Lin Zhilan had been about to leave, but seeing these things, she found she couldn't take another step.
She didn't take them immediately. Instead, she looked at Chang San earnestly. "Dr. Chang, I can't accept a reward without doing anything to earn it. Is there something you need my help with?"
Chang San's lips trembled. "My... my daughter, Shen Man. Her leg... it's also a sequela of polio."
Lin Zhilan was slightly taken aback as all the previous events suddenly clicked into place.
Chang San's outburst regarding Liu Feng, and the little girl who had fallen and leaned motionless against the wall that day.
"How old was she when she contracted the disease? And how old is she now?" Lin Zhilan asked.
"Four. She'll turn ten this winter," Chang San answered immediately.
Lin Zhilan didn't decline any further. She reached out and took the notebooks.
"The doors of the military hospital are wide open. There's no rule saying your daughter can't come for treatment."
"Thank you, Dr. Lin. You are truly magnanimous." A different expression finally appeared on Chang San's gloomy face, and his entire demeanor softened a bit.
Lin Zhilan waved her hand, saying nothing more.
Just then, the sound of a door latch being pulled came from behind her.
Auntie Yu walked out of the house. Seeing Lin Zhilan standing outside, she paused in surprise before smiling. "Zhilan, how come you're back so early? How long have you been standing there? Why didn't you call me to open the door?"
"Not long. I saw it was still early and was afraid of waking you all up."
Auntie Yu nodded at Chang San and pulled her toward the house. "You have no idea. Yesterday, Linlin was coaxing her grandpa, almost ready to take a boat to Yangcheng to find you."
The door was closed again by Auntie Yu, and Chang San could no longer see Lin Zhilan.
He let out a breath, slapped the door heavily in excitement, and eagerly turned to the chicken coop to find an egg, wanting to make a special dish for his wife and daughter.
Lin Zhilan went back inside. The two children were not up yet.
Xu Yueyun came out of her room with a coat draped over her shoulders and whispered, "Zhilan, you're back. Why so early?"
"Mom, there happened to be a boat last night, so I just took it back."
Xu Yueyun clicked her tongue. "You definitely didn't sleep well. It's still early. Go sleep with Linlin for a while. I'll wake you when breakfast is ready."
"Okay, thank you, Mom."
Lin Zhilan put down her bag and went into her daughter's room.
Linlin was sleeping soundly but, probably feeling hot, had kicked the blanket down to her feet, her hair scattered across the pillow.
Lin Zhilan stood by the bed, watching her daughter for a moment, and couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.
She pulled the blanket over the child and gently lay down beside her.
Linlin groggily rolled over, felt the hem of Lin Zhilan's shirt, gripped it tightly, and fell back asleep.
She had stood all day teaching yesterday, followed immediately by the boat ride.
Now that she was finally home and lying down, exhaustion washed over her all at once. Holding her daughter, Lin Zhilan fell into a deep sleep.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt a pair of soft little hands touching her face.
She curled her lips into a smile, keeping her eyes closed to pretend she was still asleep.
Soon after, a warm, soft little mouth pressed against her forehead, leaving a gentle kiss right between her brows.
Having finished her kiss, Linlin contentedly pulled her hands back and snuggled back into her mother's embrace.
Lin Zhilan's eyelashes fluttered, and she pulled her daughter into a tight hug.
Linlin let out a surprised gasp and then burst into giggles.
"Mommy's back!"
"That's right," Lin Zhilan said, kissing her face several times in a row. "Who was it that sneaked a kiss on Mommy just now?"
"It was your baby," Linlin said righteously, wrapping her arms around her mother's neck and refusing to let go.
"Time to get up and get dressed. We need to go out for breakfast."
"I don't want to get up. I want Mommy to hold me." Linlin clung to her mother as if terrified of losing her.
Helpless, Lin Zhilan could only dress her like that and carry her out to wash up.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, that one day apart feels like three autumns.
Linlin hadn't been with her mother for two nights; who knew how many autumns had passed for her.
She even insisted on standing between her mother's legs while brushing her teeth.
Lin Zhilan sighed affectionately. "If you stand like that, the bubbles from Mommy's mouth are going to fall on your head."
Linlin took a tiny step away. "Then I'll stand here. Is this okay, Mommy?"
"Fine, fine. You stand there," Lin Zhilan said, both amused and exasperated.
Jiang Chengzhou had also gotten up by this time. Seeing his aunt, he rushed over, braking just before he crashed into her. "Auntie, you're finally back! I missed you to death!"
"Alright, alright, I know. I missed you too. Hurry up and wash so we can eat, okay?"
"Okay!"
Xu Yueyun smiled and shook her head as she watched Jiang Chengzhou and Linlin. These two little rascals had been so listless yesterday, but today, with Zhilan back, it was as if their souls had returned.
Even just eating breakfast, the courtyard was incredibly lively.
In the courtyard opposite, Chang San brought a bowl of steamed egg custard to the table and pushed it in front of Shen Man. "Eat up. After you finish, Dad has good news to tell you."
Listening to the laughter and chatter coming from across the way, Shen Man was momentarily distracted.
She looked at the bowl in front of Chang San.
Inside was a single, lonely multigrain steamed bun.
Shen Man picked up her bowl, wanting to scoop half of her egg custard into Chang San's.
"I won't eat it. I don't like this," Chang San hurriedly blocked it with his hand.
Shen Man looked at him and said expressionlessly, "If you don't eat, I won't eat either."
Chang San sighed. Knowing his daughter's stubborn temper, he could only move his hand away.
"Alright, alright, that's enough."
After eating two bites, Chang San immediately pulled his bowl back. "Eat quickly. Dad has something to tell you when you're done."
"Mhm."
Shen Man lowered her head and quickly finished the food in her bowl.
Chang San said with gratification, "Manman, I've spoken with Dr. Lin. Tomorrow, I'll take you to where Dad works and have her look at your leg."
Shen Man rolled her chopsticks on the table with her hands. "It can't be cured."
"What do you mean it can't be cured?!" Chang San said sternly. "Comrade Liu Feng from across the way—haven't you secretly watched him? Dad has checked his leg, and it's much better than before. Dr. Lin can definitely cure it. She can cure your leg, too."
The sound of the chopsticks rolling on the table stopped. Shen Man lowered her head. "How much will it cost?"
"What?" Chang San paused to process the question, then licked his dry, cracked lips. "Dad has money. I have a formal job now, and I'll get paid every month."
Shen Man thought of how that auntie had jumped down from the wall. After a long while, she gave a gentle nod.
Chang San's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed the sour lump rising in his throat.
"I've prepared the food; it's in the pot. Heat it up yourself at noon and eat with your mother. Be very careful when using the fire, and make sure to clean up around the stove when you're done..."
It was the same routine every day. Chang San would nag and repeat his instructions daily.
Shen Man never found it annoying; she agreed to every single word.
Only after finishing his instructions did Chang San hurry off to work.
Lin Zhilan had a bicycle. Even with the two children, she arrived at the hospital before him.
"Dr. Chang." This time, Lin Zhilan took the initiative to greet him.
After all, she was holding the handwritten notebooks he had given her.
Chang San forced a smile. "Dr. Lin."
Lin Zijun's eyes widened. "Master? You haven't been possessed, have you?"
