The Funeral 1 (The Wake)

The body had been brought to the house from the funeral home, and the family members were preparing for another tradition, which is often called and known ad 'The wake'.

Before the funeral, the wake needs to be carried out, family members had to keep an overnight vigil.

The wake was going to be carried out at the back part of the house, it was quite spacious and old grandpa Xiao's body was also cleaned there, the wake was also carried out there as well.

It has become a tradition that any member of the family who dies, the preparations shall be carried out there.

The evening was getting nearer and preparation for the wake were been made.

Xiao Shuang body was laid on a mat on the back part of the house, Zhi Ruo went forward to bring his photo, the pictures shall be kept beside his corpse. Flowers, and candles were brought nearby.

The candles were lit around the body and the flowers were kept around him.

After the first preparation had been done, the entire family will wait before the wake is carried out at night.

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Liang Huiyin was feeling weak after crying her eyes red, it's been four days since Xiao Shuang's death and she felt that it was yesterday. Her sister, mother and brother had tried to console her, but she didn't show any sign of keeping quiet as she kept on calling Xiao Shuang name, she must find out a way to go to his house, she had always heeded to all of her mother's advices but she will never be able to accept this.

Dinner was set at the table for her, but she just sat on the chair and was crying.

"MeiYin dear, wouldn't you have a bite. The food will get cold" Her mother told her.

Huiyin looked at her mother irritatedly.

Wang Shu wasn't happy about her daughter fiance death, but she couldn't help it.

Huiyin wasn't supposed to go to the funeral, because it was a tradition in their own family.

If one of the engaged couple dies, the other one isn't suppose to be at the funeral or even see his corpse. However, he or she would go to the deceased house after hundred days.

But as for Wang Shu, she was going to attend the funeral and even the wake. And will also console Zhi Ruo and the rest of the family members. But as for Huiyin, she would make sure, she doesn't go anywhere.

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Once the clock struck nine, the entire family came down the stairs, the almanac priest stood in front, next to Xiao peng and other male family members.

All the family members were dressed in black colored clothes, while the body of Xiao Shuang was covered in a white robe.

They sat a few meters away from his body, and closes their eyes while prayers were been said inside their mind.

Friends sat a few meters away from the family, everyone closed their eyes to say a long prayer, and that was how they would remain seating till dawn.

'Dear God, you gave me Xiao Shuang only, and you knew the kind of stress I had went through before giving birth to him, I waited for almost six years after my wedding before I had him, and after twenty four years you came down to take him away from me, why did you give me the child in the first time? why couldn't you let me be a barren woman instead of taking him back?' All of these thoughts were what Zhi Ruo was saying in her mind. And she hasn't said any prayer for him yet.

'I wish my son to have eternal rest in the afterlife, may he not face the wrath of any gods' Xiao peng wished in his mind, the death of his son had also affected him but he had no choice than to wish eternal rest for him since his tears wouldn't bring him back to life.

And so the rest of the family said the prayers, and will have to stop when it is dawn.

The clock struck midnight, and one, two, three, four and lastly it struck five.

The entire family stood up, the candles surrounding Xiao Shuang body were already off, and this was a sign that their prayers were been accepted by the gods.

Friends who were also present had stood up, and came closer to the Xiao family, they were to offer white flowers to the family.

White flowers are for the traditional chinese funeral.

Xiao Shuang employees at the company were also present, the death of their young boss remains like a mystery to them.

The employees and friends however brought white flowers and white packets for the family.

The white packet is very similar to the red packet, except that white is the traditional color for funeral, a certain amount of money will be kept inside the white packets. The money was to help the family pau for the funeral, the Xiao family were quite wealthy enough to reject the money, but since it was a tradition the money needs to be accepted, the amount of the money was also in odd number, an amount of eighty yuan was offered to them.

The people working at Xiao Shuang company brought a large bouquet of white flowers with them, and also offered it to the family.

And everyone were praising Xiao Shuang and were talking about the kind things he had done to them when he was alive.

"Boss is a very honest man, he helped me take my mom to the hospital when she was Ill and he also paid her bills" A man spoke.

"He gave me a tip of fifty yuan after my salary" A man added.

The family members broke into tears while nice words were said about Xiao Shuang.

No one has expected him to die so soon, and his wedding was quite getting nearer, however only two days were left for his funeral, and until then his body shall be kept at the funeral home.

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