Who in Liang County doesn't know about the matters of the Song Family now?
The moment Ninth Master Song's voice fell, a hush descended both inside and outside the mourning hall.
Song Daliang hurriedly pushed his ten-year-old son, Song Tianbao, to the front of the crowd and said, "My Tianbao has broken the pot! My Tianbao is the legitimate nephew of the second elder, the eldest son and grandson of the Song Family. There is no one more suitable than him to break the pot!"
However, Ninth Master Song's face hardened as he asked, "Isn't he your only son?"
Song Daliang immediately replied, "It's just breaking the pot, not adopting him out, what's the big deal?"
But as long as his son could break the pot, he could find a way to get his hands on the property of the second branch of the family.
Ninth Master Song frowned and looked involuntarily towards the mourning setup.
Suddenly, Madam Zeng's voice came from outside, "When the second elder is funeralized, it should be Tianhui from the third branch who breaks the pot!"
The crowd turned around.
They saw Madam Zeng, supported by Madam Li, leading the young Song Sanliang's son, Song Tianhui, surrounded by a group of nephews and grand-nephews from her family.
Song Daliang immediately grew anxious and shot a glance at Song Sanliang, saying, "Mother, this is our matter as sons; please don't add chaos here!"
Madam Zeng, without even looking at him, pushed four-year-old Song Tianhui forward to the clan elders of the Song Family and said, "Tianhui is the legitimate nephew of the second elder and the second son of the household. He is the most appropriate to break the pot."
The Zeng Family members also chimed in, saying, "Who ever heard of an only son breaking the pot for his uncle? Wouldn't that cut off the root of the main branch? Or is it that the main branch does not want to carry on the ancestral lineage? That's fine too, hand over the family records of this branch to the third branch for safekeeping."
Upon hearing this, Song Daliang jumped up and shouted, "Nonsense! So what if my Tianbao is an only son? Isn't he allowed to handle both sides?"
The people from the Zeng Family mocked him, saying, "You must be driven crazy by greed!"
Old Master Zeng showed no mercy and said, "You ruined the heritage of the Song Family and still want to squander the property of the second branch?"
One should not hit someone in the face.
This was precisely Song Daliang's Achilles' heel.
He stepped forward to hit Old Master Zeng but was separated by the Clan Leader of the Zeng Family.
Song Sanliang exchanged glances with Old Master Zeng.
Old Master Zeng and the people from the Zeng Family then escorted Song Tianhui towards the front of the mourning hall while continuing to trample on Song Daliang, "Are you trying to play the rogue here? We aren't afraid!"
Song Daliang thought about what his young daughter had said last night, that Song Sanliang planned to use breaking the pot as a pretext to adopt his younger son into the second branch, and recalling Old Master Zeng's words, his mind buzzed. In a moment of urgency, he grabbed hold of Song Tianhui by the collar and berated, "You little runt, you still want to break the pot!"
Song Sanliang only wanted to provoke Song Daliang into making a mistake, but he hadn't expected the fire to reach his own son.
Fearing for his son's safety, he surged forward to snatch him back, "Dare to touch my son and see what happens!"
Madam Li and Madam Zeng screamed in unison, causing Madam Wang and others to run out from behind the mourning setup.
Song Daliang felt he had Song Sanliang's weak spot firmly in his grasp and was unwilling to let go.
The two of them pushed and shoved each other, creating a chaotic scene.
Song Sanliang's eldest son, Song Tiancong, suddenly appeared, and seeing the plump and happy Song Tianbao watching the commotion, while his own brother was being held by their father, he didn't think twice and punched Song Tianbao right under the eye.
Song Tianbao howled and rushed forward to brawl with Tiancong, his peer.
The women hurried over to break it up.
Ninth Master Song, panting with rage, pointed at the Song Family's people, "Will you not separate them all!"
People stepped forward, and it took some effort to pull the two groups apart.
While being held back, Song Daliang still tried to kick Song Sanliang, "You coward! Only know how to scheme behind people's backs!"
Song Sanliang spat at him.
Song Tianbao cried in the arms of Madam Wang and others.
Brothers Song Tiancong wept in the arms of Madam Zeng and Madam Li.
The two families were clearly divided, fighting like dark-eyed chickens.
The Ninth Master Song shook his head and said to Madam Qian inside the mourning tent, "Song Youliang's widow, you are the chief mourner, come out and say something! See who should perform the ritual."
Madam Qian walked out from the mourning tent.
She stepped forward, bowed to the Ninth Master Song, and respectfully said, "You were asked to preside over the funeral; we will follow your decision on who should perform the ritual."
How could this be acceptable?
Then their efforts would have been in vain.
Song Daliang and Song Sanliang both thought of Yuan Yunzhong.
One said, "Why should she be the one to speak out?"
The other said, "What about Young Master Yuan? You are the son-in-law of the second branch, half a son; you should also speak up at this time!"
Yuan Yunzhong leaned lazily against the black lacquered column of the ancestral hall, indifferent, "After all, I'm just a son-in-law of the Song Family. It's better if you discuss it among yourselves!"
He glanced at the mourning tent.
Was Song Jiyun trying to watch from the sidelines or stir up trouble?
Song Daliang and Song Sanliang were dumbfounded.
However, the Ninth Master Song was delighted; not only did Madam Qian understand the situation, but Yuan Yunzhong also stood by his side as agreed.
He forcefully suppressed a smile, put on a serious face, and said, "She is Song Youliang's widow; if we don't consult her on such matters, whom should we consult?"
The clansmen of the Song Family also said, "It should be so. The Ninth Master handles matters fairly!"
The faces of Song Daliang and others turned green, feeling very uncomfortable.
Those usually looked down upon by them were now deciding their interests.
Madam Li and several other women couldn't keep their composure, their eyes on Madam Qian filled with both envy and outrage.
The Ninth Master Song, however, was pleased and stroked his three strands of beard, about to exchange pleasantries with Madam Qian when she gently said, "But the act of the ritual is one thing, adoption is another. The two should not be conflated."
Everyone's expression changed at once.
If it weren't for wanting the property of Song Youliang, who would willingly abandon their own parents to perform filial duties for Song Youliang!
But Madam Qian gently lowered her head and caressed her belly, saying, "I am still carrying one! It wouldn't be right to simply let someone else perform the filial act."
The implication was, what if she bore a son? What about the one performing the ritual then?
Song Sanliang could not accept this, and immediately said, "Second sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? Your second brother never wronged you in his life, and now his body is barely cold and you turn against him, unwilling to even find someone to carry out the ritual. How are you planning to handle his funeral?"
Song Daliang saw this wasn't going well, and he had to say something.
He didn't wait for Song Sanliang to finish speaking before he approached Madam Qian, saying, "Second sister-in-law, think carefully — without a filial son to perform the ritual, your second brother cannot find Naihe Bridge, drink Oblivion Soup, and cannot reincarnate. With a day as husband and wife comes a hundred days of grace; don't take matters to the extreme!"
The Ninth Master Song also sighed, saying, "Madam Qian, you make this very difficult for me! A person without the protection of the clan is like duckweed. Don't forget, for the funeral of Youliang, and for your daughter's wedding and mourning rites, you need the support and backing of the clan!"
All Madam Qian heard around her were words of blame, causing her mind to buzz.
Madam Zeng, who was comforting Song Tianhui, saw the Ninth Master Song and her own two sons surrounding Madam Qian, who looked displeased. She felt as if a heavy stone pressed on her chest, stood up, and began her tirade, "You say you can bear a son? Then why did you previously give birth to three daughters? If this child is a girl again, are we supposed to let our second son's line die out?!"