The sound of a suona means either great joy or great sorrow.
Third Grandfather's funeral was a festive affair.
Not festive in a celebratory way, but in the way that everyone who came followed Third Grandfather's wishes: they arrived with a smile, kowtowed, and left with a smile.
Third Grandfather no longer had any family, but the villagers still kept a record of the funeral gifts.
Third Grandfather had arranged everything before he passed. If any gifts were received at his funeral, they were all to be donated to the village elementary school for the children.
Uncle An and many of the men from the An family wore mourning clothes to see Third Grandfather off on his final journey.
Paper money drifted through the air as the villagers played music to send Third Grandfather off.
After the coffin had rested for seven days, the villagers carried Third Grandfather up the mountain and buried him in a plot that had long been reserved for him.
