If the business woman does not help the poor, the villain's dream of prosperity will be shatter

The west courtyard of the Qin Mansion.

In the back room of the main courtyard, Qin Jingchang's family sat around the dining table.

The table was filled with dishes and fine wines ordered from Wanzhenlou.

The two concubines left the house with Liu Yinghua yesterday, saying they were going back to their parents' home to get some money, and they haven't returned yet.

The serving maid was sent away.

Qin Antai, who was supposed to be at the vigil, also took off his mourning clothes, sat at the table, picked up the wine glass in front of him, and said to Qin Jingchang: "Dad, your son offers you a glass of wine. You have worked hard these days."

Qin Jingchang was filled with emotion. "Fortunately, all this has passed. Soon, our lives will get better and better. From now on, you three brothers must study hard. After you pass the imperial examinations, you must help each other and carry forward our Qin family!"

Qin Anning and Qin Anwen also quickly picked up their glasses and drank together.

Liu Yinghua was excited. She picked up the handkerchief and gently pressed the corners of her eyes.

Qin Jingchang picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of food and put it in his bowl, saying, "Eat the food."

Everyone then picked up the chopsticks in front of them.

The whole family enjoyed the meal happily.

They were enjoying the meal when a maid suddenly came to report, "Master and Madam, the ancestors are here."

Grandpa Zu?

Who?

Qin Jingchang was slightly stunned, and then suddenly realized: It’s the clan leader and others!

He looked down at the mess of wine and meat on the table, and hurriedly urged everyone in a low voice, "Hurry up, bring these wine and food. Go make some tea, I'll go get rid of the taste of wine in my mouth."

The eldest brother and sister-in-law haven't performed the fifth-seventh sacrifice yet, but now the younger brother has already eaten and drunk with wine and meat. If this news gets out, people will point at his nose and scold him.

This is inconsistent with the image of brotherly love he had previously portrayed.

Liu Yinghua was in a panic. She just put a mouthful of meat into her mouth, but she couldn't bear to spit it out, so she chewed it randomly and swallowed it whole.

As a result, he choked and started burping.

Qin Antai asked in a low voice: "Dad, what should I do?"

He was supposed to be at the wake, but not only did he go home, he also drank.

Once his clan finds out, they will deprive him of the right to be adopted on the grounds that he is unfilial, which will be disastrous.

You know, he hasn't changed the family tree yet.

Qin Jingchang said, "Go lie down in your room. If anyone asks you, just say you caught a cold and refused to come back. It was your father who dragged you back to see the doctor."

Qin Antai agreed and slipped out through the small corner door.

Just as everything was cleaned up, the clan leader and his men entered the main room.

Liu Yinghua suppressed her unhappiness and quickly told the maids to serve tea.

The clan leader took the lead and sat down on the main seat, saying, "Why isn't An Tai at the East Palace keeping vigil?"

They went to the East Palace first and saw that the mourning hall was empty, without even a trace of people.

Only then did I realize that Qin Antai had already returned to Xifu.

Qin Jingchang sighed and said, "Just now, my nephew went to burn incense for my elder brother and saw that An Tai's face was red from the fever. I asked him to come over to rest, but he refused. I was also afraid that the child would get hurt, so I took the initiative to carry him back. I wanted to ask for a doctor, but he hasn't left yet."

Upon hearing this, the clan leader snorted and said, "Since he is a filial son, he should fulfill his duty as a filial son. It's only a few days, so burning some paper and incense for his parents can be considered as a filial act as a son."

Burn paper and incense for his parents?

Why does this sound so awkward?

Qin Jingchang did not dare to object and quickly agreed.

Liu Yinghua said quickly: "An Tai has been getting along well with my elder brother and his wife since he was young. He has been watching over them day and night these days. Shu'er went to Pudu Temple, and An Tai was there day and night... hiccup!"

As he was speaking, he suddenly burped loudly.

She covered her chest and smiled awkwardly. Just as she was about to speak again, she heard another "burp".

Qin Jingchang's face turned dark instantly, and he said with disgust: "Okay, stop being disrespectful here. An Tai is still sick, go see him."

After saying that, he winked at Liu Yinghua.

Liu Yinghua quickly took her leave.

Uncle Qin, who was sitting next to Liu Yinghua, said with a smile, "Is this roast chicken that my nephew's wife is eating? It smells quite strong."

Another loud burp was heard outside the door.

Another elder said, "Humph, he swallowed too fast and choked."

Qin Jingchang looked embarrassed and asked awkwardly, "I wonder what important matter has come to you, uncles and cousins, at night?"

The clan leader then coughed hard and said, "Jingyuan and his wife got married at the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, so the date for the 57th memorial ceremony should be after the Chinese New Year. As the saying goes, the 7th day of mourning is not the Chinese New Year. That's why I wanted to discuss with you what day should be changed to for the 57th memorial ceremony."

Qin Jingchang was a little stunned: If the patriarch hadn’t mentioned it today, he would have forgotten all these things long ago.

Counting the days, the day after tomorrow is the 37th memorial ceremony, followed by the 57th memorial ceremony and the 77th memorial ceremony, then the 100th day memorial ceremony and the anniversary memorial ceremony.

The hundred-day memorial service can wait until after the Chinese New Year, but the five-seventh memorial service must be completed before the New Year.

The clan leader said slowly, "Shu has gone to Pudu Temple. The date for the 57th day of the rite has been set. Someone has to go and bring her back."

Qin Jingchang's expression became even uglier. He only smiled awkwardly and asked, "What are the plans of the clan?"

The clan leader said, "Pudu Temple is not far away. You can send someone there tomorrow. Go fast on the way. Two days will be enough for the round trip. The day after tomorrow, we can burn the 37th and 57th sacrifices together, so that Jingyuan and his wife can spend the New Year there with peace of mind."

The day after tomorrow?

The corners of Qin Jingchang's mouth twitched: The village head surnamed Zhang didn't pass on any news, and we don't know whether that damn girl went to Pudu Temple or not.

Thinking of this, Qin Jingchang's heart suddenly jumped: that day, Liu Daniu and those guards who went to see people off did not come back either.

If the guards and maids had received his instructions, they would have stayed in the temple to look after that dead girl.

But what about Liu Daniu?

Why didn't he come back either?

Are they all dead, or were they bribed by that damn girl with a large sum of money and fled together with the silver?

During these three days, Qin Jingchang was tortured to exhaustion and mentally drained because of the inexplicable disappearance of huge wealth and the unpayable usury.

I have put this matter behind me long ago.

Now that the patriarch mentioned it, I remembered it.

I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Qin Jingchang thought for a moment and said, "Then I will go to Pudu Temple in person tomorrow to bring Shu'er back."

The patriarch said "hmm" with satisfaction.

Before leaving, the clan leader stepped back, pulled Qin Jingchang away from people, and said softly: "After all, we are brothers. Your elder brother just passed away. Even if you are young and greedy, you should be patient for a while."

Qin Jingchang blushed at the word "greedy" and stammered, "Before Shu'er left the house, she ordered a banquet for the Cao Gang at Tianzhenlou. The Cao Gang members have left, and the money for the food and wine has been paid and will not be refunded. My nephew is worried about the waste..."

The patriarch said nothing more, patted Qin Jingchang on the shoulder and left.

Qin Jingchang stood outside the gate, watching everyone walk away, and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

But when I thought about the May 7th Festival three days later, my heart, which had just calmed down, became extremely agitated again.

He lowered his head, thinking about how to deceive Qin Shu about taking her back home. He turned around and prepared to enter the house, but someone suddenly grabbed his collar.