The government official who beat the gong walked through every street in the village and was then invited by Scholar Wang’s butler to have tea. The Lizheng, along with two influential members of the Wang Family, also went to Scholar Wang’s. Everyone stood at the entrance, not returning to their homes, waiting.

Lian Manman, listening to everyone’s discussions, found out that the man who had been beating the gong had been sent by the County Yamen to notify each village and town that the Empress had passed away. People in the countryside, apart from their meals and daily necessities, seldom paid attention to national affairs, of course, they also had little access to such news. Only when there was a significant event that needed to be known by every commoner, would the county dispatch officials to spread the word in this way.

And the reason for using this method was mainly for the County Official to show the importance of the notification. Ordinary people didn’t have much insight; they generally listened to the Lizheng, who, along with the gentry and wealthy families, set the example.

After some thought, Lian Manman considered that there should be strict protocols and rules following the death of the Empress, such as observing mourning for a number of days and forbidding entertainment, and so on. However, that probably applied only to officials and people living in the Capital City. As for them living far from the Emperor in the remote countryside, and being ordinary folk—let alone the Empress—even if the Emperor himself had died, the impact on their lives would likely be minimal.

About the time it took to drink two cups of tea later, the Lizheng came out from Scholar Wang’s Family. People crowded around him.

"... Don’t wear colorful clothes anymore, and those planning to marry off daughters or welcome daughters-in-law this month, push the dates back..." the Lizheng said, raising his voice.

"Didn’t have to be so strict before, right? Not even letting one marry off daughters or take in daughters-in-law?" asked an elderly man.

"It’s not that you can’t, just push it back a month," the Lizheng said, then added in a quieter tone, "This Empress’s surname was Shen; she was the granddaughter of the Shen Residence of the Prefecture City."

A thought struck Lian Manman—that the recently deceased Empress was from the Shen Family. She wondered what relation she had with Shen Liu and Fatty Shen. Perhaps because she had watched too many palace dramas, Manman couldn’t help but worry whether there was any intrigue behind the Empress’s death, whether it would affect Shen Liu and Fatty Shen in any way; anything like the crumbling of a great edifice.

"Manman, don’t stand in the draft, let’s go back inside," Lady Zhang’s voice said.

Lian Manman looked up and saw there were still quite a lot of people on the street, but most had already gone home. Lian Manman shook her head inwardly, thinking to herself, Manman, oh Manman, isn’t this just needless worry? The Capital City, political affairs, the Empress, the Shen Family, Shen Liu, and Fatty Shen are all so far away from you. Even if there really was an issue, what did it have to do with you, and what could you do about it? Focusing on your own life at hand is what you should be most concerned with.

"Manman, why are you still dawdling?" Seeing Lian Manman standing still, Lady Zhang came over.

"Mother, I’m worried, will this affect our pickled vegetable sales?" Lian Manman asked quietly as she followed Lady Zhang back inside.

"It won’t matter," Lady Zhang said with certainty, "When I was a child, I heard from your grandfather that during his grandfather’s time, if the Emperor, Empress, or Empress Dowager passed away, markets would be closed for three days. Later emperors considered the common people’s convenience, saying that closing the markets was inconvenient for everyone, so they abolished that rule."

While Lian Manman was talking with Lady Zhang, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi ran in clattering from outside.

"Where did you two go? You vanished in the crowd in the blink of an eye," asked Lady Zhang. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Mother, we just went to have a look at Scholar Wang’s doorstep," Wu Lang said, "They’ve taken down their red lanterns and put up white ones, and covered the red couplets with white cloth. I saw their family so busy going back and forth with a lot of white cloth, looks like they are preparing to wear mourning attire."

With Scholar Wang having the status of a Graduate, and Empress Shen stemming from the Shen Family, it was not surprising for the Wang Family to take such actions.

...

Lian Manman’s thoughts were not amiss; this event seemed to have very little impact on their daily lives. Villagers live day to day, eating simple meals, wearing plain clothes. Watching operas and enjoying leisure activities—many had not experienced these things their whole lives, so they could just live as they usually did.

That day, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi placed a table on their kang (heated bed) and prepared brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, engrossed in writing characters. They then heard footsteps outside, and Lady He entered, lifting the doorway curtain, carrying a small Chinese basket.

"Oh my goodness, Manman and Zhizhi, are you two preparing to take the Scholar examination, following in your uncle’s footsteps?" Lady He laughed heartily upon seeing Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman.