Ch 103: Everyone Dies

Xinjiang is sparsely populated, with cities far apart. For those accustomed to the dense population of large cities, getting around here can be very inconvenient.

But precisely because of the sparse population, the damage to nature is not as severe as in industrialized cities, which is why the scenery here is so beautiful.

The vast Great Grassland, the desolate Gobi Desert, the clear Plateau Lake, and the magnificent Snow Mountains.

Here, the sky is high and the sea is wide, a place that one can fall in love with at first glance.

After Zhuang Lingyun held her until she fell asleep, she gently withdrew from his arms. The flight attendant handed over a blanket, and Xiao Yao gently covered him with it.

Unable to sleep, she sat by the window looking down, her mind filled with many things, her eyes watching the various beautiful sceneries occasionally unfolding between the thin cloud crevices. After about six or seven hours, the plane landed.

It was nine o’clock at night, but the Xinjiang sky was still bright as day, the sun still hanging on the horizon, yet to set.

Xiao Yao had never been to Xinjiang before. Although she had heard of this peculiar phenomenon, it was her first time seeing it, and she found it quite novel.

However, there were more important matters at hand, and she wasn’t in the mood to appreciate the scenery.

After getting off the plane, there was a two-hour car ride to reach the city where her Third Uncle, Xiao Jianbo, lived. The bustling streets were not much different from Beibin City, but added more of the unique charm of the ethnic minorities.

Xiao Wenxing came downstairs to meet her. Seeing the casual Zhuang Lingyun, he didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly and turned to lead the way.

“Xiao Wenxing, what’s wrong with Grandmother?” Xiao Yao caught up with him and asked anxiously, “Did she find out about my father?”

Xiao Wenxing glanced at her. His eyes, which had been red from crying, had returned to normal, but the tiredness and anxiety on his face remained unchanged. Xiao Wenxing had thought that this departure would be a long time before they saw each other again, but he hadn’t expected to see her so soon.

Hearing Xiao Yao’s question, he shook his head, “No.”

“Then what’s going on? I asked Third Uncle on the phone, and he was also evasive.”

Xiao Wenxing was silent for a moment before saying, “My father’s biological son, you know? Jiang Yu.”

Xiao Yao certainly knew. Years ago, her Third Uncle’s family moved to Xinjiang to search for their long-lost son. Although this man was her nominal cousin, their relationship should have been close, but Xiao Yao had never met him; she only knew of him, without any real understanding.

She had grown up with Xiao Wenxing, and she felt that he was more like her cousin, even without blood relation, years of kinship were there.

“Grandmother liked Jiang Yu very much. He got into some trouble recently, and Grandmother, in her anxiety, suffered a heart attack and fell ill.” After speaking, Xiao Wenxing looked at Xiao Yao again, “When you see my father later, don’t mention him. My father already feels very guilty, and now he only hopes that Grandmother can overcome this difficulty.”

However, everyone knew that the chances of an eighty-year-old person surviving were minimal.

Zhuang Lingyun took a few steps forward, standing between Xiao Yao and Xiao Wenxing, “Since she’s sick, why wasn’t she sent to the hospital for treatment, but kept at home?”

As soon as Zhuang Lingyun approached, Xiao Wenxing subconsciously moved aside, widening the distance between them before replying, “She was sent to the hospital, but the doctor said there was no need for treatment and told us to go home to prepare for the funeral arrangements.”

Xiao Yao’s heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffed, “Is she awake now?”

“Sometimes asleep, sometimes awake. Let’s go.”

Xiao Wenxing led the way, Zhuang Lingyun lagged behind, holding Xiao Yao’s hand as they took the elevator upstairs.

There were many people in the house, some familiar, some not. Xiao Yao only nodded to her Third Uncle and Third Aunt, but her gaze couldn’t help but fall on the few men sitting near the window, smoking heavily; the room was filled with smoke.

As soon as Xiao Wenxing entered the room, he also saw the several tall and imposing men standing by the window. He was startled, then frowned, “Why are you here again?”

“We haven’t found the person, and we haven’t finished talking, so how can we leave?” The leading bald, strong man shrugged, glanced at Xiao Yao and Zhuang Lingyun, extinguished his cigarette, and said, “Guys, over ten million yuan is no small sum, you have to understand us, right?”

Xiao Wenxing took several deep breaths before finally saying, “My grandmother is sick. Keep your voices down. Yaoyao, come with me.”

Xiao Yao nodded, looking at the strong men by the window, then at Zhuang Lingyun.

Zhuang Lingyun understood what she meant and patted her shoulder, “Go and see Grandmother first.”

The smoke outside was pungent, but the bedroom, with its closed door, was unusually quiet. The window was open, a cool night breeze gently blowing in. The old woman on the bed had white hair, blue lips, sunken eyes, and her wrinkles seemed to have flattened.

Xiao Yao saw this and knew it was over.

She gently walked forward, sat by the bedside, held the old woman’s cool hand in her palm, and softly called out, “Grandmother.”

There was no response.

“Grandmother, it’s Yaoyao! Didn’t you miss me? I’m here to see you. Please open your eyes and look at me.”

Xiao Yao tried again, pushing the old woman’s body gently. As if sensing something, the old woman gradually opened a pair of cloudy eyes. Her gaze was on Xiao Yao, but it was unfocused, and she quickly closed her eyes again. No matter how much she called, she didn’t wake up.

If it weren’t for the faint rise and fall of her chest, Xiao Yao would almost have thought she was gone.

Wiping away her tears, looking at the dying woman inevitably reminded her of her pitiful father, making her feel even more sad.

Zhuang Lingyun stood behind Xiao Yao. When she cried, he handed her a handkerchief; one hand remained on her shoulder, like an invisible support, giving her strength.

“Everyone dies, it’s just a matter of sooner or later,” Xiao Wenxing said in a low voice, “Let it go. Grandmother has lived a long life.”

“Did Grandmother eat anything?” Xiao Yao looked at the old woman whose cheeks were sunken, her heart aching. Wiping her tears, she stood up, “I’ll get her something to eat.”

“Don’t bother,” Xiao Wenxing stopped her, “She hasn’t eaten anything for two days. She’s only being kept alive by intravenous fluids and water.”

When Xiao Yao heard this, her tears flowed uncontrollably, and she couldn’t calm down for a long time.

Zhuang Lingyun suddenly asked, “Who are those people outside?”

“Creditors.”

“Jiang Yu’s creditors?” Zhuang Lingyun immediately understood, “That’s not a small sum. How did he owe over ten million yuan? Gambling? Or fraud?”

“I don’t have much contact with him, so I don’t know the specifics,” Xiao Wenxing looked at Zhuang Lingyun and added, “But from what my parents said, it seems he was set up and used as a scapegoat. Now the creditors only recognize him; if they can’t find Jiang Yu, they’ll block our doorstep.”

Xiao Yao asked with tearful eyes, “Did you call the police? Jiang Yu owes the money, so let them find Jiang Yu. Why are they blocking here?”

Xiao Wenxing glanced at her and shook his head, “My parents probably have other plans.” Then he turned and left the room.

Xiao Yao sat back down by the bed, watching her grandmother sleeping peacefully, feeling very uncomfortable.

✦ ✦ ✦