Chapter 2: Going Home

  Xīng yè zài shuǐ fáng yòng lěng shuǐ xǐ le xǐ liǎn, què dìng kàn bù chū kū guò de hén jì cái huí dào bìng fáng.

  Translation:

  Starry night went to the bathroom to wash her face with cold water and only returned to the ward when she was sure that there were no signs of crying.

  In the ward, Third Uncle and Third Aunt were chatting, "Third Uncle and Third Aunt have arrived." Xing Ye greeted them as if nothing was wrong.

  "Hmm" Third Uncle nodded in response.

  Watching the two who were somewhat tense at night, I was worried in my heart. They were really honest people without any acting talent, don't mention leaking anything.

  "It's just that I think he's capable and down-to-earth, and has done business before. Having a companion on the road is also safer. If we rush off, there's no time to come to the hospital to tell you, and it can't be helped if things get delayed, the whole construction site will be held up!" Luckily, Third Aunt was more considerate and smoothed things over.

  Xīng yè kàn mǔqīn fēn fēn píng jìngle de jiēshòu le zhège lǐyóu, hái gēn tāmen shuōle jǐ jù kèqì huà, xīnli què yǒu xiē yíhuàn yǔ bù ān, yòu xiǎng bù chūlái nǎlǐ bù duìjìn.

  The three uncles left after exchanging a few words. They were sent off in the middle of the night, with another round of reminders. Only after seeing them off did he return to the sickroom.

  She took good care of her mother at night, eating, wiping her body, and speaking in a pleasant tone. During this time, she also secretly found a doctor to understand the situation, but felt helpless. The doctor said bluntly that cancer cells had spread throughout the lymph nodes, and treatment could only reduce pain slightly, with little effect on the condition. The patient might as well eat whatever they wanted, without worrying about their diet, it was just a matter of dragging out the days, in short, there was no cure.

  Three days later, the hospital's payment notice arrived, and if the fees were not paid, treatment would be suspended.

  He hid the bill at night and didn't want his mother to know that he only had over 300 yuan left in his hand, thinking about how to raise money.

  Yu Youyue insisted on going home as if she knew something.

  She was well aware of her mother's stubbornness. Her mother was usually gentle and soft-spoken, but once she made up her mind, it was hard to change.

  Unable to stay overnight, he could only complete the discharge procedures and asked the doctor to prescribe more medication.

  The doctor in charge was a kind person who understood and sympathized with them. Moreover, at that time, the county hospital's management of medicines was not as strict as it was later on, so he prescribed quite a few painkillers like morphine.

  No one answered, so Yu Yue and her mother took a taxi back to Luo Jia Village.

  Back in the small town of memories, the excitement in my heart is hard to conceal on this starry night.

  The small town at dusk is quiet and beautiful, the ancient streets are dyed with a red glow under the sunset, and several places have wisps of smoke, which is already dinner time.

  Years ago (or maybe years later), Luo Xingye, who was no longer worried about life, returned to the small town and wanted to find some warmth of childhood memories. However, she found that the quiet town had undergone earth-shaking changes and could no longer find the shadow of the past. With a heart full of regret, she left and never returned to the town again.

  Got off the car at the gate, supported my mother into the bedroom, let my mother lie down on the bed, and then put away the things I brought back. It wasn't until midnight that I had time to carefully look around this home I left for over a decade.

  Back in my own room, everything is both familiar and a bit strange. On the wooden single bed with a lily-patterned sheet lies a cotton quilt, on the desk are arranged a row of high school textbooks, as well as a small handmade flower basket given by classmates. Against the wall beside the bed stands a small mirror and comb, while the wooden wardrobe next to the bed was made by my father himself, polished with varnish to reveal the wood grain underneath.

  Xīng yè hasn't stayed for long, turned around and came to the kitchen again. It's already dinner time, Xīng yè first boiled a pot of water, looked around, felt a bit difficult, the kitchen had rice and oil but no vegetables, and there was nowhere to buy them now.

  The knock at the door sounded, and Xing Ye hurriedly went to open it.

  Outside the door stood an old lady in her sixties or seventies, carrying a basket. It was Lao A Po from next door, most people in Luo Jia Village shared the surname Luo and were all related by blood, going back generations. Lao A Po was one of the oldest in town, many 40-50 year olds were her grandkids' generation.

  The old man was busy inviting people to come in, and only when they came in did they see that behind the old man there was also a 12 or 13-year-old little girl, who was Ah Po's granddaughter, also holding a bamboo basket.

  "Xiu Xiu told me your family's door is open, so I knew you're back. Haven't had dinner yet, right? Here, while it's still hot." Grandma said as she opened the basket in her hand. Inside the basket was a big bowl of yellowish stir-fried eggs, a small pot of millet porridge, and a dish of finely chopped pickled vegetables mixed with fragrant oil and sprinkled with scallions, which looked appetizing.

  "Grandma, thank you, it's too much trouble for you."

  These years, I have seen all kinds of human relationships in the world, and I feel very comforted by this selfless care.

  "I've seen you grow up since you were a kid, what's with the politeness? There are some eggs and vegetables for you to use first, just let me know if you need anything." Then he called out to the girl: "Xiu Xiu come over"

  Xiuxiu took out eggs and vegetables from the basket in her hand and put them on the table, then stood obediently behind Grandma.

  Got up again in the middle of the night to thank you.

  "We all know about your father's affair," said Ah Po cautiously.

  Seeing the concern and pity in Grandma's eyes, I couldn't help but cry, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.

  "Good child, don't cry, don't cry. Alas, heaven is blind, why make things difficult for this good person?"

  "My mom doesn't know yet."

  "I understand, I know what to say and what not to say. You eat while it's hot, tell your mom, rest well, I'll come see her again tomorrow."

  Seeing off the grandfather and grandson on a starry night, I returned home and put the porridge in a bowl, and brought the dishes to my mother's room.

  "I was worried that we had rice but no dishes at home, and then Grandma sent some over." Xīng Yè looked at her mother leaning against the headboard with a smile and said, "She said she's afraid you're tired, let us eat first, and come see you again tomorrow."

  "Thanks to these old neighbors"

  At night, I fed my mother dinner. My mother's appetite has been very small since the month of Yu Yue, and she could only eat a few mouthfuls of porridge before she couldn't eat anymore.

  At night, she collected the bowls and chopsticks, brought hot water, helped her mother wash her body, and also washed herself. These days have been spent in the hospital, barely washing her face, today although she couldn't take a hot bath, just wiping herself clean was very comfortable.

  She gave her mother some medicine and they had a disagreement about how to sleep.

  "My dad is not here, just right for me and mom to sleep. I've been waiting for a long time!" Xing Ye said coquettishly, actually she was worried about the night, "Besides, it's more convenient for you to get up at night."

  "You've been exhausted these days, go back to your room and have a good sleep. You'll be in high spirits tomorrow too. Don't worry about anything tonight, if something really happens, I'll definitely call you."

  Yu Youyue was also heartbroken for her daughter. In the hospital these days, she hasn't slept a whole night, alone day and night, watching as her daughter became thinner by the day, with only a pair of big eyes visible on her small face.

  "It's just sleep, you're sleeping soundly too, if I don't keep watch over you, I won't be able to sleep either." Xing Ye explained.

  "Go back to your own room, with you around I'm still afraid of not being able to sleep. Listen, don't think about it, your dad is not home, if you get sick because of lack of rest, what am I supposed to do."

  At night, seeing his mother insisted and heard her mention his father, he didn't dare say anything else. He could only put the water, medicine and other items in a place where she could reach out to get them, and repeatedly instructed her that if something happened, she must call him, even leaving a small steel bowl, saying that if she couldn't wake her up, just smash it on the ground, and he would hear it himself.

  Still feeling uneasy, he double-checked everything and made sure all arrangements were in order before returning to his own room.

  Returned to the room, picked up a book at random, it was the math textbook from sophomore year, leaned against the bed and flipped through it.

  The starry night made him a bit worried, he had planned to continue studying, but the knowledge he had acquired over the past decade or so had been abandoned due to his indulgent lifestyle, and now it was hard to pick up again.

  I've only been in high school for two months, but after reviewing what I've learned so far, I found that my thinking is very clear and I can easily understand the textbook content. I switched to a new English book, and I can read the vocabulary and sentence patterns fluently, just like I learned them today, without any sense of unfamiliarity.

  After embracing the book on a starry night, I was lost in thought for a while, and then I felt a surge of joy. I'm sure I still have the thinking ability and memory of a 16-year-old, after all, my academic performance has always been good.

  This is just right to solve one's own worries, but now it seems that I may have to take a year off from school first, and then think of ways to solve the tuition fees and living expenses for the future.

  Although there were many ways to make money, Xīng Yè didn't want to use them, as it would remind her of her miserable past life. From the day she was reborn, she had been constantly hypnotizing herself: I am 16-year-old Luo Xīng Yè who knows nothing and wants to be a simple and happy girl loved by everyone, blooming like flowers in sight.