Chapter 320

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Zhou Aidi returned home, only to see Liang Yuanchao sitting in the living room in a daze.

His whole person was like a block of wood, and he had aged a great deal.

Ever since learning he had liver cancer, the vitality on Liang Yuanchao had been draining away at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Before the diagnosis was confirmed, he was still full of vigor — going up the mountain to chop firewood, going down to the fields to farm, he could do anything.

Now, walking two steps out the door leaves him panting and breathless.

Cancer's ravaging of the body is not just the cancer cells wreaking havoc; the panic and fear of the mind brought by cancer also play a huge role.

Many people live perfectly well when they don't know they have cancer, but once they learn they have cancer, their bodies collapse at extreme speed, even dying within a single month.

This situation, rather than saying they were killed by cancer, is better said to be that they were scared to death by cancer.

And right now, Liang Yuanchao is going through exactly such a process.

To face the fear of death head-on — easy to say, but how many people can truly do it?

"I'm back."

Zhou Aidi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and returned home.

"Mm, did you say everything I told you to say to Zhang Zhongtian?"

Liang Yuanchao did not look up at Zhou Aidi, still staring blankly like a piece of rotten wood, only his lips moving slightly.

"All said."

Zhou Aidi couldn't help her nose souring, and she wept again, persuading him:

"Why don't we still go to Guangzhou and take a look? Maybe there'll be a chance..."

As Liang Yuanchao's wife of many years sharing the same bed, Zhou Aidi naturally was unwilling to watch helplessly as Liang Yuanchao just died like this.

"Besides, Zhang Zhongtian is willing to take the initiative to pay our medical expenses; we won't have to spend much money, trying it is good too..."

However, Liang Yuanchao's attitude was extremely firm:

"Even if I die, I cannot let Zhang Zhongtian pay my medical expenses. I did so many things that let him down before; now that I'm sick, still letting him pay medical expenses — would I still be a human being?"

Zhou Aidi knew she couldn't persuade Liang Yuanchao on this point, so she changed her approach:

"Why not tell the child about your situation, let him pay your medical expenses?"

Liang Yuanchao waved his hand instead:

"He's having a hard enough time himself; where would he have spare money to treat my illness?"

Liang Yuanchao had only one son, named Liang Xinghua. Unlike the other villagers in Shangou Village who gave birth to several in a lifetime, he, as a former village cadre, had always strictly abided by the country's family planning policy.

Liang Xinghua now works at Foxconn in Shenzhen; Foxconn's wages are higher than other factories, but the work intensity is also great.

Liang Xinghua is already married, but hasn't had children yet; the couple both work in Shenzhen, and except for occasionally returning for a few days during Spring Festival and holidays, they basically never come back at other times.

"Xinghua hasn't had a baby yet; if he has that money, he'd be better off saving it for having a baby. Now isn't like before; having a baby costs a fortune now. I'm just afraid if his money goes to treat my illness, afterward he won't even be able to afford having a baby."

Liang Yuanchao spoke like this.

Zhou Aidi couldn't help getting angry:

"You won't accept Zhang Zhongtian's kindness, you won't let Xinghua come back and pay medical expenses — could it be you just want to wait for death like this!"

Liang Yuanchao pulled a long face and said:

"You think I don't want to live? But it depends on whether the situation allows!"

Zhou Aidi cried even louder.

"If you go, I won't live either."

Liang Yuanchao turned to comfort her instead:

"Don't talk nonsense. Later when Xinghua has a baby, you'll still have to go help him raise the child; you can't die too early!"

The couple were arguing just then.

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the door.

Zhou Aidi looked up and saw it was actually Wang Zhanggen who had come.

"Changgen, how come you're here?"

Zhou Aidi hurriedly wiped her tears dry and went to greet Wang Zhanggen.

"I just came to take a look. Village Secretary, are you feeling any better?"

Wang Zhanggen placed the bag of radishes he'd brought onto the table:

"These are radishes grown at my home; eating a bit every meal is good for the body."

Hearing radishes could treat liver disease, not knowing if it was true or false, Wang Zhanggen had Li Xiulan go pull a few radishes from the vegetable garden, then brought them over as a gift.

"Changgen, thank you, you're too kind."

Zhou Aidi hurriedly thanked him.

Liang Yuanchao, on the other hand, squeezed out a reluctant smile:

"I'm much better; just a minor illness, no big deal."

Seeing Liang Yuanchao's weak state, Wang Zhanggen couldn't help feeling a sorrow of 'rabbit dies, fox grieves'.

Liang Yuanchao got cancer; he, Wang Zhanggen, wasn't it also cancer he got?

Only Liang Yuanchao got liver cancer, while he got thyroid cancer.

"Village Secretary, if you have any difficulties you can speak to me; we're from the same village, whatever I can help with, I'll definitely do my best."

Wang Zhanggen said so.

He was speaking sincerely.

Liang Yuanchao's current condition might be his own condition in the not-too-distant future.

He certainly hoped that if he encountered such a situation in the future, someone would be able to help him.

"What difficulties could there be? I'm doing very well."

Liang Yuanchao declined his kindness.

Then he changed the subject:

"Changgen, back then I took the ten acres of cassava field your wife reclaimed, and I'm truly embarrassed. When you get home, tell Xiulan for me that I did something wrong to her in the past, and I hope she can forgive me."

Wang Zhanggen smiled politely and said:

"Those are old matters long past; we've forgotten them long ago. Why bring this up?"

Liang Yuanchao said:

"I must bring it up. Otherwise I'll go to your house and personally apologize to her, otherwise I won't feel at ease."

Saying this, Liang Yuanchao forced himself to stand up.

Wang Zhanggen hurried over to stop him.

"Village Secretary, please sit and rest. You really don't need to apologize to her; she has long forgiven you."

Liang Yuanchao insisted on his own view:

"I must, I must. Don't stop me. Just let me settle this one wish, alright? If I don't apologize to Xiulan, even walking on the Huangquan Road, I won't feel at ease."

Hearing this, Wang Zhanggen's inner emotions surged, and he no longer stopped him.

"Alright, fine. Then let's go to my house now."

Wang Zhanggen and Zhou Aidi supported Liang Yuanchao as they walked slowly down the country lane.

Moonlight cast a stretch of cold, grayish silver, as if adding a touch of sorrow to this quiet little village.

Li Xiulan saw Wang Zhanggen and Zhou Aidi supporting Liang Yuanchao as they walked in, and couldn't help but show surprise, quickly standing up to welcome him:

"Village Secretary, why have you come?"

Li Xiulan also knew Liang Yuanchao had liver cancer, and she never expected that Liang Yuanchao's body was already so weak that he would actually come here late at night.

"Xiulan, I've come to apologize to you."

Liang Yuanchao stated his purpose.

Li Xiulan immediately showed a puzzled expression:

"Village Secretary, you haven't done anything wrong to me, so why apologize to me?"

Liang Yuanchao said:

"In the past I played a little trick and took back the cassava field you reclaimed. Later, to make you accept the demolition, I also took back your well-run small shop. These things were my fault. If I hadn't taken back your cassava field, hadn't taken back your small shop, perhaps your family would have been living a good life long ago."

These two things could be said to have changed Li Xiulan's fate to a certain extent.

To be honest, Li Xiulan had always had grievances in her heart and had never been able to completely let go.

But now Liang Yuanchao personally came to ask for her forgiveness, so she naturally could not continue to hold onto it.

Since Liang Yuanchao was almost dead, it wouldn't do for her to still quibble over so much.

So Li Xiulan said:

"These are things from long ago. Why talk about them now? Aren't I doing fine now?"