That night, the moonlight was enchanting.
"Yaping, I want to call your sister to confirm one last time." The next day, Lijuan wrapped up 120,000 yuan but did not hand it over to Yaping.
"Confirm what?"
"We need to confirm whose name this 200,000 yuan should be registered under. We'll be paying the lion's share!"
"Of course I'll put my brother-in-law's name on it! His company is raising funds; who would recognize you if I put your name on it!"
“That won’t do! Even brothers need to keep clear accounts. This money is too complicated, it includes our money, my mother’s money, and my brother’s money. How can it all be put in your brother-in-law’s name? There’s no proof at all. Your brother-in-law has to give us a written agreement.”
“I’ll write, I’ll write, I’ll write for my brother-in-law.”
"Nonsense! You're my husband, what kind of nonsense is it if you write it? No way! Your brother-in-law has to write it. Make it clear that it's financing or a loan, with an interest rate of 20%. Let's be upfront about this beforehand, so we don't end up not even being relatives anymore. If he doesn't write it, I'll return the money now. To avoid any future disputes."
"I find you Shanghainese to be really difficult to deal with, so shrewd. It should be a beautiful thing to be a family, but you have to make it so unpleasant and uncomfortable. Why do you do that?"
"No way! It won't do if you're comfortable but we're not! I absolutely have to have this clause."
Yaping was forced by Lijuan to call his sister in Northeast China. On the phone, his sister readily agreed and was very generous.
Ten days later, Lijuan received Guanhua's IOU and happily put it into her wardrobe.
“Our family isn’t as petty as you,” Yaping said, rolling her eyes at Lijuan with a mocking smile. Lijuan ignored her.
Autumn arrived in the blink of an eye.
That day, Yaping and Lijuan were playing video games at home when they suddenly received a call from their parents in Northeast China. Yaping's parents never called him first; it was always Yaping who called on weekends. When Lijuan heard Yaping call out "Mom" on the phone, her heart sank. Her first thought was, "Oh no, the money's gone!"
"No way? Impossible! Don't worry! It's just a shadow, right? Check it carefully, and if it doesn't work, check with my sister. Harbin is a big city, the technology there is better than in Mudanjiang. Hey! Hey! Keep in touch. Relax for now."
Lijuan asked, "What's wrong? Your mother?"
“My dad. Didn’t he say he had a bad cough a while ago? He was even coughing up blood, and he kept complaining of chest pain. When they checked, they found pleural effusion, and they suspected lung cancer.”
"Has it been diagnosed?" "No! I want them to go to my sister's place for a checkup; a big hospital can do a more thorough examination." "Does your father know?" "He only knows about the pleural effusion; he didn't know it could be cancer." "What can we do now?" "Only God can help us."
Two weeks later, Guanhua called: "Confirmed. Lung cancer, mid-to-late stage." "Is there any hope?" "The doctors here say surgery is not an option, the location is too close to the heart. Chemotherapy is the only option." "Don't rush, don't rush! Buy two plane tickets for my parents. I think it would be better if they came to Shanghai for a final diagnosis. I'll contact the hospital here."
After hanging up the phone, Ya Ping looked sad. Li Juan patted Ya Ping's head and said, "There's nothing we can do about it. Don't be sad. Let's see if there's any way to cure it!"
"Do you know which hospital in Shanghai is the best for treating lung cancer?" "No, I don't know! I'll search online."
Upon opening the webpage, the only hospitals in Shanghai listed for lung cancer were Shanghai Cancer Hospital and Shanghai Chest Hospital. "These don't seem to be well-known. I've never heard of them!" Yaping said incredulously. "Of course! Nobody's ever had cancer before, how would you know this information?" "I always feel like Shuijin Hospital is the most famous hospital. Do you know anyone there?" "No." "You grew up in Shanghai and work at a newspaper, you should know a thing or two! Don't be so dismissive just because I'm your dad!" "Why are you talking like that? You're always so suspicious and distrustful. I really don't know anyone! But thinking about it, I think a classmate's mother works in the general affairs department at Shuijin Hospital. I haven't been in touch for a long time, I need to find their phone number." "Go quickly, this is your responsibility."
"My parents are coming soon. This time it's different from before, so I hope you behave well and show them some concern, making my dad happy." "Okay." "You need to be considerate and not upset him." "You're so mean! When have I ever been unreasonable? Last time they came, didn't I always give in to them? I tried not to say anything or upset them, what more do you want from me?" "My dad is coming for a medical appointment, and my mom needs to take care of him. Could you go home early to help with cooking and other chores to lighten her burden?" "Here we go again. I've said before that I don't mind doing things, but if I do them, you have to make sure they do it my way. Don't let them criticize me, or everyone will be unhappy." "Look at you! Even now, you still can't restrain yourself! My dad doesn't have much time left, can't you make him happy?"
Lijuan glared at Yaping. She swallowed back some of her words. She was afraid that if she opened her mouth, it would escalate into an argument. After a while, Lijuan turned back and whispered to Yaping, "Yaping, I feel very sorry that your father is sick, and I try my best to make him happy. But you can't send me to hell just to make your father feel better. Your father's illness wasn't caused by me. Look at how much he smokes; in just two months, he's turned the walls of our newly renovated house yellow. Just think about it, how black will his lungs be after decades? Because he's your father, I've never said anything. If it were my own father, I would have lost my temper long ago. Giving in to him doesn't necessarily mean loving him. It's too late to say this now. When you said you wanted to bring him over, I didn't say a word. To be honest, the thought of them coming gives me a headache. Last time, it ended badly, and it hurt our relationship. This is a special case, but I hope we can agree on three rules: I'll do my best, and I hope they won't keep finding fault with me. He's getting old; it'll be better for his health if he's more tolerant. What do you think?" "Lijuan, you're my wife. I can only ask things of you, not my father. You need to understand that." Lijuan didn't say anything more.
Lijuan and Yaping went to the train station to pick up Yaping's parents. Yaping's parents thought that flying was too expensive and wanted to save the money for medical treatment, so they endured several days and nights of travel.
After only a few months apart, Yaping's father suddenly looked haggard. His skin was sallow, a pale gray that clearly indicated poor health. Perhaps due to chest pain, he had become even more hunched over, his eyes sunken, a sight that was heartbreaking to see.
Sitting in the taxi, Yaping's mother bent down and said to Lijuan, "Look, this has caused you trouble again."
Before Lijuan could answer, Yaping interjected, "Mom! What are you saying! They're my own parents! This is all only natural." "No, I meant I'm troubling Lijuan."
Lijuan smiled, about to reply, when Yaping interrupted, "Lijuan is your wife, we're family, why are you being so polite?" Yaping's mother didn't respond, just looked at Lijuan. Lijuan still smiled. Yaping nudged Lijuan with his foot. Lijuan opened her mouth and said, "Ouch!"
As soon as she entered the door, the food was already laid out on the table. Lijuan remembered that her mother-in-law had looked for cooking utensils as soon as she entered the house last time, so this time she specially ordered three dishes and a soup from the restaurant downstairs in advance to wait for her. She just needed to microwave it when she got home.
The family sat down at the table. The mother-in-law glanced at the food and said, "Your father doesn't have a good appetite right now; he can't eat such hard food. I'll make him some thin noodles instead! You all eat first, I'll be there in a bit." The old lady then started rummaging through the kitchen cabinets. "Where are the noodles I left here last time?" "They're all gone; I didn't have time to buy more. Would instant noodles be okay?" Lijuan quickly stood up and asked.
"Instant noodles won't do. They have chemicals in them, which are bad for your health. You should eat less of them too. I'll make them myself! You guys eat them, don't wait for us."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Yaping's father started coughing loudly at the table, coughing so hard he was doubled over. Yaping quickly patted his chest to help. When Lijuan saw that the old man was spitting everywhere and there was food in front of him that he hadn't even touched yet, she was so frightened that she quickly moved the food aside and said, "Mom, we'll wait for you. Let's eat together!"
"Old man! Cover your mouth when you cough, so people won't find it offensive," said Yaping's mother.
"Mom! What are you saying! No, no, no. Dad's sick, how could he possibly make it in time! Right, Lijuan?" "Ah? Ah!"
In the evening, Yaping's father sat in the living room watching TV, while Yaping's mother helped him wash his face and feet.
Yaping's father started coughing again, this time it was heartbreaking. He couldn't catch his breath, his face turned purple, and he just kept his mouth open without taking any air. Yaping's mother was busy playing cards, Yaping was rushing to grab tissues to wipe away the phlegm, and Lijuan stood by helplessly. Especially the way the old man stared with wide eyes and looked so uncomfortable made Lijuan feel suffocated, as if someone was choking her and pinching her nose.
"Lijuan! The whole family is so busy, can't you help pour out the foot bath water? People are stepping over this basin, one of them could trip and fall over, and this is all floorboards!"
"Oh." Lijuan walked over and took the basin away. "Foot towel." Yaping's mother casually tossed the foot cloth over as well, intending to drape it over Lijuan's arm, but Lijuan was startled and stepped back, dropping it on the floor. Lijuan squatted down, picked up one corner of the foot cloth with the tips of her thumb and forefinger, and carried the basin away.
bedroom.
“Lijuan! I’m not trying to criticize you, but look how careful you and my mom were, afraid of upsetting you. She said that in the car, and you didn’t react at all? The old lady must have felt so bad!” “Which sentence? Just that ‘I’m sorry for causing you trouble’? Isn’t that obvious? Do you need to be so hypocritical with your own child? If you’re so afraid of trouble, don’t come! Since I didn’t object, I was prepared. I didn’t even tell you, and you’re still blaming me. I didn’t like what your mom said; I felt she was being provocative from the start. And you, your mom’s words were clearly meant for me. Why did you respond so quickly? Like you were afraid of dropping the message. No matter how fast you answered, it was useless; she wanted to hear me speak.” “Then why didn’t you speak?” “You were faster. You snatched such a good opportunity to show off.” “I was just afraid you wouldn’t respond and it would be awkward. The old lady must have felt so bad! The elderly are afraid of causing trouble for their children. It’s their duty to give to their children, but they feel bad when they expect something in return. You have to understand that feeling.”
Lijuan glanced at Yaping but didn't say anything.
"And don't show your disgust for my dad on your face. He has cancer, not a contagious disease. Every time he coughs, you panic and hide the vegetables everywhere. How would my mom feel seeing that?" "Yaping, that's just being unreasonable. Even if he weren't sick, he shouldn't cough on the vegetables! Besides, there are cancer cells in his phlegm! You can eat it, but I can't. If I were unreasonable, I would let him go outside to cough, and I would move the vegetables myself, but you still complain. And your mom, she almost threw your dad's foot cloth at my face just now. Yaping, I'm serious. Next time your dad coughs, I'll go get some tissues, and you go pour out the foot bath water. I'm not mentally prepared. Your dad has athlete's foot, and I'm really afraid of infecting me. I'm not disgusted by your dad. It's on his feet. If I get it, it'll be on my hands. And if it's on my hands, you'll probably get it there too."
"You! Sigh! A daughter-in-law and a daughter are really different! I originally hoped that you could share my joys and sorrows during my father's illness, but it seems that's impossible now. You've really broken my heart."
"Yaping, don't say that. At first, I wasn't mentally prepared. Your dad is the first person I know to have such a serious illness. I've never taken care of anyone before. I can learn, but we have to take it slowly. Don't expect me to be perfect right away. Besides, you can't expect me to treat your dad the way your sister treats him. Put yourself in my shoes. If my dad were sick, would you bring him water to wash his feet? Anyway, if it really were my dad sick, ugh! I would try my best to see things from your perspective and not trouble you or make you feel awkward."
"Lijuan, I understand what you mean. You want me to avoid troubling you. Sigh!"
"How can you be like this? I was talking about myself, not you. Even between husband and wife, you're being so petty. Does this mean I can't speak to you anymore? Don't bring office politics home, okay? When I was talking about myself, I was talking about myself, not you."
Lijuan turned Yaping's head and said, "Okay, Yaping, we need to divide the work and cooperate to maximize our advantages. What I can do is to do diplomacy, find people, ask doctors, pull some strings, and so on. I'll handle this part so you don't have to worry about it, okay?"
Yaping nodded silently.