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Wei Mother pouted and said, "Don't think that just because I'm your mother, I lack education. Don't assume I don't know what's going on. It's all over the television; now college students can get married as long as they reach the legal age. You're twenty-two this year, well past the marriageable age. You can get married."
Wei Ning began to realize that his mother was not joking; she was very serious about this.
"But... but..."
Wei Ning thought to himself that marriage felt as distant as the stars. He had never even considered it, and his mother's sudden talk of marriage truly startled him. After all, he hadn't even officially dated anyone yet; how could he suddenly be expected to get married?
"There’s no 'but' about it. This was decided by your grandfather back in the day, and I’m just following your grandfather's wishes. If you have any complaints, go talk to him," Wei Mother interrupted Wei Ning's thoughts, speaking calmly. "You just got back; you must be hungry. I'll go make you something to eat. Also—what happened to your eyes?"
Wei Ning was taken aback. Of course, he wouldn’t tell his mother about his eyes—she probably wouldn’t believe him anyway. He stammered, "It's nothing, nothing... just, just..." His mind raced as he tried to find a way to deflect the question when Wei Mother said, "If you're going to wear contact lenses, wear them properly. Don't be like those city folks with their flashy styles. We country people should stick to being straightforward. I'm going to cook now."
Left feeling both amused and exasperated, Wei Ning watched as she walked into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Wei Mother busied herself and soon brought out several dishes of Xiangxi home-cooked food, filling the air with delicious aromas. Wei Ning couldn't remember the last time he had eaten his mother's cooking and didn't care about appearances as he quickly grabbed a large piece of cured meat and stuffed it into his mouth, instantly feeling refreshed and savoring every bite.
Wei Mother smiled as she watched Wei Ning devour his food. She handed him a pair of chopsticks and brought out a glass of cold water for him, saying, "Eat slowly; no one is competing with you for it. Don’t choke."
"Mom, you should eat some too."
"It's fine; I just ate. You should eat more. And about what we discussed earlier... what’s wrong? I told you to take it slow; why are you..."
Hearing his mother bring up the topic again made Wei Ning nearly spit out his food. After taking a sip of water, he said, "Mom, can we not talk about this?"
Wei Mother stared blankly at Wei Ning, her expression gradually becoming more complex. She sighed and said, "Do you think I want this? Sigh... it's just that your grandfather decided this for your own good and for the benefit of our Wei Family. You are the only heir of this generation in the Wei Family. If anything were to happen... how would your grandfather and I face our ancestors?"
Hearing her mother's tone, Wei Ning sensed that there was more to her words. He put down his bowl and asked, "Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"How did Dad die?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Wei Mother's eyes as she avoided answering directly. "Why do you want to know that?"
Seeing his mother evade the question only deepened Wei Ning's suspicions. He looked at her and pressed on, "What about my uncles? How did they die? Did they also die at the age of twenty-seven?"
At this point, Wei Mother seemed to have guessed what Wei Ning was getting at. She sighed and tentatively asked, "Who told you this?"
"Wu Yunfei."
Wei Ning fell silent, quietly eating his meal as an awkward atmosphere enveloped the room. After a while, Wei Mother finally broke the silence, speaking softly, "I didn't tell you before because I didn't want you to feel too much pressure. Now that you know, I won't hide it from you any longer. You should understand why your grandfather and I arranged this marriage for you so early. We are not a feudal family, but you should know that our Wei Family is different from others. We are a Corpse Chasing Family that has lasted for thousands of years, with our own set of rules that outsiders do not understand. For thousands of years, no one has defied these rules, and you cannot be an exception. Therefore, your marriage is not just a personal matter; it concerns the survival of our Wei Family. I hope you can understand how your grandfather and I feel about this."
"I understand, but why can't I marry later? I'm still young, and I don't even know who my wife will be. Do you really want me to spend my life with someone I don't love?" At this point, Wei Ning's voice grew low, tinged with a hint of despair.
The despair of a Death Row Inmate.
Wei Mother shook her head and said, "You know what the curse of the Wei Family is. Since you are aware of it, tell me—what kind of woman would willingly marry into the Wei Family? Don't worry; your wife will come from one of the three branches of Zhu You that have intermarried with our Wei Family for generations—the Fang Family. Your grandfather has personally met that girl; rest assured, she will not bring shame upon you."
"But, but..." Wei Ning still wanted to argue, yet he couldn't find a suitable reason at that moment.
Wei Mother gently stroked Wei Ning's head. Such an intimate gesture had not occurred for a long time as Wei Ning grew older. "Child, accept your fate. This is destiny," she said, closing her eyes, a single tear escaping from them.
Wei Ning was tormented by the curse of dying at twenty-seven, and in truth, Wei Mother was no different. The sorrow of a parent burying their child is one of the most tragic experiences in the world. As a middle-aged widow, Wei Mother was soon to face the misfortune of losing her son in old age. One could only imagine how many pillows she had soaked with tears during her midnight awakenings. Yet, she still forced herself to remain calm, fearing that Wei Ning would sense something amiss and question her. This woman had sacrificed so much for the Wei family, and her life had been filled with hardship.
Still, she had to be strong in facing the future.
Who would pity a parent's heart?
Wei Ning felt as if his heart was being sliced by a knife. He could no longer do much for his mother; the only thing he could do was fulfill his duty as a son in the limited time he had left.
"Mom, I promise you," Wei Ning said, looking at his mother and nodding. If he were to be gone, he hoped to leave behind a child or two for her to find motivation to live through her later years.
This was all he could do.
Suddenly, a figure in white flashed through Wei Ning's mind. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he realized that in this lifetime, whether they had loved or hated each other, they would never cross paths again.
He could only wait for the next life.
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