The old woman’s mouth soured at the mention of one hundred days. “One hundred days? You could kill me before I stay here that long!”
She turned sharply to Cheng Ying. “Hurry up and find someone to bring your Uncle Gan here. Get him to fix up a room at home for me right away. We have folks back in the village with broken bones who just need to rest up at home.”
Chi Wu said, “Grandma, don’t rush. It doesn’t say you have to stay here for a hundred days. Let’s see how things are at the hospital first, and once your condition stabilizes, you can go home to recover. Don't worry, we definitely won't keep you here for three months.”
Cheng Ying was sweating from the old woman’s fussing. “Everyone says children make a fuss in the hospital, but why are you making such a fuss too? If you listen to the doctors, can they be wrong? In this world, only what the doctor says is absolute; you must listen.”
The old woman shot her a glare. If there hadn’t been people nearby, she would have cursed Cheng Ying right then: I’ll listen to your grandmother’s backside.
The doctor knew this family well, not as people too poor to afford a hospital stay, but as someone whose anxiety made the old woman restless. “Ma’am, please don't worry. It’s the same as staying home. Your situation is different; you’re almost seventy, aren’t you? At seventy, bones are already fragile. Even if yours heals well, it won't be easy. You rest well here. If I see you’re doing well enough, I’ll let you go home, but you can’t keep causing trouble like this.”
This doctor clearly had experience dealing with difficult patients, and he wasn’t one of those arrogant young physicians. He managed to coax the old woman with a touch of humor.
The old woman asked, “Is there a chance?” The question itself was irritating to the doctor; it sounded like she expected a fatal prognosis.
Cheng Ying interjected, “Grandma, this is negotiable. You need to listen obediently and stay in the hospital for a while.” She dared not suggest a shorter period, or the old woman would surely start raising Cain again.
The old woman was finally persuaded to calm down. Chi Yong arrived with food. “Mom, how are you? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
The old woman sighed. “I’m uncomfortable all over. Just thinking about lying here makes me miserable.”
Chi Yong could tell his mother was in a foul mood. He glanced at the three people nearby, including his wife who was outside handling the hospital registration. Clearly, no one was managing to cheer her up. “Mom, you’ve really frightened Yingzi. You don’t know how panicked she was when she called me.”
The old woman looked at her granddaughter, and her expression softened considerably. She knew her own granddaughter; the girl must have been terrified. Despite often appearing capable and managing so many people, she was always exceedingly careful around her grandmother, especially these last few years, dragging her in for regular check-ups—wasn’t that out of fear that something might happen to her?
The old woman gripped her granddaughter’s hand. “It’s nothing. Everyone has some trouble in their life. This is good compared to what others suffer. An external injury is better than an internal one, much better than your Third Aunt, who’s stuck permanently on the bed. This is just a temporary stay for three months. It’s fine.”
Cheng Ying managed a slight smile. “It’s good you think so openly. Just don’t give me that sour look, okay? You really need to rest well.”
Chi Yong said, “Alright, everyone come and eat. It’s been a day.”
Chi Wu brought over a bowl of congee. “Grandma, let me feed you.”
The old woman glared. “Do you think my arm is broken?”
Chi Wu wasn’t offended. “Grandma, you just had surgery. You might sound fine, but your limbs are weak. After the anesthetic wears off, you’ll be restless again. Let me feed you. Conserve your strength; otherwise, when the drugs fade, you won’t even have the appetite to eat.”
This was based on what Chi Wu had just consulted the doctor about. When the old woman tried to lift her hand, she knew she truly lacked strength. However, having been widowed in her forties, she had always shouldered her illnesses alone and never relied on others to wait on her. She couldn’t possibly eat like this.
The old woman pursed her lips, unwilling to eat.
Cheng Ying coaxed, “Grandma, have a bite. Look at my handiwork. How does it compare to yours? I remember watching you feed Dun’er as a child—it was disgusting, getting all over his mouth. I just thought, you must have fed me the same way when I was little, and it probably wasn't very neat then either.”
The old woman instantly bristled. “Nonsense! How was I not clean? You all had bibs tied on!”
Saying that, she let Cheng Ying slip a spoonful of congee into her mouth. “Are you saying you think I didn't prepare you a bib?”
The old woman shot her granddaughter a look, and after that first spoonful, the second was much easier to accept.
The two of them slowly finished a bowl of congee this way. Chi Wu quickly ate his own food nearby. When it was time for the second bowl, he took the task from Cheng Ying’s hands. “You go eat, I’ll do it.”
Cheng Ying looked at the old woman. Her grandmother wasn't someone who would let just anyone feed her; she had strong self-respect.
Chi Wu glanced at the old woman and spoke lightly. “There’s no reason I can’t feed my wife when I helped raise her, right?”
The old woman glared at the two young people. “Enough. I’m full.”
Chi Wu insisted, “No, that won’t do. I know exactly how much you eat. Hurry up. Once the medicine wears off, you’ll be too weak to cause trouble, and what will you use to fight it off?”
The old woman couldn’t bear to look at her granddaughter-in-law standing there holding the bowl and spoon while she dawdled. She ate a little, just to humor them.
In truth, the old woman was already starting to feel a twinge in her leg. The anesthetic was wearing off. But she was strong-willed and stubbornly refused to say anything.
It wasn't until half a day later, long past the time the doctor had mentioned, that Cheng Ying grew anxious. “I’m going to find the doctor. Why is there no reaction? Did they miss something in the examination?”
Chi Wu and Chi Yong exchanged looks. “Does the anesthetic last this long?”
Yang Zhi offered a more professional assessment. “The anesthetic should have worn off by now.”
The old woman sighed. “Stop worrying yourselves. My leg does feel a little sore, but it’s not that bad.”
Cheng Ying’s heart ached. “Grandma, why didn’t you say anything? If it hurts, you must speak up! I’ll go find the doctor; you are absolutely not allowed to stay silent.”
Chi Wu added, “Grandma, you need to tell the doctor clearly so they can adjust your medication properly.”
The old woman replied, “I know. You all should go back. With so many people here, I can’t rest properly anyway. If it hurts, I’ll just sleep it off.”
Chi Yong felt that having so many people in the room wasn’t ideal. “You all go back to class. I’ll take leave and stay to look after your grandmother.”
Yang Zhi cut in. “I’ll stay. What can you do, you clumsy oaf?”
Cheng Ying shook her head. “No need. You all go back to your routines. I’ll take care of Grandma. She’s used to being independent and won’t rest well unless coaxed. You all can come back to take my place on Sunday.”
Chi Yong said nothing. Cheng Ying had managed feeding her during the meal; if someone else tried, the old woman definitely wouldn’t cooperate. He turned to his wife. “You go home and take some meals over for them, and help Yingzi out. She’s just one girl; what can she do?”
Chi Wu countered, “No need, I’m here. Someone is taking care of the cooking and washing at home. I’ve asked Uncle Gan to find an auntie. Mom’s job isn't one she can just skip work for. Grandma will need to recover for a while, and you can spend more time with her later. Let her and me cover for now.”
What could Chi Yong say? His own son was the mainstay of this other family; their decision was final.
Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu, wondering why he wasn't going to school. She didn't ask the question aloud. She honestly felt uneasy and did want company at that moment.
Cheng Ming spoke up. “I’m here too, don’t worry. Uncle, you all go to work. We can’t all stay here, right? We’ve arranged things properly.”
Cheng Ming had to admit looking at Chi Wu that this grandson-in-law was even more capable than his own grandson. Chi Wu arrived only half a day after he’d made the call. He knew immediately and came over. Cheng Ming himself had called the village, but his father and second uncle hadn’t managed to get there yet.
Chi Yong said, “Oh, right, I called your father and the others. I told them your grandmother just has a fracture and is stable; there’s no need to rush over.”
Cheng Ming’s face flushed. It was hard to tell Chi Yong that he’d already called that morning. “Mmm.”
The doctor examined her and assured them the condition was very good; some pain was normal.
Cheng Ying then sent everyone home, leaving only Chi Wu to stay with her. Chi Yong and his wife told Cheng Ying they would come back first thing tomorrow morning to relieve her. Cheng Ying felt it was unnecessary, but it was her uncle’s kindness, and she couldn't refuse it.
The old woman woke up in the middle of the night and tried to turn over. Cheng Ying, who had been worried all day, had fallen asleep next to her.
Chi Wu whispered, “Grandma, what’s wrong? Does it hurt a lot? I’ll call the doctor so we can get something for the pain.”
The old woman’s face was flushed. “No, it doesn't hurt much.”
Chi Wu felt her forehead. “It doesn’t feel like a fever. What’s wrong, Grandma?”
The old woman said, “Nothing. You sleep.”
Cheng Ying murmured sleepily, “Grandma, what is it?”
Chi Wu looked at the old woman’s expression and understood immediately. “Yingzi, come help Grandma sit up. She needs to use the commode.”
The old woman insisted, “No need. Just help me sit up, and I’ll go to the toilet myself.”
Cheng Ying replied, “Okay, coming!” The two helped the old woman sit up and got the plastic basin ready for urination. The old woman refused to cooperate at all.
Cheng Ying pleaded, “Grandma, I’m your granddaughter. You’ve cleaned my waste before—how can you be like this when I try to help you with this basin? If you get truly old, will you let me care for you? Am I an eyesore to you now?”
The old woman retorted, “I haven’t reached that stage yet. I’ll go to the toilet outside.”
“This building is old, and there are no restrooms upstairs. We have to go downstairs. Look at your condition—can you manage that? It’s fine, just pretend you’re a child again and enjoy your granddaughter’s care. Hurry up, you can’t hold it in. They say old people shouldn't hold their bladder; it causes problems.”
It took the old woman nearly the entire night to relieve herself once. When she saw Chi Wu taking the plastic basin out without a hint of disgust, her eyes turned red. She turned back, closed her eyes on the bed, and refused to speak to anyone.
Cheng Ying whispered, “Grandma, that’s your grandson-in-law.”
If Cheng Ying thought the matter would pass after that, she was thinking too simply. With the old woman’s temperament, she could serve others, but allowing others to serve her was something she truly could not tolerate.
When Cheng Ying tried to feed her again, the old woman refused to eat anything and barely drank any water for a long time.
Cheng Ying worried. “Let’s ask the doctor to check on her. Why won’t she eat?”
Chi Wu nodded. “Go find the doctor.”
After Cheng Ying left, Chi Wu sat by the old woman’s side. “Grandma, we are your grandchildren. Without you, who will look after Yingzi and me? If you are so unwilling to let us care for you in this room, I’ll carry you downstairs later, and Yingzi can help you to the restroom. But if you don’t eat, how will this bone mend? Look at Yingzi; the worry lines on her forehead haven't eased.”
The old woman sighed. “I’m just not used to it. Think about it—people from our village, scrambling and struggling our whole lives—we’ve never relied on anyone to serve us.”
Chi Wu reasoned gently, “Doesn’t everyone get old? You raised us until we grew up; isn't this the time for us to take care of you? You shouldn’t think like that. Are you really going to starve yourself? Could you bear to miss seeing me and Yingzi?”
ps: Third update, requesting Pink Tickets. Please vote! (.)RU