Toon Chapter 19

The morning cooking smoke drifted up, and Zhou Lingchun carried a large bundle of firewood from outside, dropping it onto the ground.

Lian Sheng had just woken up. He was still wearing long-sleeved pajamas underneath, covered by a thick, gray jacket. Yawning, he walked out of the room to the man’s side and said, “Why is there frost all over this firewood?”

“It’s getting cold,” Zhou Lingchun said. He untied the rope around the firewood. Afraid that Lian Sheng wouldn’t be able to manage it alone at home, he stacked the wood piece by piece against the wall, making sure the height was just right for Lian Sheng to reach.

Noticing that Lian Sheng was still wearing the same pajamas from early autumn, he wiped his hands on his clothes and tightened the buttons on Lian Sheng’s thick outer jacket. “Go brush your teeth quickly.”

Lian Sheng turned to grab the toothbrush cup sitting on the windowsill. After squeezing toothpaste onto the brush, he naturally dipped the cup into the water bucket by the well, scooped up half a cup, and took a mouthful. After barely half a second, Lian Sheng cried out, “Ouch!” and quickly spat the water onto the ground.

“Ptooey! Ptooey!” Lian Sheng made noises that would make an outsider think someone had poisoned the water.

Zhou Lingchun hurried over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lian Sheng grimaced, showing his teeth. “This water is too cold! My teeth are freezing off!”

Zhou Lingchun said, “Who told you to scoop from there? That water was drawn in the middle of last night.” As he spoke, he dumped the water from the bucket. He pressed his arm on the pump handle, moving it up and down. Soon, water flowed out of the pipe on the other end and into the bucket. Lian Sheng casually flicked his cup, sending the water inside arcing through the air and splashing to the side. He bent down like a thief to hold the cup under the spout until it was full. A mischievous grin, like someone who had just stolen money, spread across his face. He took another mouthful, and this time the water was indeed not cold. He righteously handed the toothbrush to Zhou Lingchun.

Zhou Lingchun took the toothbrush. He wasn’t sure how Lian Sheng had squeezed the toothpaste; the paste was almost tipping over onto the back of the brush. He used his finger to steady the paste, then began brushing Lian Sheng’s exposed white teeth.

A large amount of foam built up on the neat teeth, clinging to the corners of his mouth. Then, Lian Sheng opened his mouth wider, mumbling something indistinctly. Zhou Lingchun understood and moved the brush to scrub his molars.

The man saw clearly: neat pearly whites, and a faint glimpse of a red tongue beneath the white foam. He deliberately avoided looking, finished brushing, and told Lian Sheng to rinse his mouth. He turned and went into the kitchen, bringing out a thermos of hot water. He cleaned Lian Sheng’s washbasin and poured the hot water in, adding some cold water to mix it to the perfect temperature.

A warm, damp towel was placed over Lian Sheng’s face. Lian Sheng was like an orange cat washing its face with its paws in the morning, meticulously wiping the towel all over his face until his skin was clean and bright.

Zhou Lingchun took the towel and washed his own face in the water Lian Sheng had used.

Lian Sheng stood nearby and asked, “What time are we going to the hospital to see Grandma today?”

Four or five days ago, Grandma had suddenly fainted at home. Fortunately, Lian Sheng discovered her in time and urgently called Zhou Lingchun, who was working in the fields, to come back. The two of them rushed Grandma to the town hospital.

Luckily, it wasn’t anything serious, and she woke up quickly. The doctor said Grandma’s condition was unstable and suggested she stay for a few days for observation. Both men agreed. But Grandma refused, insisting she wouldn’t stay, saying she was fine and that hospitalization was a waste of money.

Unable to argue with the two of them, Grandma stayed for two or three days of observation. However, the little old woman adamantly insisted she didn’t need anyone to look after her. Since she could eat, drink, walk, and jump, Zhou Lingchun went to the hospital during the day to care for her and returned home when it got dark in the evening.

Lian Sheng also insisted on going along. After several round trips, he had lost two pounds.

Thinking that Grandma was stable and might be coming home the day after tomorrow, Zhou Lingchun said, “You don’t need to go. I can go by myself.”

Lian Sheng said, “No way! What kind of person do you take me for?”

Lian Sheng truly regarded Grandma as family. Zhou Lingchun still remembered how Lian Sheng had frantically run to find him that day, falling down but immediately scrambling back up to pull him along. After Grandma was taken to the hospital, Lian Sheng suddenly burst into tears, sobbing, “I don’t want Grandma to die!”

The doctor heard him and said, “Why are you crying? Who said she died!”

Lian Sheng immediately stopped crying, staring at the doctor with tear-filled, wide eyes.

Before Zhou Lingchun could answer, Lian Sheng quickly turned and walked into the house. He swiftly took off his pajamas and put on a thick sweater. The sweater was soft and fuzzy, bought previously and already washed once. As soon as he put it on, he felt a little uncomfortable, but fearing Zhou Lingchun might sneak off without him, he didn’t dwell on it and quickly pulled his jacket over it. He also put on his pants in a flash.

Although Zhou Lingchun usually listened to him, if Zhou Lingchun really decided to take charge, how could his small arm twist the big thigh?

Zhou Lingchun came in and saw Lian Sheng hurriedly combing his hair. He looked like a child insisting on following his parents to the market, which was quite endearing. He casually picked up a jar of scented balm from the table, dug out a small amount with his finger, and dabbed it onto Lian Sheng’s face, smoothing it in. As he rubbed, he said, “Don’t go, okay? Grandma will be back soon.”

“No,” Lian Sheng said, his nose filled with the scent. He grabbed Zhou Lingchun’s clothes. “Don’t think about ditching me and running off. If you do, don’t sleep in my bed when you come back tonight.”

Zhou Lingchun chuckled, then squatted down to fix the heels of Lian Sheng’s shoes. He said, “There are hot steamed buns in the pot. Take two to eat on the way.”

The two of them set off. The sun hadn’t warmed up yet, and the white frost on the roadside grass hadn’t melted. Riding the bicycle, the cold wind was quite biting. Zhou Lingchun was strong and healthy, a source of heat; he was fine with just a long-sleeved shirt and a jacket. Lian Sheng, however, was bundled up by him with a scarf covering half his face. He also wore thin gloves so he could hold the steamed buns and eat them on the way.

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Lian Sheng immediately shed his “armor.” He yanked off his gloves and tossed them into the basket, complaining, “I’m suffocating! It’s not even winter yet.” He had been uncomfortable and wanted to take them off on the road, but Zhou Lingchun had threatened to send him home halfway if he dared.

If it weren’t for his urgency to see Grandma, would he tolerate this man scaring him?

The two found Grandma’s bedside. Grandma was sitting on the edge of the bed, eating breakfast delivered by the cafeteria. The old lady looked rosy-cheeked, not at all like someone who was sick, and was smiling and chatting with the patient in the opposite bed.

Both beds were occupied by elderly women whose hearing wasn’t very good, so they had to shout everything several times.

When Lian Sheng saw Grandma, he immediately ran over and hugged her, shouting, “Grandma, I came to see you!”

“Oh, didn’t I tell Lingchun yesterday not to let you come? Why are you here again? Don’t you get tired?” Grandma’s rough, thin hand stroked Lian Sheng’s smooth, white wrist.

Lian Sheng said, “I wanted to come. I miss you if I don’t see you.”

The elderly woman in the bed next to them said, “This grandson-in-law is filial!”

Grandma’s body shook with laughter.

After they finished eating, a nurse came to set up Grandma’s IV drip. The two men sat by Grandma’s bedside, watching the drip bottle.

Before this, Lian Sheng’s mind had been focused entirely on Grandma. Now that he was at the hospital, his heart finally calmed down. Sitting there, staring at the water drops in the thin tube, he suddenly felt itchy all over.

He rolled his sleeves high and scratched his arms back and forth. After scratching his arms, he moved on to scratching his neck.

The old ladies in the ward were all resting with their eyes closed.

Zhou Lingchun noticed his excessive movements and quietly asked what was wrong.

“It’s itchy,” Lian Sheng frowned. He took Zhou Lingchun’s hand and guided it toward his lower back, turning his back to the man. “My back is itchy too. Scratch it for me quickly. Did bugs get into the hospital or something?”

Zhou Lingchun put his large hand inside and scratched him twice. Lian Sheng then complained, telling him to scratch lighter, saying his back hurt from the roughness. When Zhou Lingchun lightened the pressure, Lian Sheng complained it wasn’t strong enough.

The two of them rustled around in the ward.

Zhou Lingchun frowned and lifted the sweater to take a look.

There were no bugs. It was clearly because Lian Sheng had been in too much of a hurry this morning and had forgotten to wear an undershirt beneath his sweater.