Xu Qing enumerated expertly: "For regular funerals, you have eight-men, sixteen-men, or thirty-two-men bearers; as for the coffins, the materials used for encoffinings vary, depending on the customer's choice."
"Take this cedar and cypress wood, for instance, it remains unchanged for a hundred years, dense and weighty, most suited for a teacher's status, just over a thousand copper coins; pine wood, with its expansive grain, bears the natural aura of Daoist technique, well-suited for a Divination Master, eight hundred copper coins will suffice; there's also elm wood, the most durable and long-lasting..."
Seeing Bai Qiuyu's furrowed brow, Xu Qing shifted direction: "If you're not satisfied with wood coffins, our shop also has stone coffins and iron coffins, even crystal coffins can be arranged if the customer desires."
Bai Qiuyu's eyes lit up, a hint of expectation: "Are these coffins cheaper compared to those wooden ones?"
Xu Qing shook his head: "Except for costly timber, the latter are considerably more expensive than the former."
Upon hearing this, Bai Qiuyu immediately showed a troubled expression.
Observing her closely, Xu Qing once more paid attention to her washed-out Divination Robe.
He recalled the Celestial Heart Sect incident with a lamp of Golden Luo Protector, when this Nine-tailed Fox Demon once stopped Jin Wanshan to have a divination, with the divination fee being just a chicken-heart roast duck by her hand.
A few copper coins for a divination, or some dainty food to satisfy cravings—such a monster, where would it have the silver taels to arrange for a coffin?
It's akin to the rules for Galloping Immortal Disciples, who can't charge hefty fees for services, they can only take a red envelope blind box, or exchange for some rice, flour, and clothing.
Because Galloping Immortal Disciples serve immortals, and immortals place no value on secular wealth; they yearn for followers and incense.
Once Galloping Immortal Disciples demand high rewards, the believers' faith diminishes, turning utterly transactional, let alone any heartfelt gratitude.
For long periods, this causes a phenomenon where Galloping Immortal Disciples barely have any possessions, living from hand to mouth daily.
In peaceful times, this isn't much issue, but in turbulent years of disaster, not only does the call for them diminish, but patrons may offer red envelopes containing one or two copper coins, not even enough to buy a fried cake.
Understanding the intricacies, Xu Qing's expression towards Bai Qiuyu turned peculiar.
"Auntie, are you perhaps short on funds and unable to afford funeral expenses at the moment?"
Exposed on the spot, Bai Qiuyu's cheeks and ears flushed crimson with embarrassment.
A single copper coin can block a hero, let alone a thousand!
Running out of money for daily expenses is one thing, but this is organizing the great matter of a teacher's funeral!
Bai Qiuyu, under Xu Qing's unwavering gaze, eventually braced herself, casting aside all shame:
"On my way, I saw a notice outside the city gate, inscribed with words about white matter loans and credit burials..."
Xu Qing clicked his tongue, nodded: "Indeed there's such a thing, Madam intends to handle coffin loans and credit burial simultaneously?"
"This isn't a small sum; if you're certain, we must sign and seal it, making a vow under the flames."
Seeing the shopkeeper inexplicably excited, Bai Qiuyu felt something seemed amiss.
She cautiously inquired: "I saw on that notice that during the credit period, no interest is charged, nor is there a fixed repayment date—that's valid, right?"
"Naturally," Xu Qing nodded then shook his head: "But the notice distinctly states that only with a body present can you be exempted from interest for burial, meant to relieve the living and allow the deceased to be at peace."
"However, as Madam is handling a cenotaph, that's different."
"I can offer credit, but there's a repayment term; you must clear the debt within ten years, how does that sound?"
Bai Qiuyu's eyes brightened, asked: "No interest?"
"None."
"Ten years, really?"
"Indeed."
Bai Qiuyu finally let out a breath of relief.
With ten years, even if she reads one divination a day for a copper, it'd be enough to settle the debt.
"For the best funeral specifications, how much silver is needed?"
Xu Qing glanced at Bai Qiuyu, surprised. Isn't the Nine-tailed Fox Tribe this devoted to their teachers…
"That's tricky! Premium specifications are uncapped. As long as Madam can afford, even if you want an Imperial Mausoleum's ceremony, we can secretly make arrangements on the journey to pay last respects, capturing at least eighty to ninety percent of the grandeur."
"..."
Bai Qiuyu had seen an Emperor's funeral, that scale, the procession on a road paved with pure gold and silver—in strict adherence, reading hundreds of years might not repay it!
"No need for extravagance! My teacher isn't one for extravagance, Shopkeeper, just follow usual procedures."
Xu Qing nodded: "For an Emperor's funeral, the bearer team at least numbers a hundred and twenty-eight; for a distinguished family, sixty-four, whereas a regular family's is thirty-two, ... and for a poor family, eight."
Bai Qiuyu pondered, choosing the thirty-two-bearer team.
Xu Qing retrieved an abacus from the counter, leisurely leaned on the counter while calculating, saying: "Madam, you are prudent; the bearer team is dignified yet not lavish."
"Madam indeed has good taste; coupled with a pine and cypress coffin, it's truly homey and homely."
After calculating the coffin, Xu Qing continued gently persuading: "With your teacher's ascension to immortality, attire cannot be neglected. Our small shop offers embroidered Su robes with crane motifs and cloud patterns, slightly differing in price."
"For a dignified burial, three garments will suffice for a commoner. Yet, for a revered teacher… while there's no need for royal-level garments, you can't be too perfunctory. How does Madam feel about the Five Bats cloud-patterned design?"
Xu Qing's hands swiftly manipulating the abacus, when calculations completed, he suddenly asked: "We have yet to know your teacher's ancestral grave location?"
Bai Qiuyu was momentarily stunned, ever since she followed the old lady in cultivation, they wandered, thus never knowing the teacher's homeland location.
Seeing the female Divination Master's dazed state, Xu Qing timely offered: "Without a grave, it won't do. However, as it happens, our shop has an auspicious feng shui location ready."
"The cemetery too?" Bai Qiuyu was somewhat overwhelmed. Has the funeral trade become this multifaceted?
"Certainly! Twenty or thirty li to the west of the city is Wujue Slope, backed by green pines, facing flowing water, sheltering wind and gathering qi, encircled by dragons and tigers. Plus, it's regularly manicured, with scenery flourishing, serene and uncluttered..."
"How much silver?"
"Not much, just twenty silver taels, to find a good resting place for your teacher."
Observing Bai Qiuyu's hesitation, Xu Qing leveraged the opportunity: "The deceased deserves utmost importance, we can't be perfunctory, can we?"
The female Divination Master's brows relaxed: "Let's proceed as you explained."
After settling all the arrangements, Bai Qiuyu thought it might end here, never imagining Xu Qing would continue: "Don't be hasty, Madam, we've hardly begun. A proper funeral requires rituals and offerings."
"For instance, the Four Seasons Flower Umbrella symbolizes eternal teacher virtues, it's a must-have; a paper horse, for smoothing your teacher's journey, equally indispensable; a pair of guiding paper cranes, leading the way west for your teacher, a necessary item. Moreover, students must show their filial piety to their teacher, so a longevity hat cover, and a crane-deer canopy, likewise essential…"
Xu Qing's five fingers danced, the abacus clattered rhythmically.
"All miscellaneous items summed up, a total of forty-four taels, eight coins, and nine cents. I'll round down for the customer, making it forty-five taels! Moreover, I can send more offerings on your teacher's behalf."
"How much?"
"Forty-five taels, repayable over ten years, interest-free."
Xu Qing marked out a page of white paper, regardless of what Bai Qiuyu thought, his pen rapidly falling, swiftly completing three copies of the debt contract.
Bai Qiuyu examined it, it stated that should she fail to repay on time, she'd need to work off the debt in the Funeral Shop.
Apart from this, there were no additional clauses.
Signing and sealing, vowing under flames, upon finalizing the contract, Bai Qiuyu produced her master's old clothes and belongings, carefully placing them atop the counter.
"These are natural..."
Initially indifferent to these old possessions, Xu Qing was taken aback when the usually calm feline eyes of the cat at the counter suddenly widened and quivered.
"How did she die? How could she have just died like this..."
Indeed, the paths of the Meditation Master and Xuan Yu had crossed once more!