Nuannuan's biggest dream then was to earn 10,000 yuan. The digits in her account were slowly approaching that dream. In a couple of nights, Nuannuan even dreamt of how she would spend the money. What she never dreamt of was the call that came, informing her Mom's dire situation. When the call arrived she was busy cleaning a recently furbished apartment in Chaoyang District, Beijing. The smell of paint solvent in this new apartment had given her a headache, but Nuannuan did not stop: she scraped the dirt from the floor, cleaned the glass of doors and window panes, washed the stains off the rags and mops, and carried the garbage away … The cleaning company assigned the job to her and two other girls. The faster she could finish her part, the earlier she would get her share of 90 yuan. Just as she was wiping her sweat off — the mop in her hand and her T-shirt all soaked wet — one of the other girls' phone rang. The girl passed it to Nuannuan: "It's for you."
Nuannuan was surprised: "From whom?"
She felt nervous when she saw the number indicating her hometown — she asked Dad not to call (after all, it was not her phone) unless urgent. Dad's voice was shaky: "Nuannuan, I am calling from the post office on Juxiang Street. You must hurry back, your mother is very, very sick …"
Her legs went shaky, too. Leaning against the closest windowsill, she responded: "Dad, send her to the town hospital, I am coming home …"
When Nuannuan arrived at the east bank of the Red Lake on a bus, after a train ride to the town of Nanfu City, it was noon of the next day. She made a run for the pier as she got off — if she could catch the boat to the west bank, she would make it home at sunset. Yet the boat had already left her sight. Unwilling to give up, she ran to the ticket house and asked: "Is there another boat today?"
"No. You have to come back tomorrow." The man answered as he closed the ticket window.
Upset, Nuannuan threw her bag to the ground, and sat down. As she sat, her hand touched the pouch next to her waist. It was filled with 8,000 yuan in cash, and that was all the money she had earned in the past two years. "Mom, don't be afraid, your daughter has the money for your treatment …"
Nuannuan was worried, fretting when she heard a call from nearby: "Black Bean! Remember to bring more magnolia buds next time!" Black Bean? She turned her head and saw Uncle Black Bean from her village, a frequent visitor to the east bank to sell his herbs. Nuannuan picked up her bag, and found herself staggering towards him: "Uncle Black Bean, did you row yourself here?" The man, in his middle age, tanned, skinny and short, turned to look at her: "Ho-ho! Nuannuan! You are home?! That's lucky. Come here, take a ride on my boat home."
The boat was miserably small, but Black Bean had installed an engine on it. With a continuous whooorring sound, the boat picked up a good speed. It was not windy, and the waves were gentle on the lake. Several white birds were flying close to the blue surface, and once in a while a small fish or two would jump up and back down again. Far beyond, fishers were collecting their nets from a handful of small boats. When the boat anchored, the sun had fled to the other side of the village hill, and smoke was rising from every chimney. Nuannuan said a quick thanks and hurried into the village. When she walked underneath the stone pillar, with a heavily weathered inscription of the village's name; Chu Wang Village. She caught the sight of the houses, tall yet small, in the village that she had not known for two years, Nuannuan suddenly had the illusion that the majestic village she left had shrunk: its tall, pretty houses shortened and broken; its wide, unwinding road narrowed down to an ugly trail. Yet the magnolia tree in front of her house seemed the same. Tall and robust, the tree had its crown like a giant's umbrella. Then came the same birds that flew on and off the branches when she left, chirping their last gossips before nightfall.
Only her little sister Hehe and Grandma were at home. Grandma, as usual, was wearing nothing on top whilst lighting the fire in front of the range. She was coughing loudly as she fed wood and grass to the fire, her withered breasts shaking back and forth. Hehe was chopping sweet potatoes into the pot, every piece splashing water at Grandma's naked body. Hearing the steps, Hehe turned her head and saw Nuannuan entering the house. She stopped the chopping and called out: "Sister —" , tears dropped from her eyes. It made Nuannuan's heart ache. She stepped up and called "Grandma" , bowing down to kiss her wrinkled forehead. Then she turned and asked Hehe: "Where is Dad?"
"He went to send Mom to the town hospital on Juxiang Street. Grandma and I were left to guard the house."
"How is she?"
"I heard the surgery will be this afternoon."
"What on earth does she have?"
"Booby cancer."
"Booby?" Nuannuan gasped.
"Mom's got cancer in one of her boobies." Explained Hehe.
Nuannuan flopped into the chair next to Grandma. She buried her head into her hands. After a while, she raised her head again and said: "Is the bike here?"
Hehe answered: "Dad rode it to send Mom to the hospital."
"Go to Shallot's and borrow her bike."
"What is this for? It's already dark." asked Hehe, her eyes widening.
"I need to ride to the hospital. I need to see Mom."
"That far? On your own?"
"Go borrow the bike now." Turning away, Nuannuan helped Grandma throw a bunch of wood into the pit. The fire was lit again. She quickly washed her hands in the basin. Neatly, she started chopping the sweet potatoes left by her sister. After she threw all chopped potatoes into the pot and closed the lid, Nuannuan took out a short sleeve blouse from her bag: "Grandma, I bought a top for you. Come and try it on."
"Later. It's too hot in here." Grandma answered.
"You'll look better wearing it. Old ladies in Beijing never go topless, no matter how hot it gets." Nuannuan had grown uncomfortable with her grandma's naked body.
"Blah! We peasants are no comparison with the city people!" Grandma was not convinced.
Nuannuan did not wait for her consent, but put the blouse on for her. "How's that? It fits!" Nuannuan asked as she checked it out from a few angles.
Grandma smiled and grasped the collar in her hand: "Good, its good. It's just a bit posh …"
Footsteps and the sound of rolling wheels on the ground were heard before the sweet potatoes were done. Nuannuan knew it was Shallot without even looking.
"You are home! I thought you would come back one of these days. Changlin got his job in Nanfu City, so I will ride to the hospital with you!" Shallot was a healthy, robust looking woman, the product of long years working in the field.
Turning her head, Shallot asked Grandma: "Have you eaten yet?"
Grandma did not answer. She raised her cane and knocked it softly on Shallot's arm: "Wife of Changlin, you and Nuannuan, two women, you cannot go outside together after nightfall! What if some bad guy followed you?"
Shallot answered with a smile: "Don't worry, there are no bad guys out there!"
Grandma did not give up: "Eek! You can't be careful enough! I heard Old Tung's wife was mugged on the road the other day! The bad guy took all 30 eggs from her!"
"I'll take this sickle with me then!" Shallot pulled a sickle off the wall, its blade shining from the sharpening. She waved it in front of Grandma: "If any bad guy as much as shows up, I will chop his head off!"
Grandma laughed with her mouth open, showing the only two teeth left: "Big talk! You haven't got the guts! A shout from the bad guy will send you to your knees."
"I've got Nuannuan with me!"
"That is true. My Nuannuan has got some nerves." Grandma seemed proud. Again she said: "It's dark. You be careful when riding the bike. The road to Juxiang Street is by the lakeside, so watch your mouth! Don't say anything that displeases the lake god! You hear that?"
Shallot answered as she turned the bike: "Yes, Grandma."
Nuannuan reached for the sickle on Shallot's back and held it in her own hands. She followed her out.
