Unlike the mourning at the Zhang family, the Qi family was full of joy, and laughter could be heard from inside the house even from outside the courtyard walls.
Qi Taiguo stopped outside the house. Cheng Su saw him when she came out and said, "Back so soon?" Seeing he didn't enter, she asked, "What are you doing standing at the door, come in!"
Qi Taiguo said, "Go to the kitchen and get some straw."
Cheng Su was puzzled, wondering what he was up to, but went to the kitchen and grabbed a small handful of straw.
Qi Taiguo took it, placed it at the doorstep, pulled out a lighter, and lit it. Once the straw was burning well, he stepped over the fire as he went in.
Cheng Su was stunned, wondering what this was all about.
Mother Qi came out from the main room and happened to see this scene, and asked, "What happened? Stepping over a fire, did someone pass away?"
Cheng Su was taken aback.
