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Church wasn't a competition. Especially not on Mothers Day. But when the most prominent families in town show up, not even children can escape the undeclared pressure.
They have a family to represent, a mother to sing for, and treats to eat afterwards. It was a lot to stress about for the various aged children.
Mothers day was the one day mothers are relieved from stress. But when you take it off the mothers back, it doesn't end up on the male representative of the family, it ends up on the children's back. Which is how disaster happens. (Throwing the stress right back at the mom. )
This particular mothers day was like any other. Everyone wore their best dress, mothers had flowers braided in their hair, and families gleamed in joy.
As per tradition, the children would sing a couple mothers day songs during sacrament meeting. All prepared during the last couple of Sundays, it was finally time for the children to sing.
One by one the kids were pushed from their seats and lined up at the pulpit. Being sorted into the messiest crowd that ever existed in this church building.
Among various kids, from many families. Nie Huaisang sat at the front. A small fan that matched his mothers outfit hid his face. From the audience all one could see was his anxious eyes peeking out. His elder brother, Nie Mingjue stood right behind him. Viciously yanking his brother's arms down. The desire for a perfect performance more than worrying about his brother's happiness. Nie Mingjue beamed in the presence of his parents. He honestly was a Daddy's boy, but nothing stopped him from loving his Mother. In his head no one could be more excited to sing to her at church than him. He loved his parents, and this was personally one of his favorite holidays. If given a moment, he would always remain by his Mother’s side.
Nie Huaisang however liked to stay away and hide in his room. Until recently, he only ever talked to his brother, occasionally he'd let his Ma hang out. It had then turned from occasionally to consistently when Nie Huaisang learned his mother was the best source for pretty things, paintings, fans, picture books, etc. Nie Huaisang, a true collector at heart, had never realized he inherited that aspect from his Mother. But all the same, he hated being in the center of attention and would much rather hide behind his Moms fan than sing a song.
To Nie Huaisang's left stood, well it was hard to tell. They stood with their back to the crowd, had a shabby outfit and wild black hair shoved into a ponytail. Rather than listening, and facing the front, Wei Wuxian insisted at facing his sister behind him. This was pry the most conflicting holiday for Wei Wuxian. His mother had passed years on before, and he never nurtured a relationship with Madam Yu. He wasn't scared of her, no, but she always held a bias against him. The first year Wei Wuxian had joined the kids, he hid behind his new brother. As the years passed he became more confident in singing to the crowd and quite enjoyed being in the front. Instead of mourning his Mother, he had simply begun to say He loves all Mothers and wants to sing for everyone.
The parents loved to hear this, and would continue to completely encourage this mindset. It will later fire back at the parents, when Wei Wuxian as a teen, would begin to wear ‘I ❤️ Hot Moms' shirts to church. But for now, the one he thought this holiday suited best, was his Sister Yanli, so he gave her all his attention. Also she had lotus candies in her sleeve, which he loved. So he wanted some of those too.
He insistently tugged on her wrist until she gave him a candy, a bribe to behave. Next to Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng scowled. Where was his treat? He'd beg too, but his mother was watching. He could feel her stare from here.
The pressure to be a perfect boy for his mother is too overwhelming. Obviously Wei Wuxian felt none of it. Yanli also gave no air of stress, but he had read her diary(ON A DARE! BLAME WEI WUXIAN! HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT!) and knew that she felt it just the same.
He wanted to pretend, so desperately, to be happy like his siblings. But his mothers face discouraged any sight of it. He had to sing the song right, desiring so badly to show his mom how much he loves her.
Mother I love you
Mother I do
Would his Ma believe his words? In the dark of night Jiang Cheng often cried, not understanding why his mother hated him. Wei Wuxian said she loved him, and that she was just a meanie because she loved him. YanLi had cuddled him and said Mother just speaks a different love language.
Even Father had held Jiang Cheng, and assured him that his Mother loved him more than anything else in the world.
Love being shown or not, Jiang Cheng loved his mother. Loved to train with her, to do his homework with her. Even simple things, like helping her with laundry. No matter what his Mom did, he would always love her, and he wanted to be a perfect child for her.
Was it so hard? Jiang Cheng still didn't know, but he did know he would pour every emotion into this song.
Which is why, every parent in the pews could see the child scrunch his face in adorable concentration. Surely his devotion to one song would be the talk at church for weeks. His adorable concentration was not matched by brother, Wei Wuxian, but Jiang YanLi, held what could be said as the prettiest smile. She obviously inherited from her mother, but where her mother scowled, Yanli shone with joy. With ease she helped her brothers stand still and get into place.
Madam Yu would never say it, but she looked forward to the day Yanli became a mom. She saw joy in her daughter's eyes, and knew she would be everything Madam Yu wasn't. It helped her be a better mom to her daughter, and her son(also the other one).
She looked forward to grandkids, but also to a wedding. Which is why she so cleverly made Jin Zixuan sit next to Yanli.
Yanli was very grateful to her Ma for that. She very much liked Jin Zixuan and couldn't help the blush that spread on her cheeks as she saw him.
Jin Zixuan was very unhappy with his mother, for she had made him sit with the one person he was trying to avoid. In truth, Jin Zixuan didn't care much for his parents. They weren't active and had their own groups. He preferred his nannies any day. He did as his parents asked out of habit, not any real respect. So singing on Mothers day felt like a chore.
He wasn't too excited, a fact that would change overtime. One day he would learn to value his mother and get advice. She would help him win Yanlis heart once he fell in love, and she would be his number one supporter. The adolescent however, was simply too young to understand that. With his arms crossed and an arrogant scowl he would sing. He would sing it very quietly.
Across the pulpit, sat the other members of the Jin family. His cousin, Jin Zixun sat smugly, prepping his voice(?) At least that's what the audience assumed his screeching to be. The child really had no face to provide his family with. In between Jin Zixun and Nie Mingjue sat with Jin Zixuan's half brother, Meng Yao.
Meng Yao had only been brought into the family recently, when the government forced him to take the child in after his mother passed. Whether or not seeing evidence of her husband's cheating angered Madam Jin, she gave no sign. But the half brother did his best to work hard, not outshine the main son, and butter up to his new father the best he could. There wasn't much of a sign that Meng Yao remembered his mother from the audience's perspective. But the audience couldn't see the bracelet of hers that he hid in his sleeve, and they couldn't see the tears he shed in his head for her.
This Sunday, a few families weren't in attendance. For example the Changs and the Xues.
In their spots families who never attended sat. Such as the Wens. The mother was not active in the family life, so only the father came with his son. The boy in question refused to go up and sing. And no one minded, one look at his neck revealed how he spent his free time. It wasn't the best impression for Mothers Day. (Noting he was the reason many young girls celebrated this holiday. ) Even Wei Wuxian's ‘I ❤️ Hot Moms’ shirt was preferred over that sight.
The Wen Father couldn't have that. The strange man, instead, brought some distant cousins to go up and sing with the rest of the kids. Wen Qing and Wen Ning, bravely went up and joined the rest of the kids. Neither really thought about their mother, but more of why their strange uncle made them go to church and then go up to sing. Wen Qing stood at the back her fingertips stayed on her brother's shoulder, as if she was going to misplace him.
Wen Ning sat next to Nue Huaisang and eagerly hid behind the fan the boy carried.
He wasn't shy, but he was born with a stutter. And having a stutter and singing at church don't go well together. He tried to hide, but with his sister's arm keeping him in the front row, he had no choice but to do his best( or lyp synch.)
On a normal Sunday, the sight of the two Wens would have been talked about for days on end. Such an odd situation, a non religious family bringing in non religious people, to worship? None of it made sense, other than the Wen family wanting to be better than everyone else.
They would never be better though. Not even have better gossip. The Lan Family, as devoted and honest they were, would always outshine the Wen family. How could the twin jades not outshine anyone. One look at those boys and every mother became instantly jealous. Truly a gift from God.
Lan Zichen, a Freshman in highschool, was already accomplished on an instrument, actively participating in school and leadership organizations. He helped at church, and volunteered on the weekends. When he had time at home, he never wasted it.
His brother Lan Wangji was not far behind in success. Only recently entering 6th grade, he was a professional in the guqin. At his young age, he was being invited to perform at universities and participate in musical theory discussions. Both boys worked hard in life, and their success was eager to shine.
But with good luck given, bad luck takes away. At least that's what the gossip said, as the Lan mother passed away. She had only passed a couple months prior, and all family members were still in mourning.
The first mothers day without their mother. Anyone who met the Lans knew how much the boys had loved their mom. It was evident in the air as they watched the family interact. Lan Wangji devoted every guqin piece to her, and Xichen dedicated his volunteer projects towards her. She always showed up when she could and was their number one supporter. Their father took an inactive role in the children's lives, so when their mother wasn't around they spent time with their uncle.
This first mothers day without her would be especially hard. The only person the boys had to rely on was their strict Uncle in the audience.
No one had expected the two Lan jades to walk up. No one expected them to sing. But the Lan brothers, with a strong sense of duty, walked up to the stage and took their spots.
Mothers day is a day to be stress free, but watching those two boys was the most stressful day of the year.
Lan Xichen, the smiling boy that he is, simply stayed near his friend, Nie Mingjue. He seemed to have no problem singing, and smiled as he would anyday.
Lan Wangji, beside him, was a different story. Perfect posture, fists curled tight, and eyes moist. He stared deadly into the crowd, to the point that no one dared look at the child.
Lan Qiren, the children choir director, stood up and began waving his hand. After the piano finished its intro(after this year Lan Wangji would take being the choir pianist as his own responsibility) the children began to sing.
It was. . . Singing?
Most of the boys, not sure how to sing with puberty coming at them, sang monotone and flat. The girls sang out of harmony. Wei Wuxian, eager to annoy Lan Qiren, began yelling the lyrics because why not.
Jiang Cheng wanted to join his brother in a show of devotion, but saw his mothers vicious glare and immediately began to whisper-sing.
Jin Zixuan, annoyed by the singing(he was also singing out of key mind you), began eyeing Yanli for allowing her brothers to act like that. He started coughing to alert her to their lack of discipline and over abundance of joy.
Yanli and Wuxian didn't get the hint, and just stared forward, continuing singing. Only Jiang Cheng did, and when he noticed, a jab from his elbow sent Wei Wuxian flying.
It wasn't intended to send Wei Wuxian to the other side of the room(It totally was. Jiang Cheng needs his space to breathe from his brother.) But it did. Sent the boy flying right into Lan Wangji.
Up until that point, Lan Wangji sat there in silence, eyes watering. Maybe it was because of his mother's death, maybe it was because of the chaotic noise he had to endure, or maybe it was because another kid went flying into him and it hurt, but he started sobbing.
No one had ever seen the boy shed a tear before, smile, frown, nor any emotion. But to watch the boy sob, was heart wrenching.
Wei Wuxian looked at the boy, and in an expected manner began crying as well, letting waterfalls join the other boy. The reason, unknown to anyone.
Jiang Cheng, seeing his mother's disappointed glare, silently began shedding tears of his own.
Nie Huaisang, frazzled and shocked, did what any maiden would do and faint into his Da ge’s arms.
Wen Qing grabbed her brother and ran off the stage.
Meng Yao and Lan Xichen immediately began covering Lan Wangji from the audience(he would not want to be seen at this moment.)
Jin Zixun immediately began gossiping to some random children, while Jin Zixuan walked off and hid in a bathroom. Gosh, he was so done with this.
Everyone else, still singing, just went on. With the intention to avoid Lan Qiren's glare, which was focused on Wei Wuxian. The boy was trying to help Lan Wangji, but Madam Yu grabbed his wrist and swiftly yanked him into the audience.
It was safe to say that this Mother's Day performance was a disaster. Quite the opposite of what they were going for. Not even snacks were distributed. They’d have to wait until next year, a chance to redeem this performance.