He could agree to anything Cheng You asked, except this one thing.
"If you really want to move the grave, it will only happen after I'm dead!"
Lin Widow's eyes flickered, and she nudged him with her elbow.
"What nonsense are you talking about! Cheng You is also very close to her mother; why must you be so dramatic. This matter can be discussed."
Cheng Tianhua glared at her, his pupils like bronze bells.
"There's no room for discussion. If I say no, then it's no!"
Lin Widow snorted. What was with all this pretense of deep affection now?
He hadn't shown any guilt when he was with Song Yu Lian.
Although she was remarried, she also wanted to be buried with the old Cheng family after her death.
If Jiang Qing's grave was moved, she could then become a legitimate member of the Cheng family.
This visit for negotiation was destined to end in an unpleasant manner.
Seeing his resolute attitude, the old man shook his head, "Youyou, let's go for now."
Lin Widow quickly got up to follow.
"Cheng You, this matter can be discussed; don't be in such a hurry to leave!"
Lin Widow felt this was a good opportunity to extort some money from them and couldn't let them leave so easily.
Cheng Tianhua grabbed her and said menacingly,
"Discuss what? There's no discussion. Jiang Qing's grave will forever remain with our old Cheng family!"
Cheng You's heart sank. She exchanged glances with the Feng elders and walked out.
They were temporarily staying at the old Jiang family's house, so they took a car back to Qili Village.
As soon as they left, people in Wujing Village began to discuss.
Some lamented Jiang Qing's fate, calling it a cruel twist of destiny.
Others started to condemn Cheng You, saying that with her wealthy family in the city, she had forgotten her father.
Even if she had married someone from the city, and even if Jiang Qing was the daughter of city folk, Cheng Tianhua was still Cheng You's father.
Since Jiang Qing had married into the old Cheng family, what reason was there to move her grave?
Lin Widow, while trying to use this matter to control Cheng You, was simultaneously using the issue of moving the grave to belittle her.
She loudly criticized Cheng You under the big tree at the village entrance, intending to ruin her reputation.
Her mouth was finally shut when Sixth Aunt, who happened to be passing by, reprimanded her with a stern face.
Back at the old Jiang family's house, Cheng You was unaware of the gossip in Wujing Village. Everyone was gathered, thinking about how they could move Jiang Qing's grave.
After much discussion, they realized that as long as Cheng Tianhua did not agree, the matter would be very difficult to resolve.
The old lady sighed, "Then let's forget about it. Let your mother rest in peace, and we shouldn't disturb her anymore."
Grandpa Jiang nodded. "Indeed."
If Cheng You forcibly moved Jiang Qing's grave, she would be subjected to public condemnation.
Cheng You remained silent. Qi Chengyan squeezed her hand, promising his lifelong companionship.
He could see that more than the world's gossip, she wanted her mother to be completely free from the old Jiang family.
Even if it meant facing criticism.
With no solution to this problem, Cheng You tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
The next day, she heard someone running towards her, shouting, "Cheng You, hurry home and see! Your father fell from the mountain. He was sent to the health center, and he's not doing well!"
Cheng You didn't know how she walked out of Qili Village. She felt her steps were unsteady, as if her soul had left her body.
If Qi Chengyan hadn't been by her side, she wouldn't have known what to do.
She had wanted to move Jiang Qing's grave, but she had never wished for Cheng Tianhua to die.
At this moment, Cheng You didn't know what to do.
Qi Chengyan held her and kissed her forehead.
"Youyou."
Cheng You's eyelashes fluttered, and she said hoarsely, "My mother also fell from the mountain and died on the spot."
It could be said that she and Cheng Wen Yu hadn't even seen their mother for the last time.
Qi Chengyan's Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze became heavy.
He too had experienced the pain of losing a loved one, a pain rooted in his bones and impossible to remove.
This kind of pain would accompany him for a lifetime.
Perhaps a small, insignificant event, an object, could remind him that he no longer had a mother.
"Cry if you want to cry."
Cheng You shook her head numbly. "I don't want to cry."
The resentment she had harbored towards Cheng Tianhua in the past turned into a suffocating feeling at this moment, unable to rise or fall.
How could he have died like this?
How could he have died so easily?
Upon arriving at Wujing Village, the wailing of Lin Widow could be heard from afar.
She had become a widow once again.
Most of the money Cheng You had given Cheng Tianhua previously had been sent by Lin Widow to her maiden family.
Now that Cheng Tianhua was dead, the household had lost its source of income, and she hadn't been left with much savings. With only one child left, Lin Widow was already worried about their future livelihood.
Seeing Cheng You, she acted as if she had found a pillar of support and rushed towards her.
Cheng You sidestepped, avoiding Lin Widow.
She didn't consider herself close enough to Lin Widow to embrace and weep.
Feeling rejected and avoided, Lin Widow became even more sorrowful.
"Wuwuwu, Cheng You, your father is dead! He left us, mother and son, just like that! Tell me, how could he be so heartless? What will happen to this child!"
Cheng You didn't even glance at her and walked directly to Cheng Tianhua's body.
She held the white cloth, wanting to look one last time.
Qi Chengyan stopped her. "Youyou, it's better not to look."
Cheng You looked at him, her lips moved, and she finally let go of her fingers.
After standing in the room for a while, Cheng You said, "Notify Wen Yu to come back. The weather is hot, and the body won't keep. Let's bury my father first, and then move my mother's grave."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone in the room fell silent.
Old Man Cheng, who had never involved himself in Cheng You's family affairs, strode in furiously.
He was Cheng You's grandfather, but due to his long-standing favoritism towards his other sons, Cheng Tianhua harbored resentment. After the division of the family, he and Cheng Tianhua had no contact, becoming strangers.
If Cheng Tianhua hadn't died, he probably wouldn't have set foot here.
No matter how little affection he had for this son, he was still his offspring.
"Your father's body is barely cold, and you're already planning to move your mother's grave! Cheng You, do you have any conscience!"
Lin Widow also felt dissatisfied. She hadn't gained any benefits yet, so how could she easily let Cheng You move Jiang Qing's grave?
She feigned a heartfelt plea, "Cheng You, your grandfather is right. No matter how big the issue was, now that your father is dead, it should be put aside."
"Why should it be put aside?" Cheng You's sharp eyes swept over them. "He is dead, but I haven't forgotten what he did! From the moment he secretly had an affair with Song Yu Lian behind my mother's back, he should have expected this day!"
She let out a cold laugh and surveyed everyone in the room.
"I know you all think I'm heartless, but remember this: my current situation is not due to Song Yu Lian's mercy, nor is it because Cheng Tianhua was a competent father. It's all thanks to my own hard work, achieving this step by step! I will move my mother's grave, and none of you have the right to object!"