From the look of him, Xili Bufa’s bearing truly was different from ordinary people’s; divinity and spirituality coexisted within him.
Zhao Wulan still wanted to argue with Xili Bufa, but He Wenkang, who had been driven back home, stopped her, scolding his wife and telling her to go back to her room and sleep, to stop embarrassing herself here.
Su Yufan heard them sitting in the courtyard, talking in low voices.
“Xili, your master’s wife is rather petty, but she isn’t a bad person. Don’t lower yourself to her level.
I know you studied Buddhism in Siam, and also learned woodcarving. You’re very talented. These past two years, I’ve taught you everything I know. I hope you can work for me for free for two years.
You are my disciple, and I am proud of you. I will invite Master Duan over to guide you in more advanced carving techniques.
As long as you don’t speak up for Su Yufan, you can ask for whatever you want.”
To someone eager to learn a craft, these words were undoubtedly the greatest temptation.
If it had been anyone else, they would have agreed at once.
But Xili Bufa merely stood up and gave He Wenkang a slight, polite bow. “Master, I never tell lies. According to our agreement, after I complete my studies, I can work for you for free for one year.
Two years is too long. I cannot agree. As for the Su family’s matter, I cannot ignore it.
Su Yufan’s maternal grandmother is my relative. If I tell the relatives in Banna about the house, and they come knocking, you won’t be able to explain yourself either.
I don’t understand. You already have such a fine house in the Woodcarving Town, so why are you still unwilling to return this old house to Su Yufan?”
He Wenkang held back the urge to curse. This muddleheaded fool—why bring up the house in the Woodcarving Town now?
“All right, all right, stop talking. You cannot tell Su Yufan about the house in the Woodcarving Town. We won’t discuss this today. We’ll talk after Su Fengxia’s funeral the day after tomorrow.”
Two days later, according to local custom, Su Yufan followed her mother’s last wishes and buried her beside her maternal grandfather and grandmother.
Wang Fugui busied himself with everything, running here and there until the new tombstone was set in place.
Su Yufan’s tears fell in great drops, striking the ground.
Su Fengxia was a famous person, and there were many people who came to see her off.
There were also many people helping, and the entire procession escorted her up the mountain according to the highest funeral standards.
Some fans who loved her also rushed over to pay their respects. Although there was no mourning hall, her new grave was surrounded by wreaths and fresh flowers.
It could be considered a grand burial.
That day, Su Yufan wore no makeup. Dressed in a blue-green ethnic outfit, she looked pale and grief-stricken, making people unable to bear the sight.
What was somewhat comforting was that, in two days’ time, Xili Bufa had rushed to carve a small golden nanmu urn.
Engraved upon it was a glittering golden peacock, echoing Su Fengxia’s beautiful title as the Peacock Queen.
Su Yufan carefully took photos of her mother’s “new house” as a keepsake.
Then she placed her mother’s ashes inside.
After the funeral ended, He Wenkang put on a sorrowful face and toasted the leaders who had come to offer condolences, as well as some upper-class friends Su Fengxia had known in life, chatting warmly with them.
Even on such an occasion, he did not forget to hand out his business cards and promote his woodcarving works.
The courtyard was noisy and chaotic, with people crowding around the front and back of the house to watch the excitement.
Su Yufan could not understand why the people who had come for the funeral were drinking, making friends, and even discussing business here.
Late at night, she sent Wang Fugui to stay at an inn in the county town. The house was too rowdy, so noisy it gave people a headache.
In this world, the only people related to her by blood were Wang Fugui and his son and daughter.
“Thank you for coming to send my mom on her final journey. My younger brother and sister still have school, and you have business to attend to. I’ve booked you tickets back to northern Xinjiang for tomorrow morning.”
Wang Fugui’s eyes were red, and he sounded somewhat sorrowful. “Your brother and sister need to go to school. I’ll take them back first, then come back and keep you company for a while.
If you want to clear your head, you can come back with us too. The grasslands there are vast. You can ride horses, and there are many places to visit.”
“I want to keep my mom company. When I feel like going, I’ll go see you. You’re all very tired today. Sleep early. I still have to go back and attend to my mom’s friends.”
“All right. Then remember to rest. Don’t offend the He family. Being happy is the most important thing.
If you really like that house so much, I’ll pay to build one for you, or buy you a big villa in the city. You are my daughter. I won’t let you have nowhere to live.”
Su Yufan agreed, waved, and left.
She did not go back to attend to anyone. Instead, she drove straight to her mother’s grave. The incense before the grave was still burning, and the chirping of insects and birds filled the air without end.
Su Fengxia’s grave was located at the tail end of Laojun Mountain. The mountain was full of birds, beasts, flowers, and plants, and the environment was beautiful.
It was not far from the famous Thousand Lions Mountain. When she was young, she often went mountain climbing there with her maternal grandfather, looking at stone lions of all shapes and forms.
She had passed by this place countless times before, never imagining that now, it would become the resting place of her family’s bones.
She sat down cross-legged, plucked a foxtail grass from the ground, and began murmuring to herself.
“Mom, I don’t know if among the people who came to see you off today, there was anyone you wanted to see, or whether you would be happy.
I can see that Dad is very reluctant to part with you. He has a new child now, and the fatherly love he can spare for me is pitifully little, but he is very happy. That’s good too.
Don’t worry. I’ll live well and guard Grandfather’s house properly.
I’ll also remember your words and dance well. I will definitely spread our dance to the world.”
Like a little chatterbox, after she finished talking to her mother, she began talking to her maternal grandfather.
“Grandfather, I remember when I was little, you often talked to me about how you went to Southeast Asia to work when you were young, and how you once carved peacock and elephant art pieces for the Yunnan Hall in the Capital Great Hall.
You spent your whole life traveling north and south, leaving behind many works. Unfortunately, I only know how to dance, and cannot carry on woodcarving.
Next, I’ll go visit the places where you once carved.
You collected so much wood, all piled up in the ancestral house, gathering dust and rotting away.
You wouldn’t mind if I gave them to Xili, would you? He loves carving very much, and he’s also been very attentive regarding Mom’s matters. You would agree, wouldn’t you?
In any case, I don’t want to give them to He Wenkang. That man isn’t honorable, and he’s full of schemes and calculations. He even wants to take your house for himself. I refuse to let him have it.”
Su Yufan muttered on and poured out another stream of words to her maternal grandmother. “Grandmother, I’m sorry. When you passed away, I wasn’t able to come back in time.
Thinking about it now, dancing wasn’t that important after all. Those audiences didn’t absolutely need me.
Back then, I was too obsessed with dancing. Mom hid the news of your passing from me, and I couldn’t see you one last time. I regret it so much.
Now that the three of you are together, you must be happy. Mom will take good care of you, and I will also take good care of myself.”
When the sky had just turned pale like a fish’s belly, Su Yufan felt somewhat tired.
All of a sudden, she heard a rustling sound.
Turning her head, she saw Xili Bufa draped in wing props, wearing a belt carved from wood. Exquisite divine-bird wings made of bamboo and cloth in various colors were tied at his waist.
In his hand, he held a white mask carved from wood.
“Xili, dressed like that, are you going to dance the Kinnara Divine Bird Dance?”
“Yes. Your mother always wanted to see me dance. Unfortunately, my dance costume was only completed recently. Today, I’ll perform it for her.”
“You can dance, and you can make prop wings too?” Su Yufan was pleasantly surprised.
“A little. Of the things I promised your mother, only this one remains unfinished.”
Su Yufan’s face was full of anticipation.
Xili was barefoot. When he put on the white mask and began to dance, the balls of his feet touched the ground lightly, his heels lifting slightly.
His body was like a divine bird poised to take flight. The muscles at his waist and legs quietly tightened, gathering strength while keeping his upper body extended and open.
His arms either spread slightly like wings just unfolding, or bent at the elbows to guard before his chest like a bird folding its wings. His head tilted faintly to the side, and his eyes were lively, as though he were vigilantly observing his surroundings, filled with a wild, untamed charm.
Su Yufan opened the video recorder on her phone.