Diary of Getting Rich Quick in the South

A group of villagers took turns reading the written record, their faces growing increasingly embarrassed with each reading.

The more nasty the rumors were before, the more their faces are now stinging.

The last time we went back to the village, the whole village was talking about Su Wan being a jinx, and they even made up stories that I was close to Su Wan and that the two of us were having an affair, which indirectly drove my cousin to his death.

Now that the police records are in black and white, all the rumors have been completely disproven.

Wang Long owed a huge amount of high-interest loans and was driven to desperation by debt collectors. While fleeing from an unfinished building, he accidentally fell to his death. It was entirely his own fault and had nothing to do with Su Wan.

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

"So he died from a fall because he owed money?"

"No wonder he hid at home and didn't dare to show his face before."

"I've wronged Su Wan..."

Upon hearing these words, the wooden stick in Aunt's hand fell to the ground with a clatter.

She slumped onto the doorstep, trembling with sobs—not from anger, but from utter despair.

The son you raised your whole life suddenly died, leaving you with a mountain of debt. No one could bear that.

Seeing her like this, I felt bad too, so I stepped forward and said something.

"Auntie, I know you're heartbroken. No one can bear the pain of losing a child, but this really isn't Wan-jie's fault."

"My cousin has never mentioned the trouble he's caused or the debts he's incurred to his family or Sister Wan. She lives an honest life at home, yet she's been unfairly blamed for so long and suffered so much injustice."

I turned and glanced at the villagers watching, raising my voice a few decibels.

"I know what's been going on in the village. I'm putting my words here today, with the police records right here. Anyone who dares to spread rumors and falsely accuse Sister Wan again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The uncle patted the aunt on the back and said, "The matter has been investigated and clarified. Don't blame the child anymore. Let the child rest in peace first."

Auntie nodded numbly, her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately said nothing.

Su Wan stood behind me, and the grievances she had been holding back for so long finally burst out. Tears streamed down her face, but she dared not cry out loud, afraid of upsetting her aunt again.

I gently pulled her along, gesturing for her to go inside first.

Not long after, the hearse slowly drove into the village and stopped at the gate of the courtyard.

Watching the staff carefully lift my cousin's coffin down, I felt a mix of emotions.

A perfectly healthy person, just like that, gone.

He had been drifting through life outside, and in the end, he ended up like this, ruining not only himself but also Su Wan's life, and leaving his elderly family members to live in grief for the rest of their lives.

I don't know if I'll end up like my cousin.

A few of us worked together to set up a makeshift mourning hall.

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Funerals in the countryside have many rules and are quite complicated.

I was afraid Su Wan wouldn't be able to handle it, so I stayed by her side the whole time. My uncle and I handled all the coordination, etiquette, and errands.

My aunt remained silent throughout, staring blankly at the memorial tablet without uttering a single word, completely unlike her previous tantrums and outbursts.

Fortunately, her uncle was there to comfort her, and she stopped crying and wailing.

After what had just happened, no one in the village dared to speak out of turn.

After working late into the night, the courtyard finally quieted down.

Su Wan knelt alone before the coffin, motionless, her eyes frighteningly empty.

I went over and squatted down next to her, whispering, "If you can't take it anymore, take a break. I'll keep watch for you."

She shook her head gently, her voice hoarse: "I'll stay with him a little longer. I've never properly said goodbye to him in all this time."

I didn't try to persuade her anymore, and silently stayed by her side.

After a busy night, just as dawn broke, the village elders who were helping with the funeral began to arrive one after another, taking care of all the trivial matters related to the burial.

According to local custom, the coffin must be sent to the cemetery on the back mountain in the morning, and cannot be delayed until the afternoon.

My uncle and a few relatives went to the grave pit ahead of time to finish up, while the rest of the people stayed in the yard to set up a shed and prepare paper money and incense.

Su Wan knelt before the altar, her knees already rubbed raw and red. She hadn't slept all night, clutching a stack of yellow paper in her hand, throwing it into the brazier one after another.

The flames illuminated her pale face, and she remained quiet throughout, without crying or making a scene.

But his distraught appearance was enough to make one's heart clench.

My aunt sat on a small stool in the corner, her eyes fixed on the coffin, without saying a word the whole time.

The hysterical anger from last night has completely dissipated, leaving only numbness.

She occasionally raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and never looked at Su Wan again. It wasn't that she forgave her, but she was no longer hostile.

I took a moment to step aside, took out my phone and glanced at it. Ruan Dong had sent me another message half an hour ago, asking if I needed any money to tide me over, saying that funeral expenses were high and I didn't need to bear it all myself.

I replied that I had enough money and would contact you again when I got back to the city, and we didn't chat any further.

With the entire courtyard filled with funerals, there's no time to think about anything else.

It was a little past eight o'clock, the time for lifting the coffin had arrived.

Several strong male relatives stepped forward to carry the coffin, and the sound of suona horns rang out.

Upon hearing the funeral music, Su Wan's body went limp, and she almost collapsed to the ground. I quickly reached out to support her arm.

"Hold on, let's see my cousin off on his final journey," I whispered to her.

Su Wan nodded, bit her lower lip, and followed the funeral procession, scattering paper money as she went.

The pit on the back hill had been dug long ago, and everyone worked together to slowly lower the coffin down.

As the soil was being filled in, Su Wan squatted by the pit and finally couldn't help but sob softly.

My aunt stood on the other side, staring at the pit, her shoulders trembling, and she muttered my cousin's nickname.

By the time the grave mound was completed, a simple stone tablet was erected, and all the worship procedures were finished, the sun had already risen high overhead.

The relatives gradually headed back to prepare for the funeral banquet. I stayed behind with Su Wan until everyone had gone far away, then I pulled her to sit down on a roadside stone.

"Sister Wan, it's all over now. You don't have to live with all that gossip anymore." I handed her a bottle of mineral water.

Su Wan held the water in her hands, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking in a hoarse voice.

"I still can't believe it. You said he was perfectly fine just a while ago, and today he's buried here forever. What is the point of life, anyway?"

I sighed and said, "My cousin chose this path himself. He's in debt to loan sharks and is on the run. No one can save him now. The hard times are over, and things will get better in the future."

Su Wan looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed: "Chen An, if it weren't for you, I really wouldn't know where I would be right now. You've been carrying the burden for me the whole time. Thank you so much."

I waved my hand dismissively, saying, "Sister Wan, thanking me is too formal. We're all family. My cousin's gone; if I don't protect you, who will?"

We sat on the mountain for another half hour before setting off towards the village.

When we got back, the funeral banquet had already started. When the villagers saw us, they were much more polite, constantly serving Su Wan food and taking turns to comfort her.

Auntie sat in the main seat and, halfway through the meal, took the initiative to bring a bowl of soup to Su Wan, her voice hoarse: "I was confused before and misunderstood you, please don't take it to heart."

With just a few words, Su Wan's eyes instantly reddened, and she nodded gently in response.

After the banquet ended, many relatives left one after another, and the courtyard suddenly became deserted.

My uncle pulled me aside and discussed the follow-up matters with me.

"Chen An, Wan'er is a woman, and she'll face a lot of troubles later on. Please take good care of her."

I knew what to do, so I nodded in agreement.

In the evening, after everyone had finished their work and left, my mother quietly pulled me into a side room, closed the door, and seemed to have something to say to me.