Ji Shuyuan looked at everyone, who were all very anxious, glanced around, and led them to stand under a large tree next to the alley. The tree shielded them from the sun, preventing them from becoming dizzy from the heat.
It was only then that Ji Shuyuan began to explain the causes and consequences of the situation.
Before the New Year, Grandpa Ji Xinghua had fallen and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor said that it was fortunate he was brought in on time; otherwise, he might have had a stroke and would have been confined to his bed.
After staying in the hospital for a few days, Ji Xinghua was discharged, but his condition was significantly worsened, and he had lost a lot of weight.
In the first half of the year, he was carefully recuperated during the spring, but on July 20, he was admitted to the hospital again due to stomach pain.
It was discovered then that Ji Xinghua had stones in his body. He suffered extreme pain daily and, fearing the waste of money, had kept it to himself, consuming a lot of medicine. However, there was no improvement, and during bouts of pain, Ji Xinghua couldn’t help but cry out, often biting his own mouth to avoid bothering the neighbors because of the pain.
During a subsequent hospital visit, they stated that the stones were too large and that mere medication was ineffective; surgery was essential. But, due to the three thousand yuan needed for the surgery, it had been postponed until now.
Uncle Ji Lin, since getting married, had been living permanently with his mother-in-law in Ningbei, almost no different from having moved into his wife’s family. At the end of each year, he could send two or three hundred yuan to honor the old man.
Second Uncle Ji Feng worked in a textile factory, although in South City, he seldom visited Grandpa.
Dad earned money in a food factory, and Mom also worked, but the family had been burdened with debts from my elder brother’s marriage until only recently, when they were finally cleared. The family’s earnings were meager, and they hardly managed to make ends meet, let alone save anything.
The three thousand yuan needed for the surgery weighed heavily on them like a giant stone. These days, they were trying to gather the amount, but without much success.
Ji Shuyuan also tried borrowing money everywhere, but in these times, who had spare cash to lend?
Ji Shuyuan had managed to scrape together only a small amount, but unable to bear seeing his grandfather suffer so much, he had returned to South City to see his aunt.
He thought, if his aunt’s family was poor, he would just visit her.
If his aunt’s family was getting by alright, he would borrow a hundred or two hundred yuan, not minding if it was less.
"Shuyuan, you’re a good boy, thank you for telling your aunt about this," Ji Ying’s eyes were red. Even without seeing him, just hearing Ji Shuyuan’s words made Ji Ying feel heartbroken.
During her father’s illness, she, as a daughter, could not share any of his burden.
"Aunt, I..." Ji Shuyuan hung his head and said, "I’m sorry, I was truly out of options. Grandpa is in too much pain, and I just thought, any amount I could gather would help."
"Shuyuan, you did nothing wrong."
Ji Ying wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and grasped Ji Shuyuan’s hand, saying, "You did the right thing; you should tell your aunt. Whether or not your aunt has money, your grandpa is her father. If she can give money, she will; if not, she will help in other ways."
"Let’s go quickly; let’s see your grandpa." Ji Ying urged, eager to see her father.
Ji Ying quickened her pace, and Ji Shuyuan hurried after her; Xu Qinghe and his family exchanged glances and quickly followed suit.
Ji Xinghua lived in the smallest room on the first floor of the dormitory. In the dim room, he was in pain again, his frail body curled up, a towel bitten between his teeth, and his emaciated hands, reduced to skin and bones, visibly veined.