To pay for their son's education, Liu's parents reluctantly took out a loan to buy a second-hand house near Liu Yi's school.
Grandma and Grandpa live in a self-built house in the countryside, while Liu's parents live in the city to accompany him during his studies.
The second-hand house is quite old, with only stairs. The stairwell is covered with all kinds of small advertisements, and the floor has a dull luster because it hasn't been cleaned for a long time.
Liu Zhi went to visit his parents.
Recently, Liu's father was hospitalized, and Liu's mother has been running back and forth between the two hospitals.
When Liu Zhi got downstairs, she didn't call her mother. She carried her suitcase and struggled to walk upstairs.
The middle-aged man on the third floor made way for her, his clothes brushing against the handle, getting covered in dust.
On the fourth floor, Liu Zhi and her mother met.
Liu's mother looked astonished.
"Didn't I tell you to call me?" Liu's mother put down the thermos and tried to help Liu Zhi carry her suitcase, but Liu Zhi dodged away.
"No need, we're almost there," Liu Zhi said. "Are you going to bring Dad his lunch?"
"Shall we go together?" Liu's mother asked. "Let's take the suitcase upstairs first."
Liu Zhi used all her strength to carry the box to the top floor, and her mother quickly helped open the door.
Liu Zhi put her suitcase down by the door and went downstairs with her mother.
"What happened? You've lost so much weight." Liu's mother pinched Liu Zhi's arm. "Why are you only wearing so few layers?"
"It's not cold." Liu Zhi shrank back a little.
"Girls shouldn't be exposed to the cold; if they are, they'll develop health problems later in life and suffer when they're old." Liu's mother repeated this old saying, which she had said the same thing when Liu Zhi came back last time.
"I know." Liu Zhi tried to get her the fish soup, but her mother dodged away.
“I’ll carry it,” said Mencius’ mother. “You stand over there.”
Liu Zhi withdrew her hand and walked along the curb. Liu's mother then walked closer to her.
"Is it cold in the capital these days?" Liu's mother asked, getting closer to Liu Zhi.
"It's alright," Liu Zhi replied.
"Have you finished the pickled cowpeas I made for you last time?" Liu's mother seemed to have an endless stream of questions.
"I've finished eating," Liu Zhi said casually. "My colleagues also liked it."
"I'm glad you like it, I'm glad you like it." Liu's mother was a little excited. "I added a little less sugar last time, so it should taste better than last time, at least it's not sour."
Liu Zhi nodded.
My phone vibrated; it was Meng Yang calling.
"Have we arrived yet?" Meng Yang asked.
"I just arrived, on my way to deliver soup to my dad," Liu Zhi replied.
"Then I won't bother you anymore." Meng Yang hesitated for a moment. "Remember to video call me when you have time."
Liu Zhi nodded and kept it in mind.
"You also need to rest; you still have an injury on your back," Meng Yang instructed. "Don't be tempted to remove the brace just for a moment of relief!"
Liu Zhi felt a little guilty, but replied, "Don't worry."
"Alright, I won't say anything more then, I'm hanging up." Meng Yang's voice was lower.
"Okay," Liu Zhi replied.
The call was disconnected, and Liu's mother looked at Liu Zhi.
"Are you dating someone?"
Liu Zhi's heart tightened, and she suddenly didn't know how to answer.
"It's time for you to start dating," said Liu's mother. "You'll be thirty in two years, and kids your age will already be in kindergarten. People my age are running around with their grandchildren, and I don't even know where my grandson is yet."
Liu Zhi lowered her eyes; she hadn't wanted children even before she got together with Meng Yang.
She didn't know how to answer.
There was a fruit shop by the roadside. Liu Zhi felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly went in to pick out a fruit basket.
Instead of discussing marriage and having children, Liu's mother talked to her about how to choose fruit.
Liu Zhi responded twice and followed his mother's method to pick out several good fruits.
The two of them chatted casually until they reached the topic of Yancheng People's Hospital.
No one mentioned the argument they had when Liu Zhi came back last time.
Their relationship seemed to always be like this. When they were close, Liu's mother would shower her with care and concern; when they were at odds, the mother and daughter would act like strangers, unwilling to get close at all.
After the smoke clears, time will heal all wounds.
There were many people waiting in front of the elevator in the inpatient department.
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Author's Note:
I've been incredibly busy lately and haven't been able to maintain a consistent update schedule. I'm so sorry, things will get much better after these next few days.
Thank you for your understanding.
Goodnight, everyone!
Chapter 39 Going Home
Liu Zhi was still somewhat unaccustomed to the doctor-patient relationship being reversed.
Once in the elevator, a middle-aged woman was complaining to her son about the high cost of medical treatment.
My son looks to be in his early twenties. He's playing video games with his head down, not wanting to talk. When I finally got fed up with talking to him, he muttered a couple of words in response and went back to playing.
When they reached the floor, Liu's mother pulled Liu Zhi outside, and Liu Zhi did not resist.
Yancheng People's Hospital is a Grade III Class B hospital, and its beds are in short supply.
“Your dad’s come at the perfect time; someone just happened to be discharged from the hospital.” Liu’s mother switched the soup to her other hand. “Walk a little further ahead, yes, right here.”
Following her mother's instructions, Liu Zhi knocked on the door.
No one answered, so Liu Zhi knocked again.
"What are you waiting for? Just push it open." Liu's mother had just fallen behind Liu Zhi and arrived now, pushing the door open directly.
Mr. Liu was scrolling through short videos with his back to them, and didn't turn around when he heard the door open.
"Time for soup," said Liu's mother.
"Just leave it there," Liu's father said, scrolling through his phone.
The blankets on the next bed were in disarray, and the person had left. Liu Zhi walked around to the aisle.
"dad."
Mr. Liu looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Liu Zhi put the fruit basket on the cabinet and stood a little closer to his father.
"Why are you back?" Mr. Liu instinctively hid his arm under the covers and sat up with his healthy arm.
"I came back to see you." Liu Zhi felt a pang of sadness as she watched her father's actions.
"I'm fine, it's nothing serious," Mr. Liu said repeatedly.
"You even brought a fruit basket when you came back, Dad! You really made us look like guests." Mr. Liu leaned against the headboard and patted the blanket beside the bed. "What time did you get back?"
"I just arrived." Liu Zhi sat down in the seat her father had patted. "I'll set up the table and we'll eat first."
"You and your mother go out to eat, and come back after you've eaten," Liu's father said, observing Liu Zhi's actions.
"I'm not hungry." Liu Zhi took the thermos, unscrewed it, and placed the food inside on the table.
Mr. Liu's right arm was broken, which makes eating difficult for him. For the past two days, his mother has been feeding him with a spoon.
Liu Zhi picked up the spoon, and Liu's father quickly dodged away.
"Just put it here, I can do it myself." Mr. Liu took the bowl with his left hand. "Put it here, put it here, just leave it there."
"Let the girl feed you," Liu's mother said as she approached. "Finish your meal early so we can go back for dinner sooner."
After a brief standoff, the door was pushed open.
"Old Wang went for a walk again?" Liu's father asked with a smile.
"What is this?" Old Wang stared at Liu Zhi in disbelief.
"My daughter."
The expression on Liu's father's face when he spoke was exactly the same as that of the taxi driver.
"He's really handsome!" Old Wang clicked his tongue a few times. "What a lucky man!"
Liu Zhi didn't know what to say, so she greeted him and then remained silent. When her name was mentioned, she would smile slightly and nod if necessary.
What does this girl do for a living?
Old Wang walked towards his bedside, but Liu Zhi quickly pushed him away.
"A doctor," Liu's mother replied with a smile, "who works in the capital."
"Oh! Doctor, you're so kind. You don't even need to go to the hospital for minor illnesses, and you're usually quite stable." Old Wang slapped his thigh and said, "Unlike my son, who works as a translator, he's always running around, and I can't find him for months on end."
"Being a translator is good too; it broadens your horizons and pays well," Liu's mother complimented back.
"Sigh... that's about it. I can only earn a maximum of 400,000 a year." Old Wang sighed.
"Is this still not satisfactory?" Mr. Liu asked, somewhat surprised.
"It looks glamorous on the surface, but it's all just talk." Old Wang sat on the edge of the bed. "Look at him, he's thirty and still hasn't found a partner."
“Young people nowadays generally marry later; times have changed,” said Mr. Liu. “Back then, if we weren’t married by the time we were 25, our parents would be worried sick.”