Huhai, within a cetery.
During the New Year, there are many people coming here every day to burn incense, the scent lingering in the air.
Xu Musen and An Nuannuan, dressed in a crisp suit and a white wedding dress, drew the curious gazes of everyone around.
"Wearing a suit and a wedding dress, they're getting married, but why co to this place? It's so out of sorts…"
"People don't follow so many rules nowadays. Bringing the new wife here to pay respects to the ancestors during the New Year brings good luck, that's what I think…"
Even though modern people no longer insist on wearing mourning clothes to the cetery and many children are wearing red cotton-padded jackets, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan still stood out.
Yet, the usually shy An Nuannuan did not avert her gaze at all. She held Xu Musen's arm, walked through the crowd, and reached the end of the cetery.
Xu Musen looked at the people coming and going, listening to their diverse dialects from various regions.
Actually, the managent of this cetery was already quite good.
But given An Nuannuan's family's ans, they could have easily set up a cetery in a pri location within Huhai, such as She Mountain.
"My mom was from Sichuan. She especially loved lively places… She chose this cetery herself."
Seeing Xu Musen's gaze, An Nuannuan explained as they weaved through the crowd, "She used to say that as soone who loved to talk, she'd be extrely bored if left alone in the mountains. Here, people co to pay their respects daily from all over, and she might even find fellow Sichuanese to chat with or play mahjong…"
"But I know, my mom didn't want us to feel too sad on her account. And this place is close to ho… She was also worried that Nannan and I would visit her secretly, and here, with more people around, we would be safer…"
Xu Musen listened quietly, gradually building a gentle, clear image of his mother-in-law in his mind, whom he would never get to et.
Finally, Xu Musen and An Nuannuan stopped in front of a grave.
The epitaph.
"The grave of my beloved wife, Wen Ya…"
In the photo on the tombstone was a lovely woman with short hair, a slightly rounded face, and a sweet smile.
The grave was ticulously cleaned, with offerings placed neatly. Evergreen trees and flowers adorned both sides of the grave, suggesting recent visits for rembrance.
"Mom, I'm here to see you."
An Nuannuan looked at the tombstone, squatted down, and gently touched it. A smile appeared on her face: "Mom, I have good news for you today."
She said this while lightly holding Xu Musen's arm as they both knelt before the tombstone.
"Mom, today Musen and I are getting engaged. Look, I'm wearing the wedding dress he bought for . You always wanted to see in a wedding dress, and it looks beautiful. Musen and I are going to get engaged on the beach of the Bund, the place where you and Dad declared your love when you were young…"
An Nuannuan's face glead with happiness and a touch of boastfulness, as if her mother were really standing alive before her, and she, like a naive girl, was boasting about finding a good husband.
Xu Musen felt a bit of a lump in his throat as he looked at Nuannuan's mother in the photo. Their facial features really did bear a resemblance, with warm, radiant smiles. If she were still around, she'd probably be playfully pinching her daughter's cheeks, he thought.
But now, he could only stand behind the tombstone, listening to Nuannuan's monologue.
Without disturbing her, Xu Musen listened quietly to Nuannuan talking to her mother. Xu Musen had never seen her talk so much.
This incessant, animated style reminded him a bit of Nannan. Perhaps when Nuannuan was her age, she too was a naive, romantic, and childish kid who liked to snuggle in her mother's arms.
Gradually, though, An Nuannuan's smile faded, and her eyes grew red with tears.
She wasn't sure how long she had been talking to herself.
Lighting joss paper, An Nuannuan wiped away her tears with Xu Musen's help.
"Did I ruin my makeup from crying? I must look awful…"
Nuannuan sniffled. Clearly, they were there to share good news and attend their engagent party, but she couldn't help but cry.
"Not at all, my dear. You're the most beautiful woman in the world."
Xu Musen whispered, his eyes turning to the tombstone of the mother-in-law he would never et, "I think Mom would believe the sa."
Xu Musen had already been approved by An Shanhai; calling Nuannuan's mother 'Mom' felt appropriate now.
Nuannuan leaned in slightly, this change in address signifying the concretization of their feelings. From this mont on, they were truly family.
Xu Musen knelt, looking at the tombstone, and squeezed Nuannuan's hand tightly.
"Mom, thank you for raising Nuannuan to be such a wonderful girl. eting her is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to . Please don't worry, I will always take good care of her."
With that, Xu Musen respectfully bowed four tis to the tombstone.
An Nuannuan's eyes were filled with tears as she leaned gently on Xu Musen's shoulder, looking at her mother's na and photo. In the photo, her mother's eyes crinkled warmly, her smile gentle and bright.
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