A Marriage Pledged on a Finger Bone

My mom argued with me every day over my engagement, until her cancer spread and she became critically ill.

When I got home, I found funeral items scattered all over the yard... candles, joss paper, and all kinds of paper offerings shaped like cars, horses, and furniture.

My dad stood at the entrance, his face dark. “Go in and take a look.”

My heart sank. I walked inside, one step at a time.

There was nothing on the bed. The room was barely a dozen square meters, and I could see all of it at a glance. There was no one there.

I felt that something was wrong.

Just then, the door behind me suddenly shut.

I rushed over and tried to pull it open, but it was locked.

“Dad, big brother! What does this mean? Where's Mom?”

My brother's voice came from behind the door. “Mom's fine. We wouldn't have been able to trick you into coming home without doing this.”

I was stunned. “Why did you trick me into coming home?”