NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4 - I
Xie Qi had a good childhood, but after his parents’ divorce, he and Jiang Sining had to fend for themselves, placing the burden of life on Jiang Sining.
Jiang Sining went to work. Although she was not busy and was quite free, everyone worked overtime, and she was too embarrassed to leave early, so she got off work quite late.
Xie Qi also learned a lot during that time. He learned how to cook and wash clothes. From the beginning, when he was unskilled and the food was half-cooked, and the clothes were not properly washed, he was now able to do things neatly and effectively.
Having accepted the impermanence of life, he had no problem scrubbing the body of the patient on the bed.
After cleaning himself, he took advantage of the opportunity and asked the nurse: “Is he in a vegetative state?”
The nurse put away the phone and said, “Yes, he is in a vegetative state. He has been lying there for a long time.”
He walked over, folded the quilt, and put it on the side, saying, “I will teach you how to massage. Please come closer.”
Xie Qi picked up the phone and looked at the time. He was a little worried Jiang Sining was hungry, so he said to the nurse: “Can you wait a moment? I will deliver the food first.”
The nurse said impatiently, “It’ll be late. It won’t take me long to teach you massage. It’ll be quick!”
Xie Qi thought, ‘Okay, boss, I will do as you said.’
The nurse demonstrated to Xie Qi, “Press like this, use stronger hands. Here, this is blood-activating essential oil. You must apply it every time you massage. Don’t forget it.” Xie Qi watched carefully, tracing every step in his mind.
In less than ten minutes, the nurse finished the demonstration for him and said, “Come and try it.”
Xie Qi agreed and took the essential oil, pouring it into his hand. He accidentally poured too much. The nurse became anxious and said, “Be careful. A bottle cost 6,000!”
Xie Qi: “?”
A bottle of essential oil costs 6,000?
Xie Qi was shocked and stopped moving but started again under the anxious urging of the nurse.
He followed the demonstration taught by the nurse. The nurse was a little surprised and said, “You learn really fast. You’re a good student and can learn it as soon as I teach.”
After saying that, the nurse quickly took out his mobile phone and said, “I’ll scan first salary for you. Starting from tomorrow, come to work at least twice a day. You don’t have to worry about the toilet stuff; the other nurse will take care of it. You just need to give him a massage, that’s all. Do you have any objections?”
Xie Qi blinked, rolled his eyes, and said, “No objection.”
He presented his mobile phone, displaying the payment code to the caregiver, and soon received 6,000 yuan.
For easier communication, they exchanged WeChat accounts.
The nurse patted him on the shoulder, instructing, “I’ll guide you. If the patient’s family encounters you, just say you are my brother. I’m Wu Zhuang. You’re my younger brother, got it?”
Xie Qi was genuinely curious about Wu Zhuang’s salary, having paid 6,000 for outsourcing; he must receive more, right?
However, Xie Qi understood salary was private thing. He wouldn’t ask, respecting the other party’s privacy.
The nurse left promptly after the arrangements. Before departing, he requested Xie Qi to cover the patient on the bed with a quilt.
Xie Qi went to the bathroom to wash his hands, then covered the vegetative person on the bed with a quilt.
Afterward, he picked up the foods and left.
.
Not finding Jiang Sining outside Teacher Hou’s ward, Xie Qi returned to find her in the ward, talking on the phone with her back to the door.
Xie Qi’s door-pushing motion became softer. Approaching slowly, Jiang Sining’s voice became clearer, “…If it weren’t for my surgery fees, I wouldn’t have asked you for this. Didn’t I buy you a car when I was wealthy? Although it’s not top-notch, it still costs over 200,000 yuan. I’m not asking for that. I just need to borrow 120,000. Can you repay some? I never asked you for money after the divorce. Now I have no choice but to ask. I bought all the houses in the county, even put them in Dad’s name. I don’t count these things.”
“I know it’s expensive for your kids’ education, but last month, I saw in your friend’s circle. You bought a small house in the city. I didn’t count your money; what are you talking about? You borrowed money from me, not the other way around. If you continue like this, our relationship as siblings won’t survive,” Jiang Sining said angrily, tears streaming down his face.
She hung up the phone, murmuring tearfully, “It’s so harsh. You don’t even have a family when you have no money.”
Xie Qi heard clearly, unsure of what to say. Seeing Jiang Sining still on the phone, he suggested, “Mom, let’s eat first.”
Startled, Jiang Sining quickly wiped her tears, saying, “Why are you moving so silently? You scared me to death.”
Xie Qi looked at her and advised, “If you keep crying, it’ll be difficult for the wound to heal.”
Jiang Sining remained silent. Xie Qi observed the gauze on her cheek and forehead, offering, “I’ll buy you some more gauze. Try not to leave any scars on your face.”
He unpacked the food, filled half of the rice into the lunch box, and handed it to Jiang Sining. “Eat quickly; you have surgery in the afternoon.”
Jiang Sining ate silently.
Xie Qi asked her, “Who were you calling just now?”
Jiang Sining glanced at him and replied, “You heard it and still asked.”
Xie Qi inquired, “Is it my uncle?”
Jiang Sining said softly, “Hmm.” She added inexplicably, “We are obviously a family, why is this happening? I used to be good to them.”
Xie Qi advised, “You’d better eat first. Think about this kind of problem after you finish eating. Don’t let it affect your appetite.”
Jiang Sining closed her mouth and ate quietly.
Though Xie Qi had no appetite, he still had lunch with Jiang Sining.
After eating, Xie Qi quickly washed the thermos bucket and lunch box, put them in the bag, and asked her, “I will accompany you to complete the operation in the afternoon.”
Jiang Sining, in a low mood, replied, “Yeah. In the third year of high school, it’s review time anyway. It’s okay to ask for a few more days.”
However, Teacher Hou’s medical expenses had not been collected yet.
“Give me a few more days, and the problem will not be solved after all,” Jiang Sining expressed.
In fact, Xie Qi was still a bit selfish. He didn’t really want to get married for Teacher Hou’s medical expenses. So, this was where the suffering began.
He liked Teacher Hou and thought he was a good person, but he was not willing to drop out of school and get married for him. This was where he was rational.
But his emotional thinking was also swaying him, making him waver. After all, as long as he married according to his father’s arrangement, he could save a life. What he lost was the future, but what Teacher Hou gained was a new life!
It was too difficult for him as a high school student to make such a challenging decision.
‘Hey, let him think about it again.’
At Xie Qi’s age, there weren’t many things he could do.
.
Jiang Sining underwent surgery in the afternoon, and Xie Qi waited outside, engrossed in his phone for over an hour.
When Jiang Sining emerged, both of her legs were in plaster.
After Jiang Sining’s operation, Xie Qi didn’t leave. He waited for her to wake up and asked, “Do you want to go to the toilet?”
Xie Qi, though a bit embarrassed, remained composed.
Jiang Sining, still in a daze, eventually replied, “Yes.”
Xie Qi produced the bedpan.
Jiang Sining felt awkward seeing it.
There was nothing to be done; falling ill was quite troublesome.