Chapter 4: Coma

"My mother is here, it hurts me to death," I shouted loudly.

My lips were bleeding from being bitten,

Finally I managed to pull that thigh that was crushed in the car out.

I don't know what scraped my leg,

It cut a piece of flesh from my thigh with a hard, raw cut.

Fresh blood gushed out from my leg.

I propped my body on the ground with my elbows, then shifted myself inch by inch,

trying to get closer to Zhou Wei, who was lying not far away on the ground,

to see how badly she was wounded,

I could clearly see Zhou Wei's face turning pale,

her body showing no response.

I strained to move my body, inching closer,

I called out loudly, "Zhou Wei, Zhou Wei."

But Zhou Wei gave no response,

Zhou Wei, my beloved woman, what's wrong with you.

My heart feels like it's being torn by a knife,

"Zhou Wei, Zhou Wei, can you hear me? Wake up," I gripped the ground with both hands, dragging my injured leg, using every ounce of strength to move,

toward my beloved woman's side.

"Even in death we must die together. Hear me, Zhou Wei."

The distance between me and Zhou Wei grew ever smaller.

My whole life, the first half has been so painful; if I die today and can die together with the woman I love most, that would be enough for me.

Blood pours from my leg like a river; I can't pay attention to any of that,

Suddenly, I heard a voice,

"Chairman, Chairman."

I turned my head hurriedly,

It was Wu Ping, who stuck out a blood‑stained head from the car and shouted at me.

I shouted at Wu Ping, "Wu Ping, you have to hold on. Wu Ping, don't fall asleep. The ambulance is coming right away."

Wu Ping seemed to hear, yet seemed not to hear.

I could no longer worry about Wu Ping; I could only crawl toward Zhou Wei—just a few dozen meters—but it felt endless, just like my life.

When I was eight, I left my mother, forever losing her love; as I was about to go, I wished I could grab her hand. Yet I was coldly given in adoption to my aunt's husband.

In my youthful years, I chewed on the most bitter moments of life,

the most helpless moments,

My single dad reached out his hand; the old man led me out of the predicament.

At that moment, I longed to extend my hand to grasp Zhou Wei's, to lead her out and awaken her.

I could clearly see blood oozing from the back of Zhou Wei's head,

My expression began to blur, probably due to excessive blood loss.

I gasped heavily, my whole strength exhausted, I could no longer crawl,

I could only lie on my back and stare at the blue sky; May's weather was wonderful, the sun brilliant, the sky cloudless.

I saw my mother,

she floated in the sky like a leaf,

her expression melancholy as she looked at me, saying nothing,

I said, "Mother, I want to go with Zhou Wei and you."

My mother shook her head, sighed again, and drifted away like a leaf.

My single dad also came, with his trademark smile, stroking his beard,

"Newborn, my son, Newborn, my son, do you remember that year you were gravely ill, how you persevered? Life is hard for this generation, you must hold on."

"Dad, Dad, I want to go with you," I opened my mouth but could not produce any sound,

In my mind, the image of my uncle's angry face resurfaced,

"Newborn, you little dog‑damned thing, where have you gone?"

Also Da Leizi roared from behind, "Yan Sheng, you damn dog..."

The deceased relatives flashed before me one by one, each looking as they did in life.

Am I about to die? I heard that people, before death, see the faces of their departed loved ones.

It seems so; I'm truly dying, my eyes no longer able to open,

I heard chaotic footsteps,

and the sounds of police cars and ambulances,

I slowly fell asleep.

This sleep was truly long and sweet.

I never dreamed of them again.

Three days later, I woke up.

There was a breathing tube in my nose, a feeding tube in my mouth, and an IV drip in my arm.

I struggled to open my eyes.

My surroundings were filled with people,

Xiao Hua, Shi Yong, Li Ming, Qiao Jie, my sister, and Xiao Guo and others.

Qian Niang was then sitting at the head of my bed,

She reached out and placed my hand in her embrace,

"Er Hai, my child, you're awake; you could have scared mother to death."

My hand slowly received Qian Niang's warmth,

My gaze turned to Qian Niang,

As long as I see Qian Niang, my heart will not be cold.

It will pulse with strength.

I wanted to call Qian Niang, but a tube was in my mouth, preventing me from speaking.

Qian Niang gently stroked my head,

I was like a baby, lying in my mother's arms, listening to her sing a lullaby.

Slowly, sweetly I fell asleep.

I fell asleep again.

The people who came to see me were escorted out of the intensive care unit one by one by the Nurse.

When Qian Niang's hand left me, I suddenly felt cold.

Thus, in a daze I slept for five days, and only then did I leave the critical period.

After spending another week in the intensive care unit, I was transferred to a general ward.

When Qiao Jie came in to see me,

I could already speak,

Qiao Jie looked at me, wiping her tears,

"Er Hai, what do you want to eat now? I'll make it for you."

Qiao Jie is my ex-wife; she is a housewife, and in her view, eating is the most important thing, and the only way to show concern for someone is through food.

I shook my head,

At that moment a sentence rose from my throat,

"Zhou Wei?"

Qiao Jie cried, "Zhou Wei hasn't regained consciousness yet; he has already been transferred to the capital city."

"Wu Ping?" I asked next.

Qiao Jie whispered, "He's dead."

"Dead?" I hurriedly asked Qiao Jie for confirmation.

Qiao Jie nodded,

"He died as soon as the ambulance arrived; his mother is now on the verge of crying herself to death. Sigh, he was three years older than Da Jun and was preparing to marry this year; what a pity."

Hearing Qiao Jie's words made my heart feel even worse.

Originally, having Wu Xiezi's son drive was meant as a repayment to him, but ending up in this situation was something I never expected.

What a matter this is; I've greatly wronged Wu Xiezi.

I feel it would have been better if I had died.

When I reached the heavens, I saw Wu Xiezi, and it was all right.

His son is dead; how can Wu Xiezi's wife survive?

I just can't understand how, on such a clear day with few cars on the highway, such a tragic rollover accident occurred.

The armored vehicle we were in crashed like this; if it had been an ordinary car, everyone would probably have died.

Unfortunately Wu Ping is dead; I have no way of knowing how the accident happened.

I remained silent,

Qiao Jie then said,

"Er Hai, you don't have any worries. I heard from the doctor that your condition isn't serious; you just need a few more days of recovery before you can be discharged. Sigh, everyone has their own fate, and no one expected you all to be in a traffic accident. When you're better, I want to bring you home and take good care of you…"

I don't want Qiao Jie to speak any more, nor do I want to hear her chatter beside me.

My heart still constantly worries about Zhou Wei's safety.

"Let Li Ming come in," I said to Qiao Jie.

Qiao Jie had no choice but to stand up,

She called out to the doorway, "Li Ming, your brother told you to come in."

Li Ming pushed the door open and entered,

After Li Ming entered, Qiao Jie still didn't leave,

I signaled to Li Ming with my eyes,

Li Ming understood what I meant and waved his hand toward Qiao Jie.

Only then did Qiao Jie leave.

Li Ming sat in front of me,

Holding an apple in his hand, he slowly peeled it.

I suddenly saw Li Ming's eyes all red,

and asked, "Li Ming, why are your eyes like that? Where is mother, the old lady?"

Li Ming said, "Brother, since your accident, I haven't slept well these days. Mother returned to Zaocheng; she's almost seventy, eats poorly and sleeps badly in the Provincial Capital, staying at the hospital every day. I asked He Qing to accompany her back."

Hearing Li Ming say that, my heart was eased.

Qian Niang dotes on me too much; if I had an accident, how many people would worry about me.