The mountain was heavy with damp mist, and the air carried a musty smell.
“Big Brother, I’ll bring you a blanket.”
“No need.” Jiang Chengzhou drained the malted milk his younger sister had made for him. “We’ll be able to go down in a couple of days. Besides, there are so many people here. It wouldn’t be right for me to get special treatment.”
Su Li came back after taking a look around outside. “Why aren’t any of them wearing shoes?”
Jiang Chengzhou looked at him. “Who are you asking about?”
“Big Brother!” Su Li immediately corrected himself. He knew when to be sensible.
“We’re all wearing rain boots. In weather this hot, with sweat trapped inside them, the skin on our feet would get soaked and rot…”
Linlin frowned as she looked at her brother’s feet.
Jiang Chengzhou’s shoes concealed the condition of his feet.
He stood up and pinched her cheek. “You’re too young to be frowning like that. These are special circumstances. There’s nothing we can do.”
Linlin pouted and went to pick up the clothes he had changed out of, intending to wash them for him.
There was no way Jiang Chengzhou would let his little sister wash his clothes. He hurriedly snatched them from her hands. “It’s not safe here. Take Su Li home first.”
When Linlin stood there without moving, Jiang Chengzhou softened his tone. “Be good. I’ll come home when I’m finished.”
“Su Li.” Unable to persuade his sister, Jiang Chengzhou turned to give his younger brother an order. “Take your sister home.”
Su Li tilted his head and glanced at Linlin. “I have to listen to my sister too.”
“Let’s go. I’m not talking to you anymore!”
Linlin bit her lip and stormed off.
“You’re in trouble now.” Su Li made a face at Jiang Chengzhou before hurrying after his sister.
Linlin was their parents’ precious darling. Her brother would pay for upsetting her.
But Su Li was disappointed.
Linlin was only sulky for a little while. By that afternoon, she could no longer sit still.
She dug out the family medicine kit, took a large jar of anti-inflammatory and tissue-healing ointment, then found two pairs of clean cotton socks in their father’s wardrobe. With Su Li in tow, she went back up the mountain.
This time, she did not give Jiang Chengzhou any chance to stop her. She delivered the supplies and immediately went back down.
Su Li chased after her. “Sis, didn’t you say you weren’t going to talk to him anymore?”
Linlin did not even turn her head. “Who said that? He’s my brother!”
Su Li puffed out his cheeks. Women were impossible to understand, he thought, though his feet obediently carried him after her.
That night, Lin Zhilan stayed at the hospital and did not return home. The siblings took care of themselves, and everything went peacefully enough.
Everyone on the island worked day and night for three full days. At last, the emergency situation was brought under control.
The seawater had receded. They had begun clearing the collapsed houses, while the roads that had been cut off would take some time to reopen, section by section.
Su Lang finally found a moment to return home.
When he opened the door, Linlin was in the living room doing her homework with Su Li.
The moment she saw her father, Linlin rushed over. “Dad, Big Brother is back.”
“Chengzhou?” Su Lang asked, surprised. He glanced around the house. “Where is he?”
“He’s still up in the mountains helping with the rescue work…” Linlin looked worried. “Dad, when will everything be over?”
Her parents were so busy that they could not come home all day, and even her brother was right at their doorstep yet unable to come back for a visit.
Linlin secretly cursed that damned typhoon several times in her heart.
“Soon.” Su Lang comforted his daughter. “Is your mother busy too? What have you two been eating?”
“We’ve been eating at the canteen. Mom hasn’t come home either.”
Su Lang smiled. “All right, no frowning. Once this period is over, everything will be fine again. Dad’s going to take a shower. I still have to hurry back later.”
Su Lang came and went in a rush.
Once again, only the two siblings were left at home.
It was not until a week later, when temporary power lines had been installed on the island and supply ships and other rescue teams had gradually arrived, that order on the island slowly began to return to normal.
Lin Zhilan had worked nearly ten days straight at the hospital. At last, she was able to go home and get a proper night’s sleep.
She arrived in the afternoon. Linlin and Su Li had gone to the canteen to get food, so there was no one at home.
Without even changing her clothes, she collapsed onto the sofa. The moment she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep.
Jiang Chengzhou returned just then.
His assignment was over, and he had two days of leave.
The gate to the courtyard was unlocked. He pushed it open and immediately saw his aunt by marriage lying on the sofa, one hand hanging over the edge. She was sleeping soundly.
Perhaps because she had not been eating or sleeping well during this period, Lin Zhilan had lost a great deal of weight. There were dark circles beneath her eyes, and she looked haggard.
Jiang Chengzhou watched her for a long while. Then he pulled over a low stool, sat down beside the sofa, picked up a palm-leaf fan, and began fanning her slowly.
No one knew how much time had passed when Linlin and Su Li returned with their lunch boxes.
The sight before them made both of them stop in surprise.
Jiang Chengzhou raised one finger to his lips and gave them a soft “Shh.”
Linlin tiptoed over, placed the lunch boxes on the table, and whispered, “There isn’t enough food. I’ll go back to the canteen and get some more.”
“No need.” Jiang Chengzhou stood up and set down the fan. “I’ll make something with whatever’s in the kitchen.”
The supply ship had only just arrived, so the food had to go first to the injured and the ordinary people.
There were only a few potatoes and some eggs left at home.
Jiang Chengzhou cooked a pot of porridge, stir-fried some potatoes with vinegar and chili, and fried several eggs sunny-side up. A simple meal was ready in no time.
When he finished, he turned around and saw Su Lang.
“Uncle…”
Su Lang rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I thought I was dreaming.”
The corners of Jiang Chengzhou’s mouth lifted. “You missed me that much?”
“Yes.”
Su Lang admitted it frankly, leaving Jiang Chengzhou unexpectedly embarrassed.
“Ahem. Let’s eat first. Has Auntie woken up?”
“Not yet. She’s exhausted too. Let her sleep a little longer.”
Su Lang washed his hands and prepared to carry Lin Zhilan to the bedroom.
Jiang Chengzhou followed behind him. “Can you manage? Don’t drop my aunt.”
Su Lang glared at him. “Go set the table.”
Lin Zhilan slept all the way until the next morning.
When she woke, Su Lang was sleeping beside her.
The man had an exceptionally sharp sense of vigilance, but this time he was sleeping deeply. Lin Zhilan got out of bed without waking him.
Outside, the sun was shining brightly. Jiang Chengzhou was teaching Su Li how to do his homework, while Linlin watched and laughed.
“Now that you’re home, get some proper rest. Don’t keep doing all the filthy, exhausting work.”
All three of them turned at once.
Lin Zhilan stood in the doorway, smiling brightly. She looked as though she were blooming.
“Auntie.”
Jiang Chengzhou stood up.
Lin Zhilan walked over and opened her arms.
With a smile, Jiang Chengzhou leaned forward and gave his aunt a hug.
“How have you been lately? Are you tired?”
They spoke at the exact same time, then both burst out laughing.
Jiang Chengzhou’s work was highly specialized, so Lin Zhilan did not ask many questions. Instead, she chattered on about everything that had happened in the family over the years.
Jiang Chengzhou brought her breakfast and listened with extraordinary patience.
Then Lin Zhilan suddenly stopped. She looked up at her eldest nephew, her eyes widening slightly.
“Am I being too talkative? Am I getting old?”
Jiang Chengzhou could not help laughing. “Of course not. Auntie, you’re still young—the most beautiful woman in the world!”
Lin Zhilan gave a soft snort and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “At least you have good taste.”
