Chapter 760: Don’t Use the Knife of Family

"Convenient, you say."

After confirming that Lin Lang was available to talk on the phone, Li Moli called out sweetly, "Husband, to avoid suspicion, I only sent a wreath of condolences and did not attend your master's memorial service. You can't be angry, right?"

Lin Lang replied lovingly: "Silly girl, as long as your intention is there, how could I be angry with you!"

AI generates beautiful pictures of Li Moli

Hearing Lin Lang's hoarse voice full of fatigue, Li Moli said distressedly: "Husband, I know that you and Master have a close relationship like father and son. You and Sister Mengyao must be very sad about Master's accidental death."

"I know that not disturbing you is the best comfort for you, but I still can't help calling you. I hope you can mourn for me, take care of yourself, and don't let me worry too much."

Lin Lang felt warm in his heart after hearing this, and said gently: "Moli, you are always so sensible that it makes people feel distressed. After I finish my master's funeral, I will definitely take the time to accompany you."

Li Moli said sensibly, "The one who needs company the most right now is Sister Mengyao."

"My music album sales have skyrocketed recently, and the company has fully scheduled my schedule for the next two weeks. You want to accompany me, but I don't have time to accompany you. You should spend more time with Sister Mengyao."

Lin Lang knew that Li Moli wanted him to accompany Zhou Mengyao with peace of mind, so she said this deliberately. He couldn't help but feel more caring and loving for Li Moli.

Lin Lang's hand holding the phone tightened unconsciously: "Moli, don't say that, you are equally important to me. After this period of time is over, I will definitely make it up to you."

Li Moli was deeply moved after hearing this. She smiled sweetly and said in a playful voice, "Okay, I know you are good to me. You can take care of Master's funeral without worrying about me."

"By the way, how is Sister Mengyao feeling now?"

Lin Lang sighed: "Mengyao... Alas, after my master passed away unexpectedly, Mengyao was very sad because of the pain of losing her father. I hope she can get out of the grief as soon as possible."

After hearing this, Li Moli warned, "Hubby, I know Sister Mengyao needs care right now, but you also have to eat well and sleep well. I don't want to see you collapse from exhaustion."

"Okay, that's it, Jasmine. You should take care of yourself. I still have a lot of funeral matters to arrange. I'll hang up now."

"Well, goodbye, husband, I miss you!" Li Moli blew a kiss across the air.

Lin Lang hung up the phone, took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and then quickly returned to the mourning hall.

As soon as I stepped into the mourning hall, the familiar atmosphere of grief hit me.

Two staff members who were carrying wreaths into the mourning hall passed by Lin Lang. The words on the wreaths showed that the person presenting the wreath was Hong Kong Island diva Wang Yuyan.

The people of Hong Kong Island have very traditional ideas. Pregnant Wang Yuyan must have known that the funeral home was full of negative energy, the atmosphere at the memorial service was depressing and sad, and it was not appropriate for pregnant women to attend the funeral, so she only sent someone to deliver a wreath of condolences.

Walking through the crowd queuing to pay their respects and lay down flowers, Lin Lang immediately spotted Ma Weidu, who was known as the "Southern Zhou and Northern Ma" in the antique appraisal world, comforting Zhou Mengyao, who was kneeling on a mat to receive greetings from family members.

As mentioned in the previous article, Ma Weidu is Zhou Zhongdang’s close friend in the antique world.

Lin Lang walked up quickly and greeted him in a slightly hoarse voice: "Uncle Ma, you are here too."

Ma Weidu glanced at Lin Lang, who looked haggard and had red eyes, and replied sadly, "My dear nephew, you know how close your master and I are. How can I not come to your master's memorial service to see him off?"

Lin Lang said respectfully: "Uncle Ma, you are so thoughtful!"

Ma Weidu patted Lin Lang's shoulder and consoled him, "My dear nephew, I can see that you haven't eaten well these days because you have been busy with your master's funeral. You have lost a lot of weight compared to the last time you and Mengyao came to visit me in Kyoto. You must take care of your health!"

Lin Lang forced a smile and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Ma."

Ma Weidu continued to comfort her, "I know that your master's departure has made it difficult for you and Mengyao to accept this fact."

"But one's fate is determined by heaven. Everyone remembers your master's achievements and reputation in the antique world. You and Mengyao are still young, and you have a long life ahead of you. You must cheer up."

Lin Lang nodded silently, his eyes falling on Zhou Mengyao.

Zhou Mengyao's eyes were red and swollen, her face was full of tear marks, and she said with a choked voice: "When I called Uncle Ma to report the death, Uncle Ma was attending an auction in Europe. After learning about my father's death, he immediately booked a flight to fly back to China."

After hearing this, Lin Lang said, “Uncle Ma, thank you for taking the time to come and see my master off.”

"My dear nephew, your master thought very highly of you when he was alive. Whenever he called me, he showed off that he had a treasured disciple and envied me. I hope you can inherit your master's legacy and bring honor to the school."

"Uncle Ma, please rest assured that I will not bring disgrace to our school."

After hearing this, Ma Weidu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Take good care of Mengyao, and help me bring good news to your master's wife and say hello to her."

Lin Lang replied politely: "Okay, I will definitely convey Uncle Ma's greetings."

"With you taking care of Mengyao, your master's spirit in heaven can rest in peace. If you need any help in the antique world in the future, just ask. I, your uncle Ma, will definitely not stand idly by."

Lin Lang looked at Ma Weidu gratefully: "Okay, Uncle Ma."

"My dear nephew, what time is your master's cremation scheduled for today?"

Lin Lang replied truthfully: "11:18."

Ma Weidu replied after hearing this: "Okay, then we'll meet again during your master's cremation process. You and Mengyao can get busy first."

Zhou Mengyao said with tears in her eyes: "Lin Lang, please see Uncle Ma off."

"We are all family, please don't see us off." Ma Weidu declined politely and walked quickly out of the mourning hall.

Lin Lang knelt on the mat next to Zhou Mengyao again and said distressedly, "Mengyao, your legs must be numb from kneeling, right? Get up and stretch your legs and feet."

Zhou Mengyao shook her head with a sad face and replied: "It's okay, I'm just being filial to my father. Kneeling in front of his mourning hall to show my filial piety makes me feel better."

After hearing this, Lin Lang sighed and stopped trying to persuade Zhou Mengyao. His eyes were full of heartache and pity.

Zhou Mengyao's assistant Xiaona stood by and hurriedly handed over the thermos cup, saying distressedly: "Boss, drink some water to moisten your throat."

"Okay." Zhou Mengyao took the thermos cup from Xiaona's hand and took a sip of the water soaked with Sterculia lychnophora.

Time passed quietly as the candlelight in the mourning hall flickered.

The memorial service for Zhou Zhongdang soon came to an end. As the time for the cremation process drew closer, the atmosphere in the mourning hall became more and more solemn.

At this time, several old friends of Zhou Zhongdang in the antique appraisal industry hurried over. They had sad faces and heavy steps.

Walking in the front was treasure appraisal expert Cai Guosheng. Treasure appraisal expert Gong Jiarui was in the crowd. After laying flowers to express condolences and paying their respects to the remains, they moved in front of Lin Lang and Zhou Mengyao and said some words to comfort the families of the deceased.

It is worth mentioning that Lin Lang had dealt with treasure appraisal experts Cai Guosheng and Gong Jiarui in the program "Appraising Heirlooms". After the family members returned the greetings, he politely exchanged a few words with these elders in the antique appraisal industry.

Zhou Mengyao forced herself to support her tired body and responded to the guests who came to pay their respects in a sad but polite manner.

At 11 o'clock sharp, the staff from the funeral home came in to remind us to prepare for the final ceremony before cremation.

Lin Lang helped Zhou Mengyao up. Zhou Mengyao's legs were already numb, and she staggered and almost fell. Lin Lang hurriedly held her steadily.

Surrounded by their relatives and friends, they slowly walked towards where the refrigerated crystal coffin was placed.

The time for cremation has arrived. The staff slowly opened the refrigerated crystal coffin and pressed the electric button. Zhou Zhongdang's body, lying in the built-in uncovered coffin, slowly rose up and was carefully carried out by several staff members amid the heavy funeral music in the mourning hall.

Zhou Mengyao could no longer suppress her inner grief and burst into tears. Lin Lang hugged her tightly and his eyes became wet again.

"Dad, Dad... woo woo woo..."

There are two doors in the farewell hall, which are the special doors leading from the coffin of the deceased to the crematorium. Except for the staff, no living person is allowed to approach.

As the coffin was lifted onto a cart by the staff and pushed into the two doors that separated the yin and yang, this was the last time Zhou Mengyao could see her father, so she cried bitterly, as sad as she could be.

Lin Lang reminded in a hoarse voice: "Mengyao, when you start the spirit, you have to perform the pot-smashing ceremony. The pot-smashing action should be crisp, and the more broken the pot is, the better."

It is worth mentioning that in funeral customs, breaking pots symbolizes seeing off the deceased, allowing them to carry the "pot" from the world of the living to live in another world. It also means breaking the separation between Yin and Yang and allowing the deceased to leave in peace.

A staff member of the funeral home handed a clay pot to Zhou Mengyao with both hands. Because the deceased Zhou Zhongdang had no son, the pot-breaking ceremony could only be done by his daughter.

The hearse stopped quietly at the entrance of the two gates, its body surrounded by pale wreaths.

There were traces of tears on Zhou Mengyao's face. In her slightly trembling hands was the earthenware jar that carried the final farewell.

She slowly lifted the clay pot, her arms felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. Every inch of her lifting was filled with reluctance and sorrow, as if she was trying to dispel the grief in her heart.

"Dad, have a safe journey..." Zhou Mengyao trembled with tears in her voice.

As soon as she finished speaking, she exerted force and smashed the clay pot hard to the ground.

With a loud "crash", the earthen jar collided violently with the ground, like a broken heart, instantly breaking into countless pieces. The sharp and piercing sound echoed in Zhou Mengyao's ears.

Immediately afterwards, Zhou Zhongdang's coffin was lifted onto the hearse by the staff and sent to the crematorium for cremation.

“Dad… wuwuwu…”

Zhou Mengyao cried so hard that she could hardly stand. Lin Lang supported Zhou Mengyao again with a distressed look on his face. While comforting her, he did not realize that his own tears were also falling.

The staff immediately closed the special door leading to the crematorium from the deceased's coffin.

When assistant Xiaona and members of Mengyao's team saw this heart-wrenching scene, their eyes all turned red, and they all stepped forward to gently comfort their boss Zhou Mengyao.

The team engineer Hei Zai consoled him: "Brother Lang, the dead cannot be resurrected, you and the boss should mourn for them!"

The team coach, Lao Ma, couldn't bear to watch this scene of life and death farewell, so he quietly left the farewell hall and went outside to smoke.

Xiao Lei, the team technician, hurriedly brought a chair over. Lin Lang helped Zhou Mengyao, who was crying non-stop, to slowly sit on the chair. He held Zhou Mengyao's head and stroked her hair gently, and comforted her with a choked voice: "Don't cry, Mengyao, you make me so sad!"

Zhou Mengyao hugged Lin Lang with both hands, buried her head in him, sobbed and cried for a long time, and then gradually stopped crying with Lin Lang's gentle comfort.

Assistant Xiaona handed over the thermos cup again and said distressedly: "Boss, your voice is hoarse from crying. You are a singer, you have to protect your voice."

Zhou Mengyao cried and shook her head to indicate that she didn't want to drink water.

"Let me do it." Lin Lang took the thermos from Xiaona, unscrewed the lid, and fed Zhou Mengyao two sips of water.

After Zhou Mengyao's emotions had stabilized a little, Lin Lang supported Zhou Mengyao and slowly walked out of the farewell hall surrounded by the crowd.

Zhou Mengyao wiped her tears silently and looked at the direction of the crematorium from afar. A cloud of smoke rose up, as if carrying her endless longing for her deceased father.

Lin Lang supported Zhou Mengyao's slightly trembling body and walked with heavy steps to the ashes claiming area.

At the end of the crematorium, time seemed to freeze, and every second was stretched by sorrow.

Zhou Mengyao's eyes were fixed on the closed door, the door that completely separated her from her father. Her tears had long dried up, but her eyes were still red, as if they were burned by sadness.

After an unknown amount of time, the door slowly swayed, and a staff member walked out with Zhou Zhongdang's urn in both hands, with steady and solemn steps.

The urn glowed coldly in the sunlight. At that moment, Zhou Mengyao felt dizzy and her legs went weak. If Lin Lang hadn't supported her in time, she would have almost collapsed to the ground.

When the staff gently handed the urn to Zhou Mengyao, her hands began to tremble violently uncontrollably.

Zhou Mengyao slowly lowered her head and stared at her deceased father's urn, as if she saw her father's voice, appearance and smile when he was alive.

"dad……"

Zhou Mengyao's lips trembled as she uttered an almost inaudible cry, her voice full of despair and reluctance.

Then, her tears burst out again and flowed down.

Zhou Mengyao held the urn tightly against her chest, as if she wanted to embrace her father back in her arms, her body heaving violently with sobs.

Lin Lang's tears welled up in his eyes. He raised his hand and gently patted Zhou Mengyao's back. He said in a hoarse but gentle voice, "Don't cry, Mengyao. We have to send Master off for the last time and get to the cemetery before the auspicious time for burial."

Zhou Mengyao nodded mechanically, but the sadness had completely overwhelmed her. Her world was now filled with the pain of losing her father and endless sorrow.

With the support of Lin Lang, Zhou Mengyao walked towards the black Maybach luxury car step by step with unsteady steps.