li had no idea what the villagers were thinking.

Jianggao City wasn’t close, and they couldn’t possibly take Lian Wen’s family there.

Thus, as they neared the town, Lian Li and Yun Huizhou released them.

The Master in charge was clearly confused by this situation, but he ultimately said nothing.

After all, Yun Huizhou’s attire as a martial artist was enough to keep ordinary folk from asking too many questions.

Moreover, Lian Li and Yun Huizhou were generous with their payment, so the Master simply gave Lian Li a few pointers on what to watch out for and then remained silent.

Once Lian Wen’s family was released, they fled as if escaping for their lives.

The Master and his men also departed, leaving only Lian Li and Yun Huizhou standing there with the remains of the original owner’s parents.

That night, a figure slipped into a residence in the small town like a ghost.

The head manager of the Yuqiao Town brokerage was currently frolicking with a newly acquired concubine when something cold suddenly pressed against his neck.

He thought it was his concubine’s bracelet touching him and was about to grab her hand to get intimate when he suddenly saw her face turn pale with terror as she looked behind him.

However, before the concubine could scream, her eyes rolled back, and she slumped over, unconscious.