Mang Mountain.
Near the Yellow River wetlands, the final "resting place" for many from Zheng City, there is a large cetery here.
Early in the morning, Xu Musen got up to prepare to take Yao Mingyue and Liu Rushuang here to pay tribute to Uncle Yao.
Before leaving, Mother Xu handed the grave-tending snacks and als she'd prepared in advance to Xu Musen.
"These are all your Uncle Yao's favorite foods. Bring them with you, and drive carefully—there's still snow on the road."
Mother Xu painstakingly instructed, and Father Xu also handed over a bottle of liquor for Xu Musen to take along. He didn't say much, but his tone carried a hint of reminiscence, "Rember, when you arrive, bow a few extra tis for your Uncle Yao."
"Got it."
Xu Musen nodded.
"Aren't you guys going together?"
"It's not appropriate for us to go today. We'll visit on our own in a couple of days. Take good care of them," Father Xu said, patting his shoulder.
Xu Musen nodded, always feeling like his parents wanted to say sothing but ended up swallowing the words.
Whenever Yao Mingyue's father is ntioned, his parents always seem to feel a bit guilty.
...
With heavy snow sealing the mountain, it's not easy to find such a place with water and hills, where feng shui is considered good, in the vast Central Plains.
Today, there were many people who ca up the mountain to offer their respects.
Burning paper money, lighting incense, bowing heads.
Xu Musen respectfully bowed his head together with Yao Mingyue.
In Xu Musen's mory, Uncle Yao was always a man who was genteel and composed in speech and deanor.
Competent at work and always beaming at ho, he was tall, handso, and a role model to many young n for who they aspired to be in the future.
To Xu Musen, he was like his own family; every ti he returned from a business trip, he would bring gifts for Ming Yue and always had one for Xu Musen as well.
When Xu Musen caused mischief as a child and faced his parents' mixed doubles scolding, he would run to Yao Mingyue's family seeking refuge with Aunt Liu and Uncle Yao.
Even back then, Yao Mingyue's family was doing better than his own. If not for that accident, Yao Mingyue's family would surely be living an even better life now.
Xu Musen as a child used to hold Uncle Yao as a paragon—attending a good university, having a career of his own, finding an elegant and gentle girl like Aunt Liu, and building a happy family...
If it weren't for that accident, both families would definitely be happier, and perhaps many things would have turned out differently.
Xu Musen arranged the sweets and als prepared by his mother as well as the bottle of wine his father provided.
Yao Mingyue stood in front of her father's grave, appearing exceptionally downcast, silently wiping the accumulated snow off the tombstone with a handkerchief.
Then, she poured two cups of liquor in front of the grave.
She rembered as a child, how she used to dislike it when her father returned from social gatherings slling of alcohol, intentionally pricking her face with his stubble in jest.
But now, she wanted to personally offer her father a cup of liquor, but she could only do so over a grave.
"Brother Yao, look, the children have grown up, got into good universities, Xiao Yao is becoming more and more cheerful, and Xiao Sen is becoming more and more promising..."
Ru Shuang was also kneeling in front of the grave, burning paper money while speaking softly with a smile, as if she were discussing trivial family matters after waiting for him to return from a business trip.
After Xu Musen finished bowing, he quietly stepped aside to give the mother and daughter so space, standing quietly nearby, waiting.
"Xu Musen?"
Xu Musen stood under a tree waiting, when suddenly a voice called out from behind him.
Turning around, Xu Musen t a familiar figure, her complexion wheat-colored, standing out starkly in the expanse of white snow.
"Xiao Mai?"
Xu Musen hadn't expected to encounter her here.
Zhao Lianmai was dressed in a sowhat worn long down coat, still wearing a duckbill cap on her head, and carrying a bag filled with paper money and so apples and dumplings.
"Are you here to tend a grave as well?"
"Yeah, to bring so paper money and food to my grandparents."
Zhao Lianmai nodded.
Xu Musen nodded too, feeling this place made it hard to find the right topic of conversation.
"Then you go ahead, we'll catch up later."
"You're standing by my grandparents' grave."
"...Sorry.
Xu Musen quickly stepped back, then noticed two modest graves together beside the tree.
"It's fine."
Zhao Lianmai walked over, lay down her offerings, including so apples and bananas, a bowl of dumplings, a bowl of braised pork, and even a few sticks of fried dough.
After bowing several tis, she began silently burning the paper money.
Not speaking.
But that was typical for her—silent and uninterested in interacting with anyone, even dismissing Xu Musen, her boss. The only person she ever showed a hint of a smile to was Nuannuan, the other boss.
Xu Musen stood beside her, unsure of what to say.
However, Zhao Lianmai looked up at him and asked, "Are you here to burn paper too?"
"Yeah, accompanying soone."
Xu Musen nodded.
Zhao Lianmai followed the direction he had been looking and inevitably saw Yao Mingyue not far away.
Everybody knew that Xu Musen and she had been childhood sweethearts; it was no secret.
Zhao Lianmai didn't ask anything else, just continued to burn the paper, slowly adding, "Nuannuan has been chatting with these past few days."
"Nuannuan has been chatting with you?"
Xu Musen was montarily puzzled; that little ditz, taking the initiative to chat with others?
"Yeah, she asked what colors and patterns boys like now."
"What does she want to know that for?" Xu Musen asked curiously.
"She's your girlfriend, how would I know?"
Zhao Lianmai seed to give him a disapproving look.
Xu Musen laughed, "So what did you tell her?"
"I don't have a boyfriend; how would I know?"
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