Chapter 13: The Shortage of Dolantin

The grandmother and granddaughter looked at each other for two minutes, as if they had gone through life and death.

“Grandma, I got the stuff,” Xiaomei happily presented her treasures. “And there’s a lot of other things too, I even asked about everything you wanted to know.”

“Let’s go home first. Your mom is cooking, don’t talk about it in front of her,” Grandma Wang took the two bags off her granddaughter’s shoulder and started walking ahead.

While walking, she instructed Xiaomei: “Bring the stool, and remember to close and lock the door later.”

Back in the front yard, Xiaomei’s mom, Gu Hua’e, was cooking.

She was puzzled and annoyed. She had been worrying about her own mother and planned to visit during lunch. But when she got home, she saw her mother-in-law picking horseweed in the backyard.

That wasn’t picking horseweed at all — it was just slacking off. When asked, it turned out lunch wasn’t even prepared, both kids weren’t around, yet she was told to cook.

It really angered her.

Grandma never cared about the backyard vegetable garden, but today, the sun seemed to rise from the west.

Seeing the cold pots and pans at home, not to mention no meat or even vegetables, she gave up on cooking and just made a flatbread (called “mian yi” in Suzhou dialect — basically unleavened dough with a bit of salt, cooked in a pan and eaten as is). She planned to eat quickly then rush to see her own mother.

When Grandma Wang entered the door, she barely responded to her daughter-in-law’s “mom” with a brief “Eat your flatbread first,” then went into her own room.

Normally, Gu Hua’e would help carry her mother-in-law’s bags, but today, angry as she was, she pretended not to see them, poured a bowl of water, and started eating alone.

After two bites, she noticed her daughter had gone into Grandma’s room after calling her “mom” earlier. From inside the room came soft rustling sounds and Xiaomei’s quiet voice.

Raising her voice, she asked, “Xiaomei, where’s your brother?”

“He’s probably with Dad at Grandma’s house,” Xiaomei said, carrying a bag as she came out.

Grandma Wang followed out shortly: “Xiaomei, put the stuff down first, eat some flatbread, and after eating, go see Grandma with your mom.”

Xiaomei smiled sweetly at Grandma: “Okay, Grandma, I’ll go with Mom to see Grandma, then come back with her.” She even winked charmingly.

Seeing her clever and adorable granddaughter, Grandma Wang’s serious face softened into a smile.

“God bless, Xiaomei is back safe.”

The three hurriedly finished lunch, and Grandma Wang handed the bags to her daughter-in-law: “These are water chestnuts, eels, some apples, and a pack of preserved plums for Xiaomei’s Grandma.”

The plastic bags had been replaced with cloth bags made by Grandma Wang herself. Half of the apples, water chestnuts, and plums were kept at home because with many people around, things might get taken. If Grandma still wanted some, they could bring more later.

Gu Hua’e was stunned: “Where did you buy these? We ran all over yesterday and couldn’t find them, but today you got everything?”

Grandma Wang’s face darkened: “Don’t worry about that. Just take it and tell your sister-in-law to cook well for your mom.”

Hearing that, Gu Hua’e’s attention shifted. She tearfully said, “Mom usually wouldn’t even eat loaches or eels because of the fishy smell. Now she wants to eat this…” She couldn’t continue and tears began to fall.

Grandma Wang nudged her daughter-in-law: “Go quickly, you still have work later. Cut the apples into small pieces to feed her, let her suck on the plums when she wakes, remove the pits first.”

Gu Hua’e nodded and hurried off with her daughter. They had no choice; the work team had set schedules, and being late or leaving early would lose work points. Visiting her mother had to be quick.

Xiaomei’s dad and brother were indeed at the uncle’s house, having finished lunch.

In the countryside, lunch is eaten early, followed by a rest and then back to work.

In busy summer farming, people eat four meals a day, plus an afternoon snack, often eaten in the fields.

Gu Hua’e handed the items to her sister-in-law, Tian Guixiang, who was delighted: “Where did you get these? These aren’t cheap. I’ll pay you.”

Gu Hua’e knew she was happy but not serious about paying, so she said: “My mother-in-law found a way. No money needed. As a daughter, it’s right to buy food for Mom. Sister-in-law, when you cook the eel, put in lots of ginger and scallions. It smells really fishy. I’ll keep some apples, water chestnuts, and plums to wash and give to Auntie. Let her feed Mom this afternoon.”

Auntie was Gu Hua’e’s uncle’s wife and her maternal grandmother’s sister-in-law. She was scheduled to care for Grandma Gu that day.

She liked saving money and had brought her three grandchildren along to help care for Grandma Gu. They all ate lunch there. Tian Guixiang had to go to work herself, but with so many mouths to feed, she even called her own mother to help cook.

Hearing Gu Hua’e’s words, she hurriedly said: “Give Auntie two water chestnuts, I’ll cut some apples, and take two plums too. I’ll lock the rest in a box. If Mom wants more, I’ll give the key to Zong Ming so he can get it.”

Zong Ming was the youngest son at Xiaomei’s uncle’s house, one year younger than Xiaomei, not attending school.

The oldest son was Zong Xing, two years older than Xiaomei, born in May, in third grade.

Zong Ming and Xiaomei’s brother, Xiao Hua, were very close and always played together.

Hearing this, Gu Hua’e cut two plums and two water chestnuts, sliced some apples, and went to Grandma Gu’s bedroom.

The children had all gone outside to play after lunch, leaving only a few women inside.

Most were neighbors who came to visit the patient during lunch. Auntie sat on the bedside, chatting with everyone.

Seeing Gu Hua’e enter, they stopped talking and greeted her.

Gu Hua’e approached: “Auntie, how’s Mom? Did she drink the porridge I brought this morning? What did she eat for lunch?”

“A little after you left, she drank two sips then felt pain. She just got an injection and fell asleep. She didn’t eat lunch,” Auntie answered.

Gu Hua’e looked at her mother. She looked like she was dead asleep but was barely clinging to life.

The only sign of life was her chest gently rising and falling.

Gu Hua’e cried while handing the food to Auntie and explaining how to feed her mom, said a few words to the neighbors, and hurried out to avoid being late for work.

In the yard, Xiaomei stood with her dad and brother talking to her uncle.

The Gu siblings: eldest Gu Xiu’e, second Gu Jin’e, third was Xiaomei’s uncle Gu Changsheng, and Gu Hua’e was the youngest.

Seeing Gu Hua’e come out, they stopped talking. Gu Changsheng said to his sister: “I heard Xiaomei got eels and water chestnuts?”

Gu Hua’e nodded: “My mother-in-law found a way. Also got some apples and plums.”

“Then you have to thank Auntie for me. Things that can’t be found even in Su City, she got them for you,” her uncle said.

Xiaomei proudly lifted her head, secretly pleased.

“I just don’t know if Mom can eat. She only had two sips of porridge this morning,” Gu Hua’e said, fighting tears.

Wang Peigen sighed helplessly: “Mom’s pain is unbearable without Dolantin. I went to the township clinic this morning and contacted cooperative medical stations in several villages. Dolantin is in severe shortage. This can’t go on. Are we just going to watch her suffer?”

“Big brother, how much money do you have left? Should Peigen go to Su City and try to find those old educated youth friends to get some Dolantin?” Gu Hua’e asked her older brother.

Her uncle sighed: “A little over ten yuan. If Mom…”

“I’ll try borrowing first. When our eldest sister comes tonight, we’ll discuss and pool money to take care of Mom’s health,” Wang Peigen said.

After a quick discussion, Wang Peigen left to call some educated youth friends from the team office.

Xiaomei followed her mom home, watching her worry deeply as she left for work.

Only then did she enter Grandma’s bedroom.

Grandma was organizing things in a chest.

It was an old chest passed down from the Wang family ancestors — a heavy camphor wood box.

“Xiaomei’s back! How’s your Grandma? Did she eat the water chestnuts?”

Xiaomei shook her head and weakly lay on the bed: “Grandma only drank two sips of porridge this morning, then the pain started. Dad gave her an injection and she fell asleep. I called her but she couldn’t hear me. Grandma…” Xiaomei suddenly broke down crying: “Is Grandma going to die?”

Grandma Wang gently patted Xiaomei’s back: “Life is fate. We mortals can’t do anything. Just remember, Grandma is the best grandma in the world, and you, Xiaomei, are the kindest girl. At such a young age, you helped Grandma fulfill her wish. No one is as amazing as you!”

After comforting Xiaomei for a while, Grandma went out and closed the door.

“Come here, Xiaomei, show Grandma what Aunt Zhou gave you.”

So, for most of the afternoon, Xiaomei talked with Grandma about things from over there, and the things Aunt Zhou sent.

After putting everything away, Xiaomei was so tired she fell asleep.

What Xiaomei didn’t know was that Grandma watched her sleeping face for a long, long time.