Today, the funeral for Madam Ouyang was held with great solemnity at the Ouyang residence. The entire estate was draped in mourning white, and white lanterns swayed in the light breeze, adding to the desolate atmosphere. The heavy front gates stood wide open as guests arrived in mourning attire, their faces grim, filing in one after another.
Wreaths from all walks of life lined both sides of the entrance. Layer upon layer of pristine white flowers filled the air with a heavy, fragrant scent that failed to dispel the sorrow in everyone's hearts. In the courtyard, a temporary mourning hall stood out, striking in its starkness. Black curtains hung from the eaves, solemn and imposing. In the center of the hall, a large portrait of Madam Ouyang was displayed; in it, she wore a kind expression with a smile at the corners of her lips. Beneath the portrait sat a polished coffin, its intricate carvings unable to mask the overwhelming aura of grief. Candles flickered before the altar, thin ribbons of blue smoke rising and curling slowly into the air.
The Ouyang family stood on both sides of the altar. Ouyang De, dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, stood tall, yet he could not hide his haggard appearance. His eyes were red and swollen, staring blankly ahead. The wrinkles on his face seemed to have deepened over the past few days, the toll of age and the agony of losing his wife making him look ten years older. Ouyang Lan, wearing a plain white cheongsam with her hair pulled up simply, …
Chapter 331