Chapter 9

On our way down the mountain, we passed by a small stall. The vendor, an elderly man, claimed that his red strings were all blessed, ensuring marital happiness, academic success, good health, and safe travels… Next to me, Song Wei muttered, “One string can do all that? That’s a bit much!” As she spoke, she tried to pull me away, but I stopped in my tracks and slipped out of her grasp. I carefully picked one out and asked, “Does it really bring good health?” The vendor’s eyes lit up, and he quickly assured me, “Of course! I personally prayed for these at the mountain goddess’s shrine! They’ve been blessed! Absolutely effective!” I paid for it, and on the way back, Song Wei kept complaining, “That old man was obviously lying! How could a single red string possibly guarantee all that? It’s completely unreliable! And yet, you actually believe him!” I simply smiled without responding and tucked the red string into my pocket. After returning home, taking a shower, and sleeping for a bit, I rushed over to Jiang Huaiyang’s place. When I arrived at the hospital room, Aunt Jiang was folding his clothes while Jiang Huaiyang lounged lazily on the sofa, reading a book. The two of them were chatting. I pushed the door open and cheerfully called out, “Aunt Jiang!” Seeing me, Aunt Jiang’s expression softened into a warm smile. “Yueyue is here! I heard from your mom that you went hiking. How was it? Did you have fun?” I nodded. “It was fun! I even saw the sunrise—it was absolutely beautiful. Auntie, let me show you!” I pulled out my phone from my pocket, and Jiang Huaiyang leaned in as well. The breathtaking scenery in the video had Aunt Jiang nodding in admiration. She said she wanted to go hiking with Uncle Jiang next time. I told her all about my experiences on the mountain while Jiang Huaiyang quietly watched us talk. After a while, Aunt Jiang said she had to go home to fetch something, leaving just me and Jiang Huaiyang in the room. I took his wrist and carefully tied the red string around it. He fiddled with the string and asked, “Why are you putting this on me?” “It’s for good health!” Jiang Huaiyang chuckled. “You actually believe in this?” I looked at him seriously and replied, “I do!” He nodded slightly, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile. But a single red string couldn’t protect Jiang Huaiyang’s health. At the beginning of April, Jiang Huaiyang’s condition suddenly worsened. He started slipping into unexplained bouts of unconsciousness. Even when he was awake, he was always drowsy. He became sensitive to the cold—even in April, he still wore thick sweaters. He lost his appetite, and even when he forced himself to eat, he would vomit most of it back up. The only thing sustaining him now was IV nutrition. In just half a month, he had become frighteningly thin—his cheeks hollowed, his body reduced to skin and bones. He lay in bed all day, utterly lifeless. I watched Aunt Jiang silently weeping beside his bed. I saw Uncle Jiang holding his hand and bowing his head deeply. I saw the other elders of the Jiang family come to visit, while Aunt Jiang and Uncle Jiang forced themselves to hold it together, responding to their condolences. Through the thick glass window, I gazed at Jiang Huaiyang lying in his hospital bed. My fingers traced the outline of his face, but my vision blurred with tears. Aunt Jiang said Jiang Huaiyang wanted to go home. Then let’s go home. On the day of his return, Jiang Huaiyang was unexpectedly alert. He sat obediently in his wheelchair while Uncle Jiang and Aunt Jiang carried his belongings. Xu Jingchen pushed the wheelchair, and I walked beside him. My parents were waiting for us at home. Along the way, Xu Jingchen kept talking non-stop, and Aunt Jiang and Uncle Jiang were trying their best to regulate their emotions. Jiang Huaiyang occasionally responded, but I remained silent the entire time. I knew I should pretend everything was fine—to deceive myself and everyone else. But I couldn’t do it. I once said that Jiang Huaiyang’s eyes were beautiful, as if they held an entire galaxy within them. But now, wrapped in thick clothes and wearing a hat, his cheeks were sunken, his lips and face pale, and his eyes had lost their light. I held his hand. He turned to look at me and smiled gently. Today, his energy was unusually good—so good that it scared all of us. I fiddled with the red string on his wrist, forcing down my emotions as I stared out the window. Uncle, how could you lie to me?