Grandma Wen stared at the figures walking into the house, then suddenly grabbed Grandpa Wen's hand.
"Yingjun, was that... was that our Nannan?"
"I think... it was."
"She said she didn't have a boyfriend. Why did she bring two boys at once? Do you think I'm seeing things?"
"I..." Grandpa Wen wanted to say "yes," but couldn't bring himself to lie.
He glanced back and forth at the few trees in front of the courtyard, then ultimately chose to walk a bit further to snap off a slender, flexible, and sturdy bamboo branch. With an aggressive air, he stormed inside. He was going to teach that rebellious granddaughter a lesson!
Meanwhile, inside the ancestral hall, red candles flickered, casting a warm glow over the serene faces of the deities on the altar.
Wen Nannan, Su Nan, and Xu Lin each held a stick of incense, kneeling upright in a row, solemnly reciting an oath:
"I, Wen Nannan—"
"I, Su Nan—"
"...I, Xu Lin."