Chapter 17: Big Egg Worries Himself Sick

Su Qinghu opened her eyes, fighting off sleepiness. Her voice was slow and soft: “It’s hot. Remember to shower before you go to bed.”

She stifled a yawn, her eyes welling up with moisture from holding it in, dampening a few lashes at the corners and accentuating their upward curve. There was something about her in that moment that made it hard to look away.

It was hot, even in the hospital. Her ward wasn’t a private room. Not only could she not feel the breeze, but there were also people snoring and grinding their teeth at night.

Just think about it: lights out at ten, wake-up at six. In those eight hours, she’d get woken up three or four times by the noise alone. How could she possibly get good sleep?

One thing after another, her energy drained. There was no air conditioning to offer a bit of cool air to refresh her mind. Her brain felt like a jammed cassette tape—she had to pause and think just to understand what Chen Lie meant when he nodded.

Knowing he’d shower before resting, Su Qinghu let out a sigh of relief. “If you think the cold water is too chilly, just heat some up yourself. We have a stove and firewood at home—do whatever you like.”

Sleepiness hit her hard; she could barely keep her eyes open. “I’m going to bed first.”

She shuffled into the bedroom, threw herself onto the bed, pulled up a thin blanket, and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Chen Lie just stood there, watching her eyes water from holding back a yawn, watching her try so hard to remind him to shower, watching her float into the bedroom. He couldn’t help but smile a little, then shook his head and turned to leave.

“Dad?”

Seeing him come out, Second Egg glanced at the living room, then looked back and called out to Chen Lie, asking cautiously, “Is she mad at us?”

“Eat something when you get back,” Chen Lie said, not looking at them, heading straight for the kitchen.

Big Egg and Second Egg really were his sons—cheering, they grabbed fifty cents from the change box. They’d planned to buy soda, but in the end, feeling bad for their dad, they pooled the money they’d saved from grocery shopping, cooking, and bus fares while Su Qinghu was in the hospital, added it to the fifty cents, and bought some buns and fried dough sticks instead.

The three of them squatted in the kitchen and polished off the food.

“Dad, I kind of like this new mom,” Second Egg said, finishing his fried dough stick. He rested his chin on his hand, his gaze distant. “She doesn’t yell at us…”

Chen Lie raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

It had only been five days…

“Dad, I’m serious! She really doesn’t yell…” Second Egg scratched his head, trying to explain. “Even if she does, it’s not the kind that makes you sad or angry, not the kind that makes you want to cry!”

“It’s like… when she scolds you, it actually makes you happy.” Second Egg, forgetting his hands were greasy, grabbed Chen Lie’s strong arm. “And she doesn’t accuse people for no reason, and she doesn’t talk in that weird, sarcastic way!”

Chen Lie ruffled his hair. “Anything else?”

“Hehe,” Second Egg grinned. “She takes us out to buy good food!”

The beef and lamb from the deli were so delicious!

Chen Lie smiled after hearing this, then placed his big hand on Big Egg’s head, pulling him closer. “Anything you want to say?”

Big Egg looked at Chen Lie, blinking. “About her?”

He was asking for Big Egg’s thoughts on Su Qinghu.

Chen Lie nodded slightly. “Mm.”

“I don’t know,” Big Egg frowned, looking like a little grown-up. “She’s pretty, a college student, but she doesn’t listen to the doctor. The doctor likes her, and so do the people in her ward.”

Seeing Chen Lie listening, he continued, “When Second Egg and I brought her food, we heard people in the ward ask if her husband had passed away, and if she’d thought about finding someone new…”

“Dad,” Big Egg said, full of worry, “she’s so pretty, and you’re not home much. What if she ends up like that other woman and leaves the country the first chance she gets?”

The new mom was younger and prettier than that woman, even prettier than the movie stars they’d seen on posters near the cinema. If she really wanted to go abroad, it’d be even easier for her than it was for that woman.

Could Dad keep her? Could he keep her forever?

In Big Egg’s heart, Chen Lie was the best man in the world—no one was good enough for his dad.

But from what he’d seen, women always wanted to have their own children. If it was the man’s problem and he couldn’t have kids, would a woman really be willing to stay with him for life?

Second Egg already liked the new mom, and Big Egg didn’t dislike her either. If Dad fell for her, and she divorced him later, wouldn’t that be heartbreaking?

“Why do you think that?” Chen Lie gently patted his shoulder, comforting him. His voice was low and steady, but it made you feel at ease. “Everyone’s different. Don’t assume the worst about things that haven’t even happened.”

“Dad!” Big Egg was anxious. “In the ward, we already called her Mom, and people were trying to set her up with someone!”

He remembered an old neighbor telling a widow that it was fine to remarry—even if she had a son. If it was a daughter, she could find a new husband in less than a month!

He and Second Egg were both boys, and people still wanted to set up their new mom!

Chen Lie stayed calm. Seeing the kids so anxious they were about to stomp their feet, he finally chuckled. “Have a little faith in your dad!”

He stood up, found two bundles of mugwort, lit them, and handed them to the boys, telling them to carefully fumigate the yard. Then he went to the water tank he’d filled before leaving, scooped a few ladles into a basin.

Watching the water ripple in the basin, Chen Lie smiled.

Big Egg, still worried, saw his dad smile and felt even more anxious.

Second Egg ran around the yard, laughing, trailing a line of white smoke from the burning mugwort.

Chen Lie brought out the water and lowered his voice, “Quiet now.”

Second Egg immediately fell silent, then continued fumigating the yard, his movements gentler.

He came near Chen Lie and whispered, “Is she asleep?”

Chen Lie nodded.

Second Egg kept fumigating.

Chen Lie went into an empty room with the water, about to undo his belt when he remembered he hadn’t brought clean clothes. He paused, quietly fetched his change of clothes, then undressed and started to wash up.

His first marriage…

He let out a cold laugh and dumped the rest of the cold water over his head.

His short, bristly hair still stood up. He set down the basin, braced his hands on its rim, head hanging, Adam’s apple bobbing.

He only stayed like that for a few seconds. When he looked up again, his face was expressionless.

“Dad, want me to scrub your back?” Second Egg, done fumigating, squatted at the door of the room where Chen Lie was bathing. Hearing the water stop, he quickly asked.

Big Egg, hearing the sounds inside, raised his voice a bit, “Dad, do you want me to fetch you another basin of water?”

Chen Lie quickly dried off, changed, and came out. “No need.”

Once the boys were in bed, Chen Lie checked the whole yard, making sure there were no snakes or bugs hiding anywhere. Only then did he go into the bedroom and get into bed."