A Wish

A new day began, and everyone was busy with their own affairs.

Grandmother also sat in the courtyard, enjoying the rare sunshine.

Seeing the fine, bright weather, Guo Sufi decided to air out the family's quilts and bedding. She first hung the bedding from her room and Zhang Xiaolong's room on the line. Then, she went to Grandmother's small room to tidy up the bedding for Grandmother and Zhang Xiaohua. But shortly after she entered the room, the family outside heard her let out a scream. Grandmother, with her sharp ears, called out, "What's wrong? Sufi." Then Guo Sufi's voice came from inside, "It's nothing, Mother, just a mouse."

Zhang Cai, who was tinkering with farm tools, chuckled and said, "You're all grown up, and you're still afraid of that little thing? It's a bit ridiculous."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua quickly hopped over and said, "Mother, where's the mouse? I'll help you, I'm the best at catching mice."

But when he ran into the room, he saw his mother sitting by Grandmother's kang, holding Grandmother's quilt, and sobbing softly. Seeing this, Zhang Xiaohua cautiously walked over and asked his mother in a low voice, "What's wrong, Mother?"

Guo Sufi continued to sob weakly, not saying anything.

Zhang Xiaohua looked at the quilt in his mother's hands and noticed a dark patch at the head of the quilt. He didn't understand what was happening and asked his mother again, "Mother, why are you holding the quilt? It's just dirty, I'll wash it for you, okay?"

Hearing her son's dutiful words, Guo Sufi felt even more heartbroken. She suppressed her sobs and said in a hoarse voice, "Xiaohua, this quilt isn't dirty, it's blood that your grandmother coughed up."

Zhang Xiaohua felt a buzzing sound in his head, and he was stunned. He quickly asked, "Then, is Grandmother going to die?"

Hearing her son's innocent words, Guo Sufi felt as if she had eaten bitter herbs. She said, "Good son, Mother doesn't know either."

Zhang Xiaohua said with a mournful face, "I don't want Grandmother to die."

Guo Sufi put her arm around her son, stroking his hair with her other hand. "Mother doesn't want that either. But, Xiaohua, you're growing so tall, almost as tall as Mother. Mother is getting old. Grandmother, she will leave us sooner or later."

Zhang Xiaohua was on the verge of tears. "I don't want to grow taller, Mother. I don't want Grandmother to leave me."

Guo Sufi had stopped sobbing by then. Holding her son, she sighed softly.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua remembered what Liu Qian had said. He asked, "Mother, Sister Liu told me there are immortals who can live forever. If we find them, will Grandmother not leave us?"

Guo Sufi said, "Perhaps, Xiaohua. That's what the stories say. But no one has ever seen an immortal."

Zhang Xiaohua said, "Then I'll go find the immortals now and ask them to save Grandmother."

Guo Sufi said affectionately, "Good child."

Then she looked at her son, at his incredibly clear eyes, at his anxious expression, and said, "No one knows where the immortals are. Where will you look? And it's too late to look now. It would be better if you stayed with Grandmother and let her hear your voice more."

Zhang Xiaohua nodded vigorously, as if he truly understood.

Just then, Zhang Cai called from outside, "Xiaohua, did you catch the mouse?"

Guo Sufi also called back, "They all ran away. Where would we catch them?"

Then, she said to Zhang Xiaohua, "Let's go out. But don't cry anymore when we go out, don't let your grandmother know."

Zhang Xiaohua nodded in agreement.

Guo Sufi walked out of the small room carrying the bedding, with Zhang Xiaohua walking behind her with his head down.

Guo Sufi went to hang the bedding. Zhang Xiaohua went to Grandmother's side and said, "Grandmother, are you thirsty? Shall I get you some water?"

Grandmother said with a smile, "Yes, I'm a little thirsty. Xiaohua, go get Grandmother some water. You're such a good boy. Be careful, it might be hot."

It seemed that in Grandmother's heart, Zhang Xiaohua was still a four or five-year-old child. Zhang Xiaohua went into the house to get water for Grandmother.

Guo Sufi had intended to hang Grandmother's bedding in a more secluded spot, but then she thought better of it. She took a basin, filled it with water, and decided to wash the blood off the quilt first. When Liu Qian saw Guo Sufi about to wash the quilt, she quickly came over to help. When she saw the stain on the quilt clearly, she also froze. Guo Sufi saw that Liu Qian had noticed and, after a moment's thought, said in a low voice, "Go call Xiaolong and the others over, quietly."

Liu Qian nodded and went to signal to call everyone over. When they had all gathered and saw the stain on the quilt in the basin, no one spoke. The warm sunlight from earlier could not even slightly warm their hearts.

Zhang Xiaohua brought the water to Grandmother. He first tasted the water himself to check the temperature before handing it to Grandmother. Grandmother took the water and drank it with relish, a smile appearing on her face as if she were drinking sweet honey water. Grandmother sighed deeply, and her cough seemed to have eased a bit.

Seeing this scene in the sunlight, everyone felt a warmth in their hearts. The chill they had felt earlier was gone. They all seemed to understand what they should do. They walked back to Grandmother's side and sat around her, busy with their own tasks while watching their beloved family member, wanting to engrave her voice and smile deeply in their hearts. Grandmother, unaware of the others' actions, sat peacefully in her chair, basking in the warm sunlight, a contented smile on her face, serene and happy.

Guo Sufi busied herself with washing and hanging the bedding, then sat beside Grandmother and said gently, "Mother, what do you want to eat for lunch? I'll make it for you."

Grandmother thought for a moment and said, "Make braised pork belly."

Guo Sufi said curiously, "Mother, you don't usually eat such greasy food."

Grandmother said, "I'm craving it today, I want to eat some."

Guo Sufi said, "Okay, I'll go to the village entrance to buy some meat later."

Zhang Xiaolong immediately said, "Mother, I'll go. I should get out more and move around."

Guo Sufi agreed. Liu Qian then added, "I'll go with you. Don't always carry heavy things with your arm, be careful not to have any problems."

Zhang Xiaolong smiled and said, "Two catties of meat will be enough. How could I not be able to carry it?"

Liu Qian smiled and said nothing, so the two of them walked out together.

Grandmother squinted her eyes, and after estimating that Zhang Xiaolong and the others had left, she said to Guo Sufi, "Sufi, I have something to tell you."

Guo Sufi said, "Okay, Mother. Wait a moment, I'll get you another cup of water to moisten your throat."

Guo Sufi poured another cup of water for Grandmother and brought a stool to sit opposite her, asking, "Mother, what did you want to say?"

Grandmother said, "Sufi, did I spit something on my quilt?"

Guo Sufi's face startled, and she immediately said, "No, Mother, no. It's just a little dirty, I'll wash it and it'll be fine."

Grandmother sighed and said, "Alas, Sufi, you don't need to hide it from me. I coughed it up myself, how could I not know? I just wasn't sure. You asked Xiaocai and the others to look. I could hear them, and I understand."

Guo Sufi said, "Mother, don't overthink it. Your cough will definitely get better."

Grandmother smiled and said, "You silly child, you're just like Xiaohua. You're already forty or fifty years old, and you still comfort your mother like this."

Guo Sufi started to cry again, weeping, "Mother~"

Grandmother continued, "Sufi, you need to be more optimistic. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are unavoidable. When your father passed away, I was also sad for a long time before I came to my senses. Back then, I was only thinking of my own grief and didn't pay enough attention to you. This time it's my turn, and I have to make you sad again. Sigh, there's nothing that can be done about it. Your father and I toiled our whole lives and didn't give you a good life. Now that Xiaocai is here to take care of you, I can rest easy. Xiaolong, Xiaohu, and Xiaohua are all good children. After I'm gone, don't let them miss me too much. Keep busy with farm work. I'll pray to the gods to bless you from below."

Zhang Xiaohua's heart ached as he listened. He hugged his grandmother and said, "Grandmother, don't worry, I'll protect Mother."

Grandmother stroked Zhang Xiaohua's hair and said kindly, "I know Xiaohua will grow up to be a real man and protect the family. I'm very relieved."

Then, Grandmother said again, "Sufi, I have no regrets in this life. Seeing you and Xiaocai living comfortably, without arguments, makes me content. It's just a little regrettable that I won't see Xiaolong get married and hold a great-grandchild before I go. I think Liu Qian is a very good girl. You must find a way to marry her into our family. She's a blessing for our Xiaolong."

Everyone gathered around Grandmother, listening to her speak. Amidst their sadness, they didn't notice two people walking up to the small courtyard's fence gate. Upon hearing the name "Liu Qian," these two stopped in their tracks and listened carefully to what Grandmother was saying in the courtyard.

Guo Sufi continued, "Mother, you're right. Liu Qian is a good girl. There's nothing to fault in her words or actions. Moreover, her looks and figure are one in a hundred. For her to marry into our family is a blessing Xiaolong earned through his past good deeds. But~"

Guo Sufi hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping herself. She didn't want to shatter her mother's pleasant dreams. However, there was a significant gap between their family and the Liu family. If she agreed to her mother now but couldn't fulfill it later, her mother wouldn't be able to rest in peace in the afterlife, would she?

Grandmother seemed to know what she was about to say. She patted Guo Sufi's hand and said, "Sufi, Liu Qian is not a child who looks down on the poor. If she likes our Xiaolong, she will marry him. Mr. Liu is educated and sensible, and I think he will agree. You should find an opportunity to sound out Liu Qian first. If she has no interest in our Xiaolong, then forget it. Don't force her. Xiaohua said Xiaolong's injury will heal soon, so you should also hurry and let her go home. Staying in our home for too long is not good for Liu Qian's reputation. Although we saved her, she has also taken care of our family for so long. Our debt of gratitude is considered repaid. This way, Mr. Liu's family won't have to be taken care of by others either."

Guo Sufi said, "Okay, Mother. I'll talk to Liu Qian tomorrow and tell her to go home quickly."

Upon hearing this, a hint of disappointment flickered across Grandmother's face.

Just then, someone ran in from outside and said, "Qianqian isn't going home."