"You’ve got the dicine already, it’s enough if I’m in the office. Go ho and take care of your dad. Your mom can’t manage him alone."
Gong Liang got up in a daze, nodded sowhat stiffly, muttered a thank you, and drifted away.
He really did drift away.
It was obvious Gong Liang was completely absent-minded, as if his soul wasn’t in his body. It was almost written on his face that he was troubled, that he’d been having a tough ti lately. He didn’t even walk in a straight line, clearly showing he was really shaken.
Gong Liang left the Silk Factory and walked down the road towards ho.
At this hour, there weren’t many people on the street, just so kids obviously too young for school playing by the roadside, and occasionally a few middle-aged won in a hurry, carrying things.
Qin Huai knew the Silk Factory and the Cotton Spinning Factory were near Huang Ji, but just by looking at the nearby houses and streets, he couldn’t tell exactly where it was. Too much had changed in decades. He just followed Gong Liang, watching him drift down the street with the dicine packet.
Unknowingly, Gong Liang reached the street where Huang Ji was located.
Qin Huai didn’t recognize the street, but he recognized the State owned Restaurant and Zheng Da, who was squatting at the restaurant door looking like he had nothing to do, but seemingly waiting for soone.
Young Zheng Da sowhat resembled Zheng Siyuan, and Qin Huai thought he had a rough idea of what Zheng Siyuan would look like in his forties or fifties.
"Gong Liang!" Upon seeing him, Zheng Da’s eyes lit up and he practically bounced up, running towards him.
Gong Liang was jolted back to his senses. By the ti he ca around, Zheng Da had already run up to him, catching him by surprise.
"What’s up?" Gong Liang asked.
"Why have you been so absent-minded lately? Watch out, or you’ll get hit by a bicycle on the road," Zheng Da remarked.
"I won’t," Gong Liang replied faintly.
"I have good news for you. I’ve been made permanent! I’m now a regular worker at the State owned Restaurant. I just got my pay today, along with sugar and at tickets. I can buy at and vegetables at a discount now!" Zheng Da said with excitent.
"Oh," Gong Liang responded indifferently, "Congratulations."
Zheng Da clicked his tongue, "Your ’congratulations’ doesn’t sound sincere at all, but considering everything going on at your ho lately, I’ll forgive you."
Gong Liang forced a bitter smile and prepared to continue on his way, but Zheng Da grabbed him.
"I still need to go ho to make dicine for my dad. If you want to tell your thrilling experience of becoming permanent, can you co over to my place tonight?" Gong Liang said helplessly.
"Do you think I’m that kind of person? You think I’m my senior, who could spend three days talking about becoming permanent, wanting everyone at the Silk Factory and Cotton Factory to know?"
"I have sothing for you." Zheng Da pulled out a tin lunchbox and a small cloth bag from his pocket.
Only then did Qin Huai realize that Zheng Da had been squatting at the State owned Restaurant door with his arms crossed not because it was comfortable, but because it was a good position to hold the lunchbox inside his jacket.
"Today’s at dish - you’re in luck! It’s braised quail eggs and pork belly, cooked by my master himself. I used up the at tickets I just got. I ate half, and grabbed another half from my senior’s bowl to make up a portion for you."
Gong Liang was stunned.
"Didn’t the doctor say your dad needs to supplent his nutrition? This is definitely nutritious!"
"But the doctor also said that my dad can’t have heavy oil or salt now. And he’s half-paralyzed, unable to take care of himself right now, so he definitely can’t eat at for a while," Gong Liang said weakly.
Zheng Da: "...Then let your mom have it. I saved it with great effort. I’ve been squatting outside the State owned Restaurant waiting for you to get off work without daring to go in, afraid that once I sat down, I’d eat the at myself."
Gong Liang smiled, took the lunchbox, and pointed to the cloth bag. "What’s this?"
Zheng Da proudly opened it a little, revealing a corner with money inside.
"My salary for this month. Aside from the 10 yuan I gave my mom and the 5 yuan I kept for myself, I’m lending the rest to you."
"When I get back tonight, I’ll grab my senior’s share too and have him lend it to you as well."
"Your dad’s dicine can’t be interrupted. If you stop it now, he might be paralyzed for life."
Gong Liang looked at Zheng Da, was silent for a long ti, then tremblingly moved his lips and slowly uttered two words: "Thanks."
Zheng Da waved gleefully and turned away so as not to feel too heartbroken.
Gong Liang clutched the lunchbox and money and continued walking ho.
Reviews
All reviews (0)