Chapter 44: Earthquake

Gu Xichao remembered that on June 27, 1981, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Qing Province in the west, causing countless casualties from natural disasters and human misfortunes.

The driver in front, Meng Feng, was a young local man who had long worked as a tour guide on the plateau. His skin was dark, his eye sockets slightly sunken, and his deep-set eyes had a high nose bridge, exuding the unique charm of a man from Northwest China. He looked honest and straightforward.

During the day, Gu Baiting had business meetings, while Su Nianmei took Gu Xiaobao to explore the surroundings.

Meng Feng’s Mandarin was not standard as he said, “Up ahead is Matou Mountain, the highest peak in our area, at over four thousand meters. You outsiders might not be quite used to it yet.”

Although Meng Feng drove steadily, the mountain roads were bumpy. Su Nianmei and Gu Xiaobao swayed a little in the back seat. She pinched a few tea leaves and put them in her mouth, asking, “Is Gandi Lake just up ahead?”

Meng Feng glanced at the rearview mirror, revealing a mouthful of white teeth as he grinned amiably and said, “You’ll reach Gandi Lake after crossing Matou Mountain.”

The young girl, not much older than Gu Xiaobao, had fair, delicate skin and good looks. Her lips were slightly purplish from lack of oxygen, and she held a small doll in her hands.

He had spent a few days guiding them, but both seemed quite vigilant, and he wasn’t sure about the girl’s specific circumstances.

Unable to help himself, Meng Feng asked, “Miss, are you here to seek a partner? Gandi Lake is considered a sacred lake around here. It is said that couples who drink the water from Gandi Lake together will receive blessings from our gods, ensuring they live a long and happy life together.”

Su Nianmei smiled but did not respond, her gaze shifting to the windshield, where the sky and clouds intertwined heavily, pressing down upon her, making it hard to breathe.

Gu Xiaobao pressed his face against the window, his nose touching the glass. The road was sparse with passing vehicles, and as he looked out, the sky was a bright blue and the grass a vibrant green.

Leaning back against the seat, Su Nianmei felt increasingly uncomfortable as they ascended to higher altitudes, so she closed her eyes and rested momentarily.

Gu Xiaobao turned around and gently placed his hand on Su Nianmei’s forehead. His voice was clear, yet he seemed to fear disturbing her, so he whispered softly in her ear, “Mom, are you not feeling well?”

With her eyes half-closed, Su Nianmei reached out, grasped Gu Xiaobao’s small hand, and sniffed it, detecting a hint of milk fragrance.

She explained to Gu Xiaobao, “It’s nothing serious; this is a normal phenomenon. When you reach the plateau, the higher the altitude, the thinner the air, which can cause discomfort, like chest tightness, shortness of breath, or headaches.”

Gu Xiaobao obediently sat back next to Su Nianmei, clutching her index finger in his palm as he asked, “But why don’t I feel anything?”

Meng Feng replied, “Little brother, altitude sickness varies from person to person. Generally speaking, the healthier a person is, the more severe the reaction to high altitude can be.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaobao widened his round eyes a little, pondering something that brought his mood down as he lowered his head and muttered, “Oh.”

Su Nianmei felt a sudden tightness in her fingers as Gu Xiaobao pouted and said, “It’s a good thing Dad didn’t come. If Dad were here, he would be really uncomfortable.”

Su Nianmei’s heart sank. Gu Xiaobao was still young; this was his first time being so far away from Gu Xichao. She realized she had been a bit selfish, overlooking her child’s feelings. She asked, “Sweetheart, do you miss Dad?”

Gu Xiaobao bit his lower lip. Su Nianmei continued, “Dad is working. He has a secret mission, which is why he couldn’t come with us.”

Gu Xiaobao’s eyes brightened, and he exclaimed with excitement, “That’s right!”

Meng Feng playfully asked the child, “What does your Dad do that’s so impressive?”

Gu Xiaobao raised his chin slightly, pursed his lips, and, with a subtle tone, said, “My Dad is a hero. He’s super amazing and is on a secret mission every day.”

Meng Feng chimed in, agreeing with him.

Gu Xiaobao stared at his toes for a moment, seemingly less excited than before. He stood up, half-kneeling on the seat, resting his head against Su Nianmei’s neck and wrapping his arms around her. He felt like a deflated balloon, his face pressed against her earlobe as he whispered, “Mom, actually, I miss Dad a little bit.”

Su Nianmei rubbed Gu Xiaobao’s cheek and stroked his head. Under the sunlight, his fine hair had a slightly yellowish tint. She asked, “Just a little bit? How much is that?”

Gu Xiaobao measured a tiny distance with his thumb and forefinger, saying, “This much, just a little bit. It can’t be more.”

Su Nianmei asked, “Not any more than that?”

Gu Xiaobao replied, “Who told him not to come home every day? This is already too much.”

Su Nianmei was about to say something else when suddenly, the car jolted violently. They heard a loud rumbling, and a large rock tumbled down, crashing onto the front of the car.

Small pebbles splattered against the windshield, making a crackling sound.

Meng Feng’s expression changed immediately as he quickly slammed the brakes.

“Uh-oh, there’s an earthquake!”

Instinctively, Su Nianmei pulled Gu Xiaobao into her arms and covered his head with her hands.

Gu Xiaobao turned his head, watching as the ground behind the car began to collapse. The rumbling noise was relentless, and the car shook violently as if it were sinking.

He closed his eyes.

After a while, the shaking stopped.

Meng Feng cautiously opened the car door, leaning out halfway. The road ahead was blocked by rocks, and the ground behind had collapsed. He turned to look upward.

A large tree on the steep cliff was blocking the sliding rocks, which were teetering precariously, with branches also swaying dangerously.

“Quick, get out!” Meng Feng shouted as he opened the trunk of the car.

With a loud crash, a rock and branches tumbled down and smashed onto the car roof, sending up a cloud of dust.

“Mom!”

Su Nianmei’s body reacted faster than her mind, and she instinctively pushed Gu Xiaobao out of the car.

She herself fell against the seat, one leg numb from the tremor. It felt as though the metal roof pressed down on her, scraping her back and causing a burning pain, rendering her unable to move.

Faint light filtered through the gaps between the rocks, casting a dim, gloomy atmosphere.

She could hear Gu Xiaobao’s voice nearby.

After a while, everything around seemed to quiet down, and Su Nianmei lost track of how long she had been trapped. The air inside the car seemed to grow thinner.

The temperature slowly drained from her body.

She thought that she might be dying as a familiar sense of panic washed over her once again. How ridiculous it was that someone who had faced death once could still be so afraid of it.

The more her body couldn’t move, the clearer her mind became.

With her eyes closed, memories flooded in, particularly the moment when Gu Xichao had told her to apply the medicine.

The scene was bathed in gentle breezes and bright moonlight, with the man’s broad back and his muscles taut. The wound stretched from his back to his lower back, displaying a wildness that was at odds with his personality, adding to his rugged appeal.

While applying the medicine, he hadn’t even blinked.

She thought to herself that she was truly delicate. Just a little pain and she couldn’t bear it.

“Good baby, good baby.” It seemed as if someone was murmuring, or perhaps it was just a dream.

Su Nianmei struggled to open her eyes but found she couldn’t. It felt as if she was so consumed by thoughts of Gu Xichao that she was hallucinating.

Even at this moment, she could hear his voice.

She scoffed at herself. In her lifetime, she had only loved one person, yet it was a shame she couldn’t see him in the end. It was still her own stubbornness that had driven her away.

She exhaled, thinking that maybe it was better not to meet; if they did, she might look terrible now. The thoughts of a small woman could be so complex and ever-changing.

It felt like something was covering her head, warmth spreading from the top of her head throughout her body. A faint fragrance lingered at her nose, and her body felt light as if it were beginning to move.

Su Nianmei’s vision flickered, becoming a bit brighter.

—o—o—o—

Gu Xichao was lifting Su Nianmei, shouting, “Doctor! Doctor!”

Two or three rescuers nearby raised their hands to place Su Nianmei onto a stretcher.

Gu Xichao also tried to stand up, but just as he got to his feet, his legs trembled, and the world went dark in front of him. He felt himself tipping backwards when Gu Baiting quickly caught him.

The hospital was in chaos. Qishan was a small town, and although the earthquake had not caused severe damage, the hospital beds were full. Extra beds had been added in the hallway to accommodate more patients.

Su Nianmei felt discomfort in her left hand, and just as she was about to lift it to move a little, a firm hand with distinct knuckles pressed down on her fingertips, holding her hand tightly.

“Shh, don’t move.”

The sound startled Su Nianmei, freezing her in place. Her eyelids felt as if they were glued shut, heavy as lead.

Finally, after much effort, she managed to open a small slit. Light streamed in, blinding her.

Turning her head slightly, she saw that her left hand was connected to an IV drip, and Gu Xichao was sitting in a chair, leaning forward, pressing down on her fingers.

“How are you feeling?” Gu Xichao asked, his eyes filled with urgency.

Having just woken up, Su Nianmei’s senses hadn’t fully returned. She stared at Gu Xichao, and before she could speak, tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I thought… I wouldn’t see you again.”

His calloused fingertips brushed against her cheek, the warm and rough sensation incredibly gentle as he wiped away her tears.

Gu Xichao swallowed hard, feeling a knot in his throat. He had seen her like this three times now and was even more afraid of losing her than she was.

“I’m here.”

He spoke softly, moving closer to Su Nianmei.

“Don’t worry. The Doctor said your injuries are just superficial, nothing serious.”

Their fingertips met as they rested on the bed, facing each other.

Su Nianmei gazed at Gu Xichao’s lips. They looked soft, slightly purplish, with a deep hue and even some cracks. The man unconsciously licked his lips.

Watching him made Su Nianmei’s body warm; her lips parted and closed involuntarily.

“Get some more sleep. It’s still early. Baiting has gone to get us food, and we’ll have some porridge later,” Gu Xichao said.

Su Nianmei nodded, closing her eyes. Her fingertips yearned to touch his hand, and neither of them spoke when her index finger brushed against his.

The joyful touch of their fingertips in the stifling hospital room conveyed the surprise of a long-awaited reunion and a brush with danger.

It replaced the words that should and shouldn’t have been said.

As her body relaxed, her senses sharpened. Su Nianmei felt a tightness in her lower abdomen, causing her cheeks to flush. Her toes curled against the bedsheet.

She opened her eyes with effort and raised her right hand, beckoning Gu Xichao.

He leaned in, his tall frame casting a shadow over her, blocking the sunlight, like lovers whispering sweet nothings to one another.

“I want…” She bit her lip, then said, “I want to go to the bathroom.”

Gu Xichao looked at Su Nianmei; her ears were flushed, and her voice was soft and small, her right hand gripping her clothes against his chest.

He cleared his throat and picked up the IV stand before standing up.

After waiting for a moment, the little girl didn’t seem to move.

“Does your leg hurt?” he asked.

Before Su Nianmei could answer, Gu Xichao effortlessly scooped her up, his left hand holding the IV stand.

He cradled her against his side, his refreshing scent filling her senses. Su Nianmei felt a bit lightheaded, their bodies in contact, warmth transferring between them.

“Hold on tight,” Gu Xichao said, his gaze drifting as he adjusted his hold on her.

Su Nianmei obediently responded with a soft “Oh,” wrapping her right arm around Gu Xichao’s neck. She rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes fixed on his sharp jawline, which had a bit of stubble from not being shaved for a few days.

The public restroom was a separate building outside. When Gu Xichao reached the door, he realized something was off and hesitated for a long time at the entrance.

He obviously couldn’t enter the women’s restroom.

Seeing his cheeks nearly turn red from embarrassment, Su Nianmei bit her lip, stifling a laugh.

After waiting for a while, Gu Xichao managed to stop a woman passing by and earnestly asked her to help Su Nianmei inside.

The woman glanced at Su Nianmei in his arms but didn’t respond immediately. She entered the restroom, took a quick look around, and came out. Her accent was thick, making her speech somewhat difficult to understand. She said, “Big brother, with your wife like this, I can’t carry her. I just went in and saw there wasn’t anyone; why don’t you carry your wife inside, and I’ll wait for you at the door?”

Gu Xichao and the others didn’t quite understand her.

The woman tugged at Gu Xichao’s clothes, pulling him inside while she stood at the door.

“I can actually walk,” Su Nianmei murmured, burying her face in Gu Xichao’s chest and feeling embarrassed.

Gu Xichao took long strides inside.

Su Nianmei thought Gu Xichao intended to keep carrying her, and she struggled a bit, stammering, “I—I can do it.”

Gu Xichao lowered his gaze at her as if weighing the feasibility of her words.

Testing her limits, Su Nianmei moved her legs slightly to show him she could walk.

Worried that Su Nianmei might further strain her injury, Gu Xichao set her down gently.

As Su Nianmei prepared to pull down her pants, he quickly averted his eyes, gripping the IV stand a little tighter.

The sound of running water filled the air, and Gu Xichao felt his body tense up, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.