Chapter 16 This marriage, I accept it.
When Grandma Huo returned to the guesthouse, Lin Xili was still sitting in the living room on the first floor, waiting anxiously, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Upon seeing Grandma Huo enter, she immediately stood up.
Grandma Huo tried her best to make her expression look natural and cheerful.
She returned the marriage certificate and ID card belonging to the woman to Lin Xili.
The old man smiled and said, "Well, it's all done. From now on, you're my granddaughter-in-law!"
Lin Xili took the bright red booklet; it felt unreal to the touch.
She opened it and found a composite photo of her and Huo Nanchen's ID cards pasted inside, with their names and registration date printed below.
All of this happened faster than she could have imagined.
She looked at the information carefully and found that Huo Nanchen was indeed about the same age as her, only two years older.
Didn't Grandma Huo go to the neighborhood committee to register? How come she came back with a marriage certificate?
She looked up and asked in confusion, "Grandma, is it true that these days you don't need to be present for your wedding?"
"And...Dr. Huo, did he...did he really agree?"
Given Huo Nanchen's aloof and taciturn nature, how could he so easily agree to marry a patient he had only met a few times?
Also, has the policy changed?
Grandma Huo showed no sign of guilt; she had already prepared her explanation.
He patted his chest and said, "I agree, of course I agree, would I lie to you?"
"This is a small town, unlike your big cities, the rules aren't as rigid."
“Young people are all going out to work now, and there aren’t many couples left in the town. The Civil Affairs Bureau understands that.”
“I told you that you are both doctors and too busy to get away, so get the certificates done first and you can complete the procedures later.”
"I signed a commitment letter guaranteeing that you are doing this voluntarily."
Grandma Huo deliberately obscured the key points, never mentioning how she persuaded the staff, let alone that Huo Nanchen was completely unaware of the situation.
Seeing Lin Xili's still somewhat dazed expression, she pressed her advantage, adopting the demeanor of an elder:
"Hey... Xi Li, look, we've got the marriage certificate, so we're legally married now."
"According to our local custom, once you get married, you have to live together."
"Pack your things and when Nan Chen comes back, go home with him and live together?"
"ah?"
Lin Xili was completely stunned. They were going to... move in together right away?
This was completely outside her plans.
Her idea of marriage remained merely a legal formality, a means to appease the Lin family.
She was not mentally prepared to live under the same roof as a strange man.
“Grandma,” she said quickly, “could you… let me have a couple of days to adjust? This… this is too sudden.”
Grandma Huo was actually quite worried, as she hadn't yet managed to win over her grandson.
If we let Lin Xili go now, it would be troublesome if the secret was exposed or the situation got out of control.
"Okay, okay, Grandma understands. Girls need to be prepared."
"Then you can start packing, no rush, no rush!"
She needs to hurry up and go find her grandson to finalize things here.
In the evening, Huo Nanchen finished his day's work and had just stepped into the courtyard when he was grabbed by Grandma Huo, who was waiting for him.
"Nan Chen, come quick, come home with Grandma, I have something important to tell you!"
Grandma Huo looked serious and, without giving him a chance to explain, dragged him outside.
Huo Nanchen was a little confused, but seeing his grandmother's unusually serious expression, he went back with her.
As soon as she entered, Grandma Huo locked the door tightly behind her.
Under Huo Nanchen's questioning gaze, she tremblingly pulled out the bright red marriage certificate from her bosom and handed it to him.
Huo Nanchen frowned as he took it. When he opened it and saw the names and photos side by side, as well as the clear stamp, he was deeply moved.
A crack appeared on his usually calm face, and his pupils contracted sharply.
"Grandma, you..."
He looked up at his grandmother in disbelief. "What are you doing?"
"How could you... how could you do this without my consent?"
His tone was filled with suppressed anger and deep helplessness.
Grandma Huo had anticipated his reaction.
"How did I not get your permission? I'm here to tell you, aren't I?"
"Besides, Miss Xili did it willingly; she married you willingly, and she even gave me her ID card."
"Voluntary? My relationship with her is purely doctor-patient; there's no emotional foundation between us. How could she possibly volunteer?"
Huo Nanchen thought it was utterly absurd.
"Grandma, how did you manage to get through this without both parties being present?"
"Did you give them a red envelope? That doesn't count."
"How can it not count? It's stamped with the official seal, recognized by the Marriage Bureau, and there's also Nan Chen. Don't forget what kind of family you come from?"
"How many marriages among the descendants of prominent families are based on love?"
"Which one of them wasn't an arranged marriage? Don't bring up feelings."
Huo Nanchen was taken aback by her words, and his expression turned even more unpleasant:
"Even setting aside feelings, do you know anything about her background? Do you know who she is...?"
I don't care about her background.
Grandma Huo interrupted him, "I think she's a good person, good-looking, and a forensic doctor. She's a perfect match for you, a doctor."
"You're practically a monk in a temple now, what's the point of me caring about whether I understand you or not?"
"All I care about now is whether you can find me a granddaughter-in-law so I can see you get married before I die?"
"If I'm not here one day, I think this girl from Xili is quite nice to have someone to keep you company."
Looking at his grandmother's flushed face, Huo Nanchen knew that reasoning with her was pointless.
He took a deep breath: "I won't admit it. I'll go find her right now and make things clear, then I'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to cancel this ridiculous registration!"
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
"Stop right there!"
Grandma Huo suddenly shouted and used all her strength to grab him, dragging him to a memorial tablet in the main hall.
"Kneel down!" Grandma Huo's voice suddenly became authoritative.
Huo Nanchen looked at his grandfather's memorial tablet, then at his grandmother's resolute eyes, and finally slowly knelt down.
Grandma Huo pointed at the memorial tablet, her voice trembling but clear: "Unfilial grandson Huo Nanchen, swear to your grandfather, do you acknowledge this marriage or not?"
“If you dare to deny it or try to revoke it, I will kill myself in front of this memorial tablet today to join your grandfather.”
"I mean what I say. You'll be collecting my corpse from now on. Let's see how you'll face your ancestors in the afterlife!"
"Grandma, don't forget, I've already given up my identity as a member of the Huo family."
"Give up your identity, but do you still have Huo family blood in your veins? Is this your biological grandfather?"
Looking at his grandmother's gray hair and her chest heaving violently with emotion, Huo Nanchen felt a tremendous sense of powerlessness wash over him.
He knew his grandmother was capable of it.
She's become obsessed with his marriage.
He closed his eyes, and the image of Lin Xili's aloof, melancholic yet stubborn face flashed through his mind...
What difference does it make who you marry?
Since we can't get rid of it, let's accept it.
Just consider it as completing a task to comfort my elderly grandmother.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a deep, silent darkness. All his shock and anger were suppressed, leaving only a resigned calm.
"Okay." His voice was dry and low. "I agree. I accept this marriage."
Upon hearing this, Grandma Huo slumped into the chair next to her, a kind smile returning to her face:
"Good...good...that's a good grandson for grandma..."
Huo Nanchen stood up from the cold tile floor, not looking at his grandmother, but focusing his gaze on the deep night outside the window.
He felt it was necessary to talk to Lin Xili to find out if it was impulsive or truly voluntary.
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