There were few pedestrians in the residential neighborhood late at night.
Looking out from the courtyard, they could see lights shining in square windows, joining together into a sea of lights from countless homes.
Ding Ding led Bai Congming into the courtyard and stopped before the flourishing bougainvillea. He set an iron basin on the ground and took his hand as they crouched down.
"Let's do it here."
Bai Congming nodded. Although he didn't know why they had suddenly come to see Mom, he had always been obedient and wouldn't refuse.
Besides, it had been so, so long since someone had celebrated his birthday with him, and he wanted to share the good news with Mom too.
"Brother Ding, light it!"
Bai Congming handed him the lighter. "Little Bai doesn't play with fire."
Flames consumed the paper bills issued by the Heaven and Earth Bank, lighting up the small patch of ground as Bai Congming murmured to himself.
Ding Ding tossed the paper bills into the iron basin one by one, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
To Ding Ding, this mother-in-law of his existed only in Bai Congming's words. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a stranger.
For some reason, not a single photograph had been left in the house. Having lived together for so many years, even if they had no photographs, there should at least have been some old belongings.
But there were none. Apart from a bougainvillea that bloomed beautifully, there wasn't the slightest trace of her.
He could only learn about that woman through Little Bai.
Loving, strict, driven, hardworking-no matter what circumstances she found herself in, she could live well, raising a child with a disability to adulthood and bringing him up so well.
That alone was worthy of admiration, let alone