Chapter 109: Save Mother

Chun Ni accepted the cookies, uttered a sweet thank-you, and dashed ahead to lead the way. An An trailed behind her, peppering her with endless questions that she answered with endless patience. Shen Qingyi walked at the rear, observing the two children: one racing forward, turning occasionally to flash a radiant smile in reply, the other clinging close, so exhilarated she panted heavily while shouting “slow down” and firing off question after question. The sky was vast and cloudless, the heavens high and crystalline; wild flowers and grasses danced gently in the breeze all around. Shen Qingyi gazed at the scene and felt as though every care and struggle had dissolved. Yet this joyful, healing vision vanished the moment they reached Chun Ni’s home. A gaunt middle-aged woman stood in the doorway, her slight belly protruding beneath garments faded beyond recognition by countless washes. Her hair hung in disarray, her skin the same dusky hue as Chun Ni’s, her eyes the same. She cradled a tiny baby. The child was frail and small, wailing piteously. The woman cooed softly at the infant twice, then her gaze settled on Shen Qingyi and the others. Chun Ni called out loudly, “Mama, I’ve brought you a pretty little brother!” She pointed at Shen Qingyi again. “Pretty Auntie is here too.” Feng Eryu beheld the elegant woman before her—radiant, spotless, like a magazine star—and felt a flush of embarrassment rise. She cooed at the baby once more and smiled, “Come in, have some tea.” She transferred the infant to Chun Ni, who accepted her sister with practiced ease and cooed, “Oh, Erya, don’t cry. When Mama gives birth to your brother, Daddy will buy you formula.” Shen Qingyi heard the words and felt a faint unease. As they entered the house she asked, “Big sister, shall we check whether the little one is hungry?” Feng Eryu answered with awkward embarrassment, “She’s only had rice soup; she’s not hungry. Yesterday Chun Ni accepted such generous gifts from you; I have nothing to return.” She turned into the next room, returned with a neatly finished pair of shoe pads, and offered them to Shen Qingyi. “I made these in my spare time. Size thirty-seven—do they fit?” Shen Qingyi hesitated, about to refuse, then noticed the exquisite stitches, the flawless tension, the familiar rhythm of the yarn. She accepted the pads and praised, “Big sister, your needlework is truly wonderful. I’ll take them. Thank you.” Feng Eryu laughed. “It’s nothing special. Every wife in our village knows how to knit. In town they sell for fifty to eighty cents. Just don’t mind it.” The hairpin in her daughter’s hand was worth several yuan. The little girl’s cries continued unabated. Feng Eryu finally took Erya back into her arms and rocked her gently. Chun Ni fished a packet of cookies from her pocket. “Little sister, don’t cry. Aunt has cookies. Sister will open them for you to eat, okay?” She began to tear the bag. Feng Eryu glanced at the cookies in her daughter’s hand, then at Shen Qingyi. “This… this really isn’t right.” “An An wanted Chun Ni to show him the machinery. It’s her reward. Nothing embarrassing about it.” Feng Eryu smiled. “Then hurry along. The children are all curious. They’ve never seen anything like this in the village, and now a crowd has gathered.” Shen Qingyi saw the baby’s face turn purple with strain and grew concerned. “Should we take her to a doctor? I don’t think she’s hungry.” Chun Ni tore the bag open, broke a small cookie, and placed a fragment on her fingertip to feed the baby. Shen Qingyi stopped her. “You eat it. The baby is too young for hard things.” Chun Ni had not even washed her hands. She withdrew her hand, crushed the cookie, and ate it herself. Her eyes brightened. “It’s delicious—crispy and fragrant.” She broke off a piece and offered it to An An. Shen Qingyi opened her mouth to protest, but An An snatched the cookie and stuffed it inside. “It’s really good!” He had never noticed before. Chun Ni broke another piece and offered it to Feng Eryu. The woman refused. “Mama doesn’t eat sweets. You eat it.” Chun Ni ignored her mother, tucked the cookies away, and carried them into the next room. Feng Eryu coaxed the little girl into saying to Chun Ni, “Take the aunt and brother to see the machinery.” Shen Qingyi looked at the baby in Feng Eryu’s arms and recalled An An as a child, unable to bear it. “Take her to the clinic. I think something must be wrong.” Feng Eryu said nothing. The baby’s cries grew hoarse and her face purple. Shen Qingyi frowned and surveyed the room again. It was a courtyard house, yet not a single piece of decent furniture remained. She took ten yuan from her bag. “Big sister, let me order fifteen pairs of shoe pads. I’ll pay the labor fee now.” Feng Eryu accepted the money, lips trembling. “I’ll make eighteen pairs. What sizes?” “Thirty-five to thirty-seven. You choose.” “Thank you! What is your surname?” “Shen Qingyi. Call me Xiao Shen.” Being addressed with a respectful “you” made Shen Qingyi feel strangely self-conscious. Feng Eryu thanked her warmly. “Thank you, Comrade Shen. Let Chun Ni take you to see the machinery. I’ll take Erya to the health center right away.” They stepped outside together. Feng Eryu locked the door, gave Chun Ni a few final instructions, and headed toward the clinic. Chun Ni led An An and Shen Qingyi toward the construction site. Before they reached it, they saw a ring of boys already gathered. Lu Yan had finished the last of his work. Tomorrow’s meteor shower filled him with anticipation. He would give his wife a surprise. He had lamp wires, switches, cables, and batteries, but no glass bottle. He rose and left the room to ask at the supply and marketing cooperative. Just inside the doorway he spotted the orange-juice-can glass bottle his wife used to hold wild flowers and grasses. He picked it up at once. In the room he began his project. He had implanted a patent invention from his university days; after filing the patent he had set it aside, for it had no practical value. Yet now it would be perfect. One and a half hours later he completed it. He closed the door, drew every window curtain, and tested the effect, repeatedly adjusting any flaw until the light was flawless. Only then did he lower his hands in satisfaction. He packed the finished pieces into a cabinet, reopened the door, checked his watch, and set out to find Shen Qingyi and An An. Just as he reached the entrance he saw An An racing toward him, led at a brisk trot by a construction worker. An An panted to Lu Yan, “Daddy! Quick, quick—go save Mama! She’s trapped in the collapsed pipe at the construction site!” Lu Yan’s heart lurched. He glanced at the worker’s number, then said calmly, “I’m Lu Yan. Please take my son to the 02 laboratory and ask for Comrade Su Yang.” He turned and ran toward the nearest halted work site, already ringed by onlookers. Four construction sites were active in the area, but one had stopped and drawn a crowd.