“Old lady, that shouldn’t be a problem as long as you cooperate and work closely with us on your treatment.”
From Grandma’s perspective, everything the doctor said sounded like a lie. Exasperatedly, she said, “Doctor, I’m a patient and I have the right to know about my condition. Please be honest and tell me the truth. Look, my son is also here. Please tell us….”
“Yes, Doctor. Please tell us.”
Since Lu Jijun also asked him to speak the truth, the doctor could do nothing else but explain Grandma’s condition in detail.
The doctor didn’t exaggerate the seriousness of Grandma’s condition. Instead, he spoke plainly and in detail about her illness, including some of its features and some symptoms to look out for in the later stages.
When all was said and done, Lu Jijun thanked the doctor and helped Grandma out of the doctor’s office.
When they reached the door, Grandma suddenly blacked out. She reached out and wildly groped for Lu Jijun’s shoulder, tears streaming down her world-weary face.
In the past, she’d always assumed that she’d live to see Ye Tianxin graduate from university, find a good job, and start a family.
Then, once Ye Tianxin had built a life for herself, she’d be able to die without any regrets.
But she’d never expected that the grim reaper would be so cruel to her. Soon, she would be dead!
If she didn’t undergo chemical treatment right away, she would probably die before the end of the month.
She didn’t want to die!
If she died now, what would happen to Tianxin?
Would Lu Jijun treat Tianxin well?
Would Lu Jijun’s family welcome her and treat her well?
“Auntie, please take a seat here and rest a while!”
Grandma shook her head. “Take me to the garden. I want to take a stroll.”
They walked to the garden. Grandma refused Lu Jijun’s help and walked ahead on her own at a slow pace. She felt as if a huge, heavy boulder weighing on her heart. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. Lu Jijun didn’t say anything either. He just followed behind her, staying close to her side.
He watched as Grandma kept walking aimlessly onward with no destination or endpoint in mind, as if she were just going to keep walking forever!
Her thin figure cast an elongated shadow on the ground under the light from the streetlamps.
Lu Jijun walked over to Grandma’s side and supported her by the arm. He said quietly, “Auntie, please send Tianxin to me!”
…
Ye Tianxin didn’t bother trying to save money; she hailed a cab to take her back to the bookshop.
The door to the bookshop was still open, so she pushed it, causing the windchime behind the wooden door clang melodiously.
Du Juan looked up from her notebook computer. Removing her glasses from the bridge of her nose, she looked toward Tianxin.
“Tianxin, why have you come back on your own? Where is your grandmother?”
Ye Tianxin pulled up a chair and sat beside Du Juan. After staying silent for a while, she said, “Auntie Du, my grandmother is sick. She’s been hospitalized. I came back to tell you this and to pack a change of clothes….”
“Is it serious?” Du Juan asked softly.
Ye Tianxin nodded. “Yes. It’s cancer. The doctor said that it’s spread to her lungs!”
“Do you have the money to get her treated?” Du Juan asked.
These days, being hospitalized was the same as pouring money down a drain. It was a bottomless pit with no end in sight.
“I’ve raised some funds in the meantime. I really want to have Grandma treated, so if the money I’ve saved isn’t enough, I’ll have to think of another way to raise the funds.”
Actually, Ye Tianxin had been thinking that perhaps she should take the fifty thousand in the bank and play the stock market. But, because of the state the stock market was in, she was really… apprehensive to play the stock market. However, if she really didn’t have any other option left, she’d have to resort to this method to raise the needed funds.
“Tianxin, do you remember Uncle Jin who came to dinner that night?”