Chapter 27: Successful Popcorn

The bright surgical lights caused Ji Yang to see double.

As the anesthetic took effect, his pupils lost their luster.

Su Ai sat at the door with Lele, who buried his face in his mother’s arms.

“Mommy?”

“Mm.”

“Will Daddy be okay?”

Lele thought the operating room was a monster that had swallowed his father.  He was very anxious.

“He will be.”

“Don’t be afraid; Mommy’s here.”

“Mm-hmm.” Lele buried his face in Su Ai’s arms, not daring to lift it.

Su Ai said not to be afraid, but watching the time pass, she felt the same anxiety.

Time slowly passed. When Ji Yang woke up, he saw blurry lights.

These lights weren’t as bright as the operating room lights.

When his vision cleared, the familiar ceiling told him he was back in the ward.

“Daddy! You’re awake!”

“Awake?”

Two heads, one big and one small, appeared before Ji Yang.

Their similar eyes showed worry and relief.

“Mm.”

Ji Yang smiled at them.

“The doctor said the surgery was successful.”

“We can go home in about a week.”

“Rest well and do rehabilitation.  Returning to normal is just a matter of time.”

Su Ai’s smile was beautiful, making Ji Yang smile too.  Everything was finally settled: “You’ve worked hard.”

Lele buried his face in his father’s hand, tears falling.

“Daddy”

“I thought I’d never see you again.”

“The operating room was like a monster with its mouth open.”

“I was scared.”  The child’s description was abstract but showed his anxiety.

“I called you many times, but you didn’t wake up.”

“You didn’t answer me.”

Adults understand, but children don’t. The child was terrified.

Ji Yang comforted his son until Lele smiled again.

Ji Yang hadn’t passed gas yet, so he couldn’t eat.

And he wasn’t hungry from the anesthesia.

He skipped dinner that night.

That night, Ji Yang was still groggy, waking up briefly before falling asleep again.

Su Ai slept on the folding bed with Lele, waking up in the middle of the night to check on Ji Yang and empty his urine bag.

The night passed quickly.

The next day, Ji Yang woke up, looking much more energetic.

He had a bowel movement and could eat normally.

Su Ai bought breakfast.

She had Lele watch Ji Yang’s IV while she bought groceries to make nutritious food for Ji Yang’s recovery.

Ji Yang watched his son attentively watching the IV.

“Dad, I won’t let anything happen this time.”

“Dad, do you want water?”

“Dad, are you hungry?”

The child diligently cared for his father, without asking for food or wanting to go out.  This was remarkable for a child his age.

Others in the ward envied Ji Yang: “Young man, you’re a winner. Your wife is so good to you, and your child is so obedient and considerate.”

“He sits here all day, doesn’t ask to go out or for snacks, and takes care of you.”

“Such a young child can take care of people.”

“He’s really well-behaved.”

“Yeah, young man, your wife and child are both amazing.”

“You’re so lucky.”

“To marry such a good wife and have such a considerate child.”

Everyone praised Su Ai and Lele, giving them thumbs up.

Ji Yang’s eyes crinkled with laughter; the praise for his wife and child made him ten times happier than praise for himself.

“The child has always been considerate.”

“Marrying my wife is the luckiest thing in my life,” he replied with a smile.

Su Ai picked up her custom plastic cups while buying groceries.

She then made chicken soup and prepared the ingredients for her stall.

She started by testing the corn she’d dried the previous day.

While special corn is best for popcorn, ordinary corn works too, with an extra step.

The dried corn needs to be steamed thoroughly and then dried again before popping.

Su Ai put some oil in a pot and added the corn.

She gently shook the pot over low heat.

Soon…

The pot started making popping sounds.

Su Ai turned off the heat and covered the pot.

The popping sounds increased, and the pot quickly filled with popcorn.

When the popping stopped, Su Ai opened the lid and checked the popcorn.

About 80% had popped; 20% hadn’t, because some corn wasn’t dry enough.

The weather wasn’t very warm, so the corn hadn’t dried sufficiently.

But the 80% success rate showed her method was correct.

Su Ai stirred the corn and continued drying it.

Then she brought the popcorn and the meal to the ward.

When Lele saw his mother, he excitedly raised his hand.

“Mommy, Dad’s IV went well today; nothing went wrong.”

Su Ai patted his head.

“Lele is amazing.”

“Look what Mommy brought you,” Su Ai put the popcorn in front of him.

Lele was very considerate.  If a child his age constantly asked for snacks or to go out, Su Ai would have a headache.

She was caring for a patient and a child.

But Lele helped care for his father.

At an age when potty training was still difficult, he controlled his desire to go out and play.

This reduced Su Ai’s burden.

It allowed her to do other things.

“Popcorn!” Lele happily ate it.

He didn’t forget to give some to his father and mother.

“Dad and Mommy too.”

“You eat.”

The popcorn was crispy and sugary, even more fragrant than the machine-made popcorn from the village.

“Did it work?” Ji Yang looked at Su Ai.

“Of course, don’t underestimate me.”

“No problems,” Su Ai proudly boasted.

Ji Yang laughed: “Amazing.”

“Let’s eat.”

Su Ai brought a whole chicken.

While Su Ai served rice, Ji Yang divided the chicken, tearing off the legs and giving one to Su Ai and one to Lele.

Seeing Su Ai’s look, Ji Yang pointed to his bowl: “I’ll eat the rest.”

“There’s more meat than in the legs.”

There was more, but the legs were tastier.

Su Ai said nothing: “Let’s eat.”

Her husband cared for her; why spoil the mood?

One chicken leg wasn’t a big deal; she wouldn’t only eat chicken legs once in her life.

She’d buy a hundred next time.