Chapter 14: Dongdong is Two Years Old

“My eldest uncle’s wife.” Hong Cuiyun wasn’t dumb. Betraying her own mom… she was indeed capable of doing it. But in this case, it was indeed her eldest uncle’s wife who brought it up first. “My eldest uncle’s wife said there were also soldiers in her mom’s village who died in the war and their family received several hundred yuan in compensation.”

Several hundred? Widow Ji hesitated when she heard that. Their family had actually received 2000 yuan. But then again, who would go around telling others exactly how much compensation they received? The “several hundred” was probably just a rumor.

Widow Ji didn’t know that Qin Zhan had quietly added more money to it.

Still, now that Third Brother Ji’s wife had brought up the issue, there was no way to keep the compensation money a secret. She said, “There is compensation money. A total of 700 yuan. Earlier, your eldest sister-in-law was transferred from this public hospital to the county hospital, then to the military hospital. That cost several hundred already. There’s still 300 left, and it’s reserved for your nephew. If your eldest sister-in-law wakes up, this money also needs to be given to her.”

Widow Ji followed Hong Cuiyun’s “several hundred” and gave the number 700. In truth, the medical expenses for Ning Xin hadn’t reached several hundred. During this period, the costs for medicine, tractor transport, food for a few of them, and guesthouse fees only added up to about 200. But of course, Widow Ji wouldn’t tell the truth.

“So don’t even think about the remaining 300 yuan. You all need to remember, when your eldest brother was alive, he mailed his salary home every month. That money was spent on the family and essentially used by everyone. But this compensation money is your eldest brother’s life money. You still dare to covet your eldest brother’s life money? Aren’t you afraid he’ll come find you in the middle of the night?” Widow Ji’s tone was cold, filled with deep disappointment.

The couple’s eyes lit up at first when they heard there was 700 yuan. But when they heard 400 had already been spent on the eldest sister-in-law and only 300 was left, they felt like their flesh was being cut. Then when they heard that the remaining 300 was being saved for their nephew, they were so jealous it hurt. But with Widow Ji saying this much, there was nothing more they could do. They had already angered her into paralysis. They weren’t so wicked as to drive her to death.

The two pursed their lips, holding back for a long time before finally squeezing out three words, “We understand.”

When Qin Zhan arrived with Second Brother Ji, he saw the couple kneeling at the bedside. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to come in or leave. “Auntie…” he greeted the very pale-faced Widow Ji who lay in the hospital bed.

Widow Ji tried to smile, but couldn’t. She had originally thought that sending her eldest daughter-in-law to become a medical test subject for the old doctor, while she and her grandson went to the capital where food and lodging would be provided, would help relieve some burden from the Ji family during this time of food scarcity when rural folks had to eat wild vegetables.

But she hadn’t expected that Third Brother Ji’s wife actually wanted to divide the family. If that was all, fine. But she even brought up the compensation money. Widow Ji had thought the couple were just a little selfish, but she had clearly underestimated how selfish they really were.

“You all leave now. I have something to discuss with Comrade Qin. Second Brother, stand by the door. Don’t let anyone come near.” Widow Ji ordered.

Second Brother Ji replied, “Alright.”

After Third Brother Ji’s couple and Zhang Caihua walked out of the room, Second Brother Ji stood guard at the door, turning everyone else away.

Inside the hospital ward, only Qin Zhan and Widow Ji remained. Widow Ji sighed, “When you’re unlucky, even drinking water will choke you.”

Qin Zhan came to the bedside and comforted her, “When we go to the capital this time, we can ask Professor Yang to take a look at your condition. Maybe it can be treated.”

Widow Ji shook her head. “I know my own condition. I’ve seen people paralyzed before. I’ve never seen any who recovered. Comrade Qin, I know I won’t be able to take care of my grandson in the capital. Even if I go, I won’t be of help. But for the sake of my eldest daughter-in-law, my grandson still needs to go. I want to ask, if my grandson goes, will the old doctor assign someone to take care of him? If someone is assigned, will they treat him well?”

“And, if my eldest daughter-in-law never wakes up, and the old doctor continues using her as a test subject, will they continue to care for my grandson?”

After what happened this afternoon, Widow Ji understood that this family must be split. Since the third couple had such thoughts, if she continued to hold out and not divide, the future arguments would only get uglier.

After dividing the family, she would stay with Second Brother Ji’s household. She didn’t know how many more years she had left. So while she was still alive, she wanted to make arrangements for her grandson.

Qin Zhan didn’t realize that Widow Ji was already making plans for after her death. He said, “I don’t know if Professor Yang will assign someone to look after the child, but don’t worry. If your condition can’t be treated even in the capital, I will arrange for someone to care for the child. My home is in the capital too. He can live at my place.”

Widow Ji hadn’t expected that. But she quickly thought, if she left her grandson to someone assigned by Professor Yang, she trusted Qin Zhan more. From these past days of interaction, she knew Qin Zhan was a good man, especially since it was because of her eldest son. She believed Qin Zhan wouldn’t treat her grandson unfairly.

Thinking this, Widow Ji decided to be selfish this once. She knew it wasn’t right, but with her condition, she truly couldn’t rest easy. She feared she might die at any moment. “Comrade Qin, I… I want to ask you for a favor.”

Qin Zhan said, “Auntie, go ahead.”

Though it’s said that family matters shouldn’t be spread outside, Widow Ji couldn’t care about that now. “Comrade Qin, with my situation, I don’t know how many years I have left. If something happens to me, I want to entrust the child to you. Can I do that? I want the child to acknowledge you as his godfather.”

She truly didn’t trust leaving the child with either Second or Third Brother Ji after she was gone.

She believed Second Brother Ji’s family was reliable. But she wanted to be selfish just this once. She didn’t want her grandson to grow up as a peasant living at the mercy of the weather. She didn’t want him to eat wild vegetables when there was no food.

Qin Zhan hadn’t expected Widow Ji to say that. He agreed almost without hesitation. “Of course, no problem. But you still need to go to the capital with me to get checked. The child is still small. No one can take better care of him than you. Don’t you think so?”

Widow Ji didn’t want to go to the capital to treat paralysis. First, she thought it was hopeless. Second, she didn’t want to spend money. But when she thought about how her grandson had no father, and his mom was in that state, if she too… she clenched her teeth. Then so be it. She would spend the money. She wanted to live long and see her grandson grow up.

Qin Zhan and Widow Ji didn’t talk for long before she arranged for her discharge from the hospital. On the day of her discharge, Widow Ji arranged the division of the family. Aside from the remaining 1800 yuan in compensation that she did not divide, everything else was split into four parts. Second Brother Ji and Third Brother Ji each received one part. She and her grandson shared one part. She went with Second Brother Ji’s family.

The day after the division, Widow Ji and Second Brother Ji’s family, along with Ji Dong, left for the capital with Qin Zhan. The second household left behind eight-year-old Ji Chun to look after the younger siblings. They would eat at the third brother household.

Two Years Later

Military District Compound

A small figure stood in the yard with a schoolbag stuffed to the brim, swaying unsteadily. After a while, seeing that no one had come out, he shouted in his childish voice, “Grandma, let’s go.”

“Coming, coming.” A graceful middle-aged woman walked out of the house. “Dongdong, what did you pack in your schoolbag? It’s about to burst.”

“Cookies, milk candy, apples, all for mom. Everything’s for mom.” Ji Dong stretched out his little hand and counted one by one. “Mom will wake up after she eats them.” At just two years old, the little guy had a sweet smile on his face. It was clear he was growing up surrounded by love.