Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 120 Talk Back
One week before the New Year's Day in 1990, Liu Zhixin and Jiang Changling discussed it behind their backs and decided to leave the hospital immediately.According to my son's expectation, he will have another course of chemotherapy and be discharged home before the Spring Festival.

It has been more than half a year since she left home and was admitted to the hospital. As her condition improved, Jiang Changling began to feel homesick.Thinking of the big house at home with hot kang, thinking of chickens, ducks, geese and dogs in the vegetable shed, thinking of the folks in the village, thinking of the flat land and the winding river.

She has undergone two courses of chemotherapy, and after each chemotherapy, she has nausea and vomiting, and cannot eat.But I have to eat, and I have to eat more, so that I can quickly replenish nutrition and restore the normal indicators of red blood and white blood cells in the body.

Despite the most nutritious and delicious meals prepared by the man and son, she could hardly swallow them.In order not to spoil the good things, and for the expectation of the man and her son, she ate in small bites, forcing herself to eat so as not to spit it out.

Apart from the serious damage to her body, she never thought that eating a meal could be so difficult.No wonder some old people who are seriously ill and bedridden, when they can't eat or drink, the family members start to prepare for the funeral.

When her diet returned to normal and the side effects of chemotherapy lessened, Liu Zhixin had to go home to work in the vegetable shed again, and let her buy some food in the canteen of the nursing home instead of bothering her son.

She naturally knew that her son had to study in school during the day, and had to run to her every night, and lost a lot of weight. How could a mother not feel distressed.For her alone, the man's son ran at both ends, was troubled at both ends, and sometimes had dreams involved, so the idea of ​​being discharged from the hospital came up.

When she was about to undergo her third chemotherapy, Liu Zhixin handed over the work in the vegetable shed to her younger brother Liu Zhitai and returned to the nursing home.

Jiang Changling discussed with him and said: "In the past half a year in the hospital, I have eaten so many good things that I have never eaten in my life. My son is filial and spent a lot of money. It is worth it to die. Chemotherapy is too much to suffer. Two courses of treatment are enough, why not go home and take care of it slowly.”

Liu Zhixin said: "You only know that your son spent a lot of money buying delicious food for you, but you don't care how much money you spent on medical treatment."

Jiang Changling said: "I asked my son, but he refused to tell me the real number, and he wouldn't let me inquire. Do you know how much it cost?"

Liu Zhixin probably said something, and Jiang Changling was taken aback, and said again and again: "So much? If you continue to spend like this, when your son gets married, you won't have much money in your hands. He's dead, he's determined to die."

"You have to think about it, this is your own decision, it's not that our father and I won't treat you."

"I've figured it out, I deserve to die, I deserve to live, God has already made a decision."

"If you can live on forever, and survive the hurdle of the ten-year limit, you have to remember that this is your life given to you by your son. I won't hide it from you, I want to use domestic medicine for you, It is your son who is determined to use imported medicine, which is several times more expensive. And the ginseng plant is not aimed at your son. Why did Gu Yu give it to you? What kind of favor is that? Your son will have to pay for it in the future .”

"You don't need to say this, even if I don't live for a few years, I still remember my son's good. I can't drag my son down anymore."

"I was afraid that my son would not agree with you to leave the hospital, so I insisted on the third chemotherapy."

"Let's leave the hospital secretly without telling our son."

Early in the morning, the two packed up their personal belongings.As soon as the doctor came to work, Liu Zhixin went to go through the discharge procedures.Walking out of the gate of the nursing home, Jiang Changling felt relaxed and breathed a long sigh of relief, and could finally go home.

Although I always feel that my body is half-stretched, although my left arm has not dared to use too much force, although my back is still a bit hunched, there is nothing wrong with other parts of my body, and I will not delay doing farm work after returning home.

The two came to the city hospital and bid farewell to Lin Yidan face to face.Seeing that Jiang Changling was recovering well, Lin Yidan didn't say anything else.

She asked for leave from the hospital, and took Liu Zhixin and Jiang Changling to a restaurant for lunch, congratulating them on their recovery and seeing them off.She sent Liu Zhixin and his wife to the long-distance bus, gave some instructions, and went back to the Normal University to find Liu Xiaonan.

Liu Xiaonan was about to leave school and go to a nursing home to discuss with her parents the schedule for her third chemotherapy session.

Today is Christmas Eve in the West, the school has no class schedule in the afternoon, and the students are happily decorating the classroom, preparing for a grand foreign festival.He was not in the mood to have fun with these fashion-conscious young students, he sponsored fruit and melon seed drinks, and left the classroom amidst cheers.

Walking alone on the campus, watching the college students coming and going with youthful smiles, and feeling the festive atmosphere that did not match the tradition, Liu Xiaonan felt more and more lonely.

Did Yue Xuelian spend Christmas Eve with those foreign students in the United States?

No, definitely not.

Snow Lotus received a traditional cultural education, so she might join in the fun, but the New Year in her mind must be the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month and the first day of the first month.It must be on Liuzi Street, it must be worshiping the ancestors and God, pasting Spring Festival couplets, pasting blessing characters, making dumplings, setting off firecrackers, and worshiping the New Year. I will never agree with any Santa Claus Christmas tree.

As soon as he walked out of the school gate, he ran into Lin Yidan head-on.Knowing that her parents were secretly discharged from the hospital without her consent, and now sitting on the long-distance bus home, Liu Xiaonan smiled wryly and said, "Aunt Lin, my parents must be concerned about money. My father once thought about going to the university campus. Take a look around, now, in order to save me money, I don’t even care about this wish.”

Lin Yidan persuaded: "Your parents have their own ideas and plans, let me tell you not to be angry. You don't have to be too entangled. You are a good son and son-in-law. The doctors and nurses all see it and praise it in front of me. You have done your best, and I can tell you responsibly that your mother is in very good physical and mental condition, which is rare among cancer patients, and maybe a miracle will happen."

Liu Xiaonan was relieved a lot: "If my mother can wait until Xuelian returns to China, I will hold an unprecedented festive wedding."

"It will definitely be as you wish." Lin Yidan said: "Your parents also asked me to tell you that the family slaughtered pigs on New Year's Day, and asked you to bring that female classmate—named Meng Xiangxiang, right—to go home together."

Liu Xiaonan asked, "Aunt Lin, do you believe that Meng Xiangxiang and I are just ordinary classmates?"

"Of course Auntie believes it." Lin Yidan replied with a smile: "Auntie knows your family, your father, and you. When Xuelian told me about the relationship between you and Meng Xiangxiang and the matter of funding her to finish college, Auntie didn't know anything about it." feel strange."

Back at Yue Xuelian's home, with Lin Yidan's help, Liu Xiaonan took off all the sheets, quilts, pillow covers, and washed them, and restored the home's facilities and items to how they looked when they lived together with Yue Xuelian.

His father no longer lived here temporarily, and his mother no longer needed him to cook for him. That night, he moved back to the dormitory of the textile factory.

At noon the next day, Liu Xiaonan found Meng Xiangxiang and told her that her mother had been discharged from the hospital and her parents invited her to go back to Liuzi Street to eat pork on New Year's Day.

Meng Xiangxiang politely declined.Liu Xiaonan said: "After the new house was built at home, you haven't gone back to see it. Besides, your aunt invited you. If I didn't take you back, your aunt will be angry."

indeed so.After school started, Meng Xiangxiang would come to the nursing home on Sundays to wash and wash her aunt's clothes and talk with her.If one day came late, Jiang Changling would keep nagging, and some kind of emotional dependence had already developed.

Meng Xiangxiang said, "I'm afraid of causing unnecessary misunderstandings and affecting the relationship between senior brother and Teacher Yue."

Liu Xiaonan knew the source of Meng Xiangxiang's worries, he talked about his conversation with Aunt Lin, and then dispelled Meng Xiangxiang's worries, and agreed to go back to Liuzi Street with him.

Because of her mother's illness and hospitalization, Liu Xiaonan hadn't returned home for more than half a year.My uncle built a new house in the east courtyard of his family this year, and he has already moved in. He has not yet seen the appearance of his new house; in his father's vegetable greenhouse, there are still various vegetables planted, and my mother may not be able to help if she needs to recuperate. I'm busy, I don't know if my father can be busy by himself.

My mother only had two courses of chemotherapy before returning home. I don't know if the symptoms will recur.

With all kinds of doubts, Liu Xiaonan took Meng Xiangxiang back to his home in Liuzi Street the day before New Year's Day.When passing through Fuzhou City, he habitually looked in the direction of Mr. Yue's house, and couldn't help laughing.

Teacher Yue's house has been sold, and there is nothing worthy of his concern in Fuzhou City.

After getting off the coach, Meng Xiangxiang exclaimed as he looked at the row of new houses in front of him, "I can't recognize it. Which one is your house?"

Liu Xiaonan pointed out: "All the old houses have been demolished, so of course you won't recognize them. The five houses on the west side are my house, and the five houses on the east side are new houses built by my uncle's house just this year. In the vegetable field in front, is The vegetable greenhouse my dad built last year."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two saw Liu Zhixin and Jiang Changling coming out of the vegetable shed.Meng Xiangxiang yelled "Auntie" and ran over, hugged Jiang Changling, and went home talking and laughing.

Liu Xiaonan assisted his father in putting up the straw curtains, and asked about his mother's physical condition after returning home from the hospital.

I learned from my father that my mother still couldn't be free, she couldn't do heavy work, and she didn't delay in housework if she was light and happy. From the day she came home from the hospital, she didn't have a day off.In my mother's own words, I was born to work, but I feel uncomfortable when I am idle.

Liu Xiaonan was worried that her mother's body would not be able to bear it.Liu Zhixin said: "People have inertia. After working hard for a lifetime, it is not conducive to recovery. Let her do what your mother likes to do, don't force her."

The dinner was made by Jiang Changling and Meng Xiangxiang, because the pig will be slaughtered tomorrow, and the dinner is relatively simple.Even so, Jiang Changling specially fried an egg dish for Meng Xiangxiang and opened two canned fruits.

After dinner, Liu Xiaonan started cleaning her two rooms.The room was obviously cleaned, but under the influence of Yue Xuelian, he always felt uncomfortable if he didn't clean it himself.After cleaning the room, she sorted out the clothes and books left by Yue Xuelian.

After finishing his work, he sat down at the desk, dreaming endlessly.He imagined Teacher Yue and Yue Xuelian's work, study and life in the United States, imagined the day Yue Xuelian returned to China, and imagined how he and Yue Xuelian would get married and become real husband and wife in these two rooms.

There was a knock on the door.It could only be Meng Xiangxiang who knocked on the door of his own house.Liu Xiaonan said, "Xiao Meng, come in."

Pushing open the door, Meng Xiangxiang was still standing outside the door, looking around the room with his head and asking, "Brother, can I go in and have a look around?"

Liu Xiaonan stood up, walked to the door and said, "It's not some mysterious place, it's all my home, so there's no need to ask for instructions."

Meng Xiangxiang took off his shoes, walked carefully on the floor, looked around, and was deeply attracted by this novel layout.

Walking out of the bathroom, she said to Liu Xiaonan: "It's so clean! In the countryside, living in such a big house is no different from living in the city. I don't know if I will have the ability to build a house for my parents. A new house."

Liu Xiaonan invited Meng Xiangxiang to sit down and asked, "In half a year's time, the third year of study is over, and you should go to practice. For the future, do you have any specific goals and plans?"

Meng Xiangxiang said: "I want to stay in Bincheng to work, so that I can be with my sister and take care of each other. However, I don't have much confidence. I can only obey the assignment at that time, and I don't dare to think too much about it." many."

"Have you thought about taking the postgraduate entrance examination and continuing your studies?"

"I thought about it, but I want to work earlier, and the postgraduate entrance examination will be put in the future plan. I understand what the big brother means. At present, I just want to be self-reliant as soon as possible and change the future through my own efforts."

"According to your academic performance, it is not a big problem to stay in Bincheng to work. There is an accident in everything. If you are assigned to another place or a remote area, I will not hesitate to use social relations to transfer you back to Bincheng. city."

"Let's talk about the situation later, it doesn't have to stay in Bincheng."

"It's right to think so. In the future, we will work and live with our loved ones. We can't be like my parents, living in two places is too hard."

Meng Xiangxiang suddenly stopped talking, and stared at Liu Xiaonan with two smart eyes without blinking, as if he couldn't fully understand what he said, the expression on his face was bewildered and vivid.

After all, she is a little girl, and she doesn't think so deeply about feelings and family.Liu Xiaonan became interested, and asked, "Xiao Meng, is there any male classmate who usually catches your eye, the elder brother will help you check it out."

"No." Meng Xiangxiang replied happily: "I don't dare to have it either. Didn't the elder brother say that as long as I fall in love, he will stop funding me at any time."

Liu Xiaonan smiled and said: "I said that at the time because I was afraid that you would waste your studies. If you really fell in love, how could I make things difficult for you? If I remember correctly, you are 21 years old this year, and you are indeed at the age of falling in love. With due consideration."

Meng Xiangxiang blamed: "You are only five years older than me, why are you like a parent, you have to take care of everything."

Liu Xiaonan laughed: "I overlooked it, Xiao Meng is not an ordinary girl, she has her own clear direction and goals in everything."

"I won't tell you anymore." Meng Xiangxiang stood up and walked out the door, as if avoiding such topics, he left a sentence for Liu Xiaonan: "Mr. Yue is not by your side, you made yourself old-fashioned, why bother?" Woolen cloth?"

Liu Xiaonan stood there stunned, a little surprised and a little surprised, she dared to talk back to herself!

(End of this chapter)