The young couple had a rough discussion, and both felt that this idea seemed feasible. However, they were still not familiar with some of the village's funeral customs, so they took advantage of breakfast the next day to talk to Uncle Chu.
"Organize a funeral team? If there is a funeral in the village, they always ask their relatives or neighbors for help. Can anyone really ask us?"
Shen Luzhu explained his thoughts: "Third uncle, I really don't know much about the funeral customs in the village. I also heard that there is a saying that you can't ask people for help in vain, so I got my mind on it and thought about it if I went everywhere Asking for help, not to mention favors, costs a lot of money, not to mention wasting time. If there is someone who can help solve problems by just negotiating a good price, I guess there will be business coming to your door."
Chu Yi also said: "Third uncle, what A Zhu said makes sense. Just like this time when Zhao Cheng's family was looking for help, it didn't seem to go very well. I didn't ask about the specific reasons. I guess some people didn't. I don’t want to do this kind of favor.”
Uncle Chu nodded: "Indeed, although everyone in this village has to do red and white things several times, white things are not like red things. Everyone rushes to come to the door to feel happy. If the relationship is not very close, most of them find it unlucky and are unwilling to get involved. As the old saying goes, you can't wear heavy filial piety for a hundred days. This applies to close relatives, let alone others.
It would be better for someone like the old man of the Zhao family to die of old age. If you encounter someone who dies suddenly at a young age, some families are not even willing to let you come to their door. This is why you can't ask for help in vain. How about giving this copper plate? In order to show their apology, the host asked them to cut some meat and make a pot of wine when they went back, and eat a big meat meal to offset the bad luck. "
After hearing this, Shen Luzhu felt that what his third uncle said just confirmed his own thoughts: "So, is it possible that we can form a funeral team?"
Uncle Chu had never questioned whether the young couple could set up this so-called funeral team on their own. He just had some concerns in his heart: "It shouldn't be difficult to organize a funeral team. No matter how wealthy the place is, there are still those days." As long as families are willing to pay, they can always find people who can't live. That is... How do we know which family is going to have trouble? We can't tell them door to door, or just take people with them after hearing about it. Come to the door?"
It is true that Shen Luzhu has not considered Uncle Chu's concerns. After thinking about it, it seems that it is indeed difficult to handle. Is it really possible to go door to door and tell people: My family has set up a funeral team. If someone dies in your family, ask us to help. There are discounts for funeral sheds and graveyard excavations!
It's like cursing someone for something bad happening at home. It would be even more outrageous if they heard about it and came directly to the door. The other person's family is sad, and they happily come to the door to ask for money? I'm afraid I'll be beaten to death before the business is done!
Shen Luzhu nodded: "What Third Uncle said makes sense. We really need to think of a way that is both acceptable to people and at the same time can spread the news that we have organized a funeral team."
Chu Yi comforted his wife and said: "It doesn't matter, A Zhu is so smart, he can always think of it."
Uncle Chu also said: "Yes, yes, it is a good idea. You can try it first. If it doesn't work, we won't do anything. There is still a paper money shop."
Chu Li, who had been listening to the conversation between his brother-in-law and his third uncle for a long time, swallowed the last mouthful of porridge in his mouth, and then said: "Sister-in-law, just take care of Zhengzheng at home. If you have any work to do, you can give it to me."
"Cousin-in-law, and me."
"Okay, then thank you, Ali and Xiuxiu!"
After the idea got the support of his family, Shen Luzhu was not in a hurry and would implement it immediately. He couldn't eat hot tofu in a hurry, so it was wise to take it one step at a time. Uncle Chu was right, the paper money shop was their foundation. The upcoming Qingming Festival is equally important.
On the eve of the Qingming Festival, the paper money shop was as busy as ever. Zhengzheng was still young and could not be carried into the shop at the moment. Shen Luzhu was able to keep him in the house with him. Most of the time, Chu Yi and Xiu Xiu were in the front shop. While he was busy, Uncle Chu was looking after the paper ingot workshop in the backyard.
That day, while Zhengzheng was sleeping soundly, Shen Luzhu planned to go to the shop and the backyard to deliver some food and tea to Chu Sanshu and Chu Yi.
It has been three months, and I always twist and turn around when I am awake, but except for that time when I turned over with the help of Li Hua's claws, I have never succeeded again. Shen Luzhu turned around again. He was placed in the crib specially made by Chu Yi, so there was no fear that he would fall if he suddenly woke up.
After helping with the work in the shop for a while, and being pulled by the aunt who came to buy paper money, Shen Luzhu chatted for a long time. Shen Luzhu got up and went back to the yard. Just as he tiptoed open the door, he saw Zheng Zheng who was in the cradle suddenly. After moving twice, before Shen Luzhu could react, Li Hua, who was lying on the kang cabinet and taking a nap, jumped down first.
Then a scene happened that surprised Shen Luzhu again. Xu had seen too many scenes of Chu Yi and Shen Luzhu gently pushing the rocking bed to coax Zhengzheng. Lihua followed suit and raised her entire upper body. He stood on the kang with his two hind feet, then pounced forward with his two front paws, accurately pushing against the fence of the rocking bed.
The shaker began to sway gently after being exerted by the force. Zhengzheng, who was lying in it, seemed to be comforted and fell into a deep sleep again. However, Lihua, who had just done a "big thing", turned around and jumped back. He continued to fall asleep on the kang cabinet, hiding his merit and fame.
After the Qingming Festival, the Chu family's shop was closed for a rest as usual, and they were free again. The young couple's plan to form a funeral team was once again put on the agenda. Although the idea was supported by the whole family, they could not rush into it. They had to make the plan. Only when you understand everything can you proceed to the next step.
In the days that followed, the young couple asked almost all the close elders in the family. Firstly, they wanted to know more about the local funeral customs. Secondly, they also wanted to make some inferences about the attitude of these elders towards the funeral team. As long as more than half of the people in the village are not very resistant and cannot accept it, then their plan to form a funeral team will be implemented with less resistance.
At the end of April, Zhengzheng, who was almost four months old at this time, finally learned to turn over on his own. As if he had found something interesting, he would turn over on the kang whenever he was awake, and therefore became more I can't live without people. Fortunately, the paper money shop is not busy at the moment. Even if there are no adults around, Lihua will stay by Zhengzheng's side. Whenever he wants to get close to the edge of the Kang, Lihua will use his own He raised his head and pushed Zhengzheng back, but Zhengzheng was not angry, like a calm little old man. If this road doesn't work, then just find another one.
After the preliminary investigation was completed, the young couple finally took action on their new plan at the end of April. The first one to find him was Mr. Du, who was a famous suona player in the nearby village.
It is said that Mr. Du worked in a theater troupe in his early years. Later, when he got older, he returned to the countryside to retire. He lived in Beizhuang Village, two villages away from Kaoshan Village. At the beginning, when he just couldn't live in leisure, He took out his old friend and played for a while. Later, people in the village knew about it and began to ask him for help. Gradually, more and more people came to him. The old man also took his apprentices and found a few villagers who could play drums and gongs. They formed a small band together and soon became famous in the village.
Mr. Du stroked his gray beard and said: "You are saying that your family wants to form a funeral team that specializes in doing mundane work for people, and then wants to cooperate with me, the old man. I will have someone to play music, and you will have someone to do it." Carrying coffins and digging graves?”
Chu Yi nodded and asked respectfully: "That's it. What do you think, Mr. Du?"
"I'm not the only one around here who can play the suona. Why did you come to me alone? It's not as simple as just inviting us to play the suona, right?"
Shen Luzhu smiled: "Playing the suona is only one of them. This is the second. If Mr. Du, before you go to help others in the future, you could mention our funeral team..."
Before Shen Luzhu could finish speaking, Mr. Du waved his hand and interrupted Shen Luzhu: "After working on it for a long time, it turns out that you yourself are not sure. This is because you are afraid that there will be no business by then, so you want me to introduce work to you. Son, you have nothing to do with me, and you just want me to help you, but you little girl has a good plan!"
"Mr. Du, listen to what I have to say. How could this not be good for you? You just said that you are not the only one here who can play the suona. We are in two villages. If you can tell me If they can communicate with each other like that, then the business of one village will become two or even four villages.
How can your son’s business be of no benefit to you? "
Chu Yi helped: "When you introduce us, we also introduce you. This is mutual."
"What you two say is nice, but why do I feel like you just want to use my name so that everyone knows what kind of funeral team thing you did? I can make a living, and even if I don’t need your help to introduce me, there are still many people who come to me for help all day long, so why bother!”
Chu Yi asked back: "You may not care about the few copper coins you get from helping people carry out funerals, but you have so many apprentices. When they came to learn skills, they must be really interested in this business and admire your craftsmanship. But after learning a craft, who wouldn’t want to earn some money from it?”
They finally decided to find Mr. Du, who was two villages away. Firstly, not only did Tudu’s family have a band, but there were also many people who could play suona, so they didn’t have to look around for someone. Secondly, they really felt that this Mr. Du was the best. His reputation was louder, but I didn't expect that Mr. Du was still a bit arrogant.
"The reason why we abandoned others and came all the way to find you is because of your prestige and your large number of disciples. It would be best if we could cooperate with you, but if not, it's not that we can't form this funeral team, just Just doing some side work doesn’t have any impact.”
Shen Luzhu's words were half true and half false. She told the other party openly what she wanted, but if it didn't work, they could just go find someone else. There was no reason to hang themselves on a tree, but they just had to deal with this somewhat arrogant Mr. Du. For example, it may be most useful to say that it has no impact but actually show the attitude that he must have it.
Mr. Du then seriously considered the proposal made by the young couple: "Let me think about this again."
"That's natural."
Afraid that the young couple would think that his relief meant that he agreed, Mr. Du quickly added: "Even if we can cooperate, I can't go around telling you what to do. I'll leave you alone."
Seeing that Yu'er had taken the bait, Shen Luzhu smiled, knowing that the other party still couldn't let go of his arrogance and was unwilling to admit that he was making money by doing nothing. She didn't care. If they really cooperated in the future, what would happen to Mr. Du? It is said that someone else's business has become one's own, so how can one really stay out of it.
"Don't worry, we can handle this ourselves."
"You little girl, your tone is quite serious!"
"(Note: You cannot wear heavy (chong, two sounds) filial piety within a hundred days. It means that a close relative has passed away within a hundred days. If someone else dies in the family, if it is not a close relative, you do not need to wear mourning. According to the custom in some areas, , if a person wears filial piety twice within a hundred days, he will be plagued with bad luck;
PS: Just read the article for fun, feudal superstition is not credible! )"
