863 A Million Times for You 225 (1/2)
”Rong Yan.”
”How old are you?”
”Four this year.”
An Xiaoning felt a strong sense of sympathy for Rong Yan, who was far more sensible than other children his age.
”Your grandfather wants you to go back with me to my nation and call me 'Mommy.' Are you willing to do so?”
Rong Yan was surprised to hear that she was seeking his opinion.
”I'm willing to. That's the only way I can put Grandpa's mind at ease.”
”Such an obedient child,” An Xiaoning praised, caressing his frizzy hair.
She stood up and held his hand while walking toward the elderly man's room.
Gu Beicheng was lying on an empty bed, which was beside a window.
The window was open, allowing the light from outside to illuminate the room up.
The elderly man stroked Gu Beicheng's wounds and told An Xiaoning ambitiously, ”He will recover, but it'll take a longer time to treat him. His wounds are going to take a great deal of effort to heal.”
”It doesn't matter, so long as he can come to,” said An Xiaoning, who was already happy to hear that there was hope for his condition.
The elderly man headed to the medicine supply room to get some medicinal herbs, which he then brewed into a broth. He demonstrated the brewing process and guided them through it step by step.
While No. 8 was looking at the bottle of medicine, the elderly man prescribed another twenty-odd medications and said, ”He should be fine after finishing these.”
After handing out the instructions, the elderly man called An Xiaoning into an empty room where they were left alone. Clearly, he had something to tell her in private.
”Don't let Rong Yan come back again after he leaves with you,” said the elderly man.
”Could you tell me why?”
After some thought, the elderly man said, ”Our family's downfall is inevitable. A sudden plague had wiped out my family members, leaving just the two of us behind. This is just fate. Things wouldn't have come to this if I had managed to treat their conditions after the plague. It's all my fault for lacking in medical expertise. Rong Yan is an avid fan of medical books. Please bring the ones I've left for him back with you. I hope he'll be able to do his part for others in this world and save lives. I hope you'll support him.”
”That goes without saying. I'll fully support him if he's keen on practicing medicine.”
Isn't it great to have a doctor at home? There's no reason for me to say no.
”That's great. I can tell that you'll treat him well…” said the elderly man, who began coughing vigorously all of a sudden.
He covered his mouth with a handkerchief. After he took it away from his mouth, An Xiaoning discovered that the handkerchief was stained with bright, red blood.
”Uncle, you…”
”It's just the aftereffects of the plague infection. I won't have much longer to live.”
”Rong Yan…”
”He's fine, he wasn't infected. Actually, he was lucky to have been staying with his maternal grandmother during the time when the plague was widespread. The plague initially started spreading from our side but did not reach his maternal grandmother because she was living somewhere faraway.”
”Uncle, pardon me for my bluntness, but why don't you place him under the care of his maternal grandmother instead of an outsider like me? Won't you be more at ease that way?”
”I've thought of that before. After the plague, his maternal grandmother sent him back here and she didn't even attend her daughter's funeral. Not only did they not dote on their grandson, they even said harsh and callous things to him. Rong Yan is a very sensible child, and he never commits any mistakes. I only decided to have someone else adopt him because his maternal grandmother and her family refuse to take him in.”
”Didn't you say that he once stayed with his maternal grandmother for a short period of time…?”
The elderly man nodded and said, ”My daughter-in-law initially brought Rong Yan back to her mother's house. However, she grew worried when she heard about the plague outbreak and came back alone. In the end, she got infected too.”
”His maternal grandmother must be suffering from poverty, right?” An Xiaoning speculated.
”No, she's the richest tycoon in the nation.”