Chapter 23: Chapter 22: Gu Zhiqing’s Visit

After arriving in town, Xue Yue stopped by the state-run restaurant to buy a few buns, then carried them with her to the hospital.

She asked around at the hospital and learned that only one family had brought someone in for a fever in the middle of the night.

When Xue Yue entered the hospital room, she saw Mrs. He on an IV drip. Mr. He was seated in a chair nearby. He Lang was on the floor, leaning against the wall and dozing, while his eldest brother, He Nan, stood leaning against the wall.

“Father, how’s Mom?”

Only then did they notice Xue Yue had arrived.

“Xue Yue, what are you doing here? Your mother’s fine. She just caught a chill. We can go home once her IV drip is finished.”

Xue Yue said, “I was worried, so I came to have a look. I also brought you all something to eat.”

Xue Yue placed the food on the bedside table, took out the buns, and handed one to Mr. He, who accepted it and immediately started eating.

The ordeal had lasted all night, leaving him exhausted and famished.

Xue Yue offered another bun to He Nan, but he waved it away. “Sister-in-law, let Father have them. I can eat when I get back.”

“Eldest Brother, please eat. I bought them at the state-run restaurant. There are plenty, enough for everyone.”

Only then did He Nan accept it.

Xue Yue looked over at He Lang, who was still sitting against the wall. She crouched down and gently patted his arm.

“He Lang. He Lang.”

He Lang opened his eyes. They were hazy with sleep and glistening.

Xue Yue found herself momentarily dazzled by him again.

He Lang simply stared back at Xue Yue, motionless.

After a moment, Xue Yue said softly, “Get up and have something to eat. I bought meat buns.”

He Lang finally snapped out of it. He slowly got to his feet and walked over to the bed to look at his mother.

Mrs. He’s fever had broken during the night, and after waking for a bit, she had fallen back asleep.

He Lang went out to wash his face. When he returned, he ate two meat buns while standing.

“Father, we should wake Mother up to eat something. It’ll get cold otherwise,” He Lang said.

Mr. He patted her free hand. “Hey, dear. Wake up, dear. Time to eat.”

Mrs. He opened her eyes. She glanced at Mr. He, then saw Xue Yue as well.

“Yue’er, you’re here too.”

Xue Yue went to help her sit up. “Mother, I made some rice porridge. Have a little before you go back to sleep.”

Mrs. He shook her head. “Sigh, I won’t sleep anymore. Once you get old, you’re just useless. I’ve caused you all so much trouble, ending up in the hospital like this.”

“Mother, it’s no trouble at all. Everyone gets sick now and then.”

Mrs. He managed half the container but couldn’t drink any more. Xue Yue had Mr. He finish the rest.

By the time the IV drip was finished, it was already mid-morning. He Lang went out to hire an ox-cart.

He Nan asked his mother, “Mother, should we let Second Brother and Little Sister know?”

“There’s no need. It’s nothing serious. Let’s just go home.”

He Lang, walking his bicycle, said, “Father, I’ve already paid for the ox-cart. You and Eldest Brother can take it home. I’ll take Xue Yue on my bike.”

“Alright. Get back soon.”

“Mm.”

As they watched the ox-cart disappear into the distance, He Lang asked Xue Yue, “Is there anything you need to buy?”

Xue Yue thought for a moment. “We’re out of matches at home. We should buy some.”

“Alright.”

He Lang took Xue Yue to the supply and marketing co-op.

After buying a few boxes of matches, He Lang spotted some corduroy cotton-padded shoes. He felt the material—it was quite thick—and grabbed a pair in Xue Yue’s size. The shoes cost two yuan, which Xue Yue thought was rather expensive. They also picked up two bars of scented soap and two of laundry soap before He Lang noticed some newly stocked mung bean cakes and bought two packages.

He Lang spent money without hesitation. Whenever Xue Yue went shopping with him, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d latched onto a wealthy man.

Case in point: he’d bought all this stuff without giving Xue Yue even a chance to object.

’Oh well, it’s not my money he’s spending anyway.’

Back home, He Lang gave a package of mung bean cakes to Mrs. He. “Mother, these are new at the co-op. I got them for you to try.”

Mrs. He didn’t accept them. “Take them back for your wife to eat.”

He Lang set the package down on the kang. “Go on, eat them. I bought two packs. By the way, you and Father should eat with us for the next couple of days. Don’t bother cooking.”

“Your eldest brother just offered to have your father and me eat with his family for the next two days, and we’ve already accepted. I’ll have your father take some grain over later, and we’ll eat with them.”

He Lang nodded. “Alright, then.”

After lunch, He Lang went to catch up on his sleep. Xue Yue took out the ball of gray yarn he had brought back earlier, intending to knit him a scarf.

On the kang, He Lang slept on one side while Xue Yue knitted on the other.

The room was quiet, filled only with the soft clicking of Xue Yue’s knitting needles.

The main gate to the courtyard was open. Gu Yuwei stood at the entrance, holding a bag of pastries and a jar of canned fruit. She stared into the seemingly empty He family courtyard, and after a long moment of hesitation, she walked in.

“Is anyone home?”

“Who is it?” Gao Cuiyun asked, emerging from her room.

Gao Cuiyun recognized Gu Yuwei. Her eyes lit up when she saw the items in Gu Yuwei’s hands. Taking a couple of steps forward, she said with a smile, “Oh, it’s Gu Zhiqing! What can I do for you?”

“I came to see Auntie He. I heard she was sick,” Gu Yuwei said in a gentle voice.

Gao Cuiyun’s expression faltered. She couldn’t understand why Gu Zhiqing was paying a sick visit; she’d never known her to have any connection with Mrs. He.

“My mother is in that room. I’ll take you.”

“Alright.”

Gu Yuwei followed Gao Cuiyun into Mrs. He’s room. “Mother, Gu Zhiqing is here to see you.”

Mrs. He looked in surprise at the young woman who had followed Gao Cuiyun inside.

“Auntie, I heard you were ill,” Gu Yuwei said, placing her gifts on the edge of the kang. “You helped me when I first arrived in the village, so I wanted to come and check on you.”

Mrs. He replied, “Oh, that? It was nothing. It’s not easy for you young people, coming from the city to a place like ours. I’d almost forgotten about it. Gu Zhiqing, please take your things back. The fact that you came to visit an old woman like me is a kind gesture in itself.”

Gu Yuwei smiled. “I couldn’t possibly show up for my first visit empty-handed. It’s not much, really. Please accept it, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“How could I possibly mind? Since you’ve been so thoughtful, child, I’ll accept them. Cuiyun, get a stool for Gu Zhiqing.”

Gao Cuiyun pursed her lips but brought over a stool for Gu Yuwei to sit on.

Gu Yuwei stayed for a little while before saying she had to be heading back.

“Please come again when you have time, Gu Zhiqing.”

Gu Yuwei smiled and nodded. “Auntie, you feel so familiar to me, like one of my own elders back home. I’ll come visit again when I have the time.”

Mrs. He smiled and nodded. “Yes, of course.”

Mrs. He asked Gao Cuiyun to see Gu Yuwei out.

When Gao Cuiyun returned, she asked, “Mother, do you really think Gu Zhiqing came just to thank you for helping her?”

Mrs. He shot Gao Cuiyun a sidelong glance. “Thank me for what? It was a trivial matter, and besides, that was ages ago. Why come to thank me now, all of a sudden?”

“Then what’s her angle?”

Mrs. He thought for a moment but couldn’t come up with anything. “Who knows? If she wants to visit, let her. What could she possibly want from an old woman like me?”

Gao Cuiyun’s eyes fell on the gifts by the kang. “Mother… just the other day, Xiao Yang was saying he wanted some canned fruit.”

Mrs. He rolled her eyes at Gao Cuiyun. “I think *you’re* the one who wants it, aren’t you?”

Gao Cuiyun shook her head frantically. “No, no! It’s the boy who wants it!”

“Fine, fine. Just take it.”

“Oh, thank you, Mother!” Gao Cuiyun hastily snatched up the jar of canned fruit, clutched it to her chest, and left.

Mrs. He muttered, “So incredibly grasping.” She then put the bag of pastries away in a cabinet.

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