559 The Burden of the Body
“What happened after that?” Chu Ning was a little curious about Yan Shen’s Great-grandma’s story.
“Later on, I grew up. I must have been ten years old, and Great-grandma aged a few more years. With the sands of time, even if Great-Great-grandma was so tough, she was still worn down. I studied in my hometown and lived in school since primary school. Great-grandma would come to see me on weekends. Even though it was only a few kilometers away, it was very tiring for her.” Yan Shen described his past memories in great detail.
“I wanted to send her back by car, but Great-grandma refused.” Yan Shen smiled feebly. The past seemed to appear before his eyes.
“She told me that either I help her walk back or she’d walk back by herself. Thus, every weekend after that, a young man could be seen walking along the street paved with bluestone slabs, carefully accompanying an old lady with white hair, their figures getting longer and longer.”
“So you used to be quite good. Did you change after coming to M City?” Chu Ning felt that when she first met Yan Shen, he was always expressionless. Now, he was much better.
“Not really.” Yan Shen shook his head.
“You got older after that, right?” Chu Ning asked.
“Yes. Later, I saw Great-grandma cry.” When Yan Shen said this, the expression on his face suddenly turned calmed once more.
He sniffed and took a big gulp of coke.
“When Great-grandma was 94 years old, the house she lived in started leaking. She climbed up the ladder to fix it herself and didn’t trouble anyone. However, she fell from the top and couldn’t move at all. It was all thanks to the neighbors who found out in time.”
Chu Ning looked at Yan Shen, whose eyes were slightly red. He was obviously a little sad.
“When I went to visit Great-grandma, she was lying in her bed and wailing. The moment she saw me, she said, “My good great-grandson, Great-grandma can’t move. Great-grandma is trapped. Great-grandma is now useless.” I’d never seen Great-grandma so heartbroken, so much so that I was at a loss at that time and didn’t know how to comfort her,” Yan Shen continued.
“Your Great-grandma didn’t need comfort. She just wanted to stand up,” Chu Ning added softly.
“Yes, so a few days later, she got up and walked again. This stubborn old lady who refused to bow to anyone and anything in her life fell again.” When Yan Shen said this, his tone was a little choked.
“She stopped crying. She just told me to come and see her more in the future. Great-grandma finally used a walking stick. In the past, she disdained this kind of thing, but she was already 95 years old. In the first 95 years of her life, she had won and overcome all kinds of difficulties and unknown dangers. In the last year of her life, she still did not compromise and carried out her beliefs to the end of her life.
“Great-grandma used her walking stick to move her body. She liked to walk around and then sit at the entrance of the courtyard, waiting for me to come back to see her. I also enjoyed staying with Great-grandma. There’s an indescribable sense of peace and security.
“In the last few months of her life, her ears were no longer as sensitive, but she was still hale and hearty. I was willing to share with her the bits and pieces of my life, as well as my troubles. Even though she was deaf and her speech was unclear, she still smiled at me, stretching out the layers of wrinkles carved by the years. When I saw Great-grandma, I would forget all my troubles. Or rather, I would become very strong again.” Chu Ning looked at Yan Shen as he spoke to himself. His expression was bright yet complicated.
“I found out that Great-grandma passed away on a very ordinary morning. At that time, I was already attending school in M City. My father was too busy to go back to our hometown, so I went back.
“My relatives told me that, before Great-grandma died, she specially instructed: Yan Shen was not allowed to cry. Death was just the closing of eyes. There was nothing to be sad about. Without the shackles of the skin, it would be more convenient to go wherever I want in the future. Our lives were light to begin with. If he really misses me, I’ll go and see him.
“I held back my tears and didn’t feel sad. I just felt that I would have one family member less in my life in the future.” Yan Shen covered his cheek and said in pain.
“No, I remembered Great-grandma’s outlook on life — don’t be bound by the burden of the body.” Yan Shen then jumped off the steel frame, leaving Chu Ning sitting alone on it.
“I’ll go back first. Carry on. I’ll look for you next time.” Yan Shen waved his hand with his back facing her.
Chu Ning looked at Yan Shen’s figure as he walked away. She was deep in thought.