NOVPUB[How can I change the fate of Wu Lingyu’s family?] Xu Qingfan mulled over this question in his heart.
The best course of action, of course, would be to cure Wu Suowei’s illness, but, from what Xu Qingfan had learned online, one shouldn’t even think about kidney transplant surgery in China; the only option would be to go to the Beautiful Country.
But without the healthcare coverage of the Beautiful Country to undertake such a major surgery, they were aware that even a simple blood test could cost thousands of US dollars there, and hospital stays were the real expense, with month-long stays costing tens of thousands of US dollars, and prohibitively expensive consultation fees of several thousand US dollars an hour. As for a kidney transplant? Without millions of US dollars, you shouldn’t even think about it.
In 2003, the exchange rate of the Renminbi to the US dollar was approximately 8.27:1, which meant that ordinary people would have to spend at least seven or eight million yuan to get treatment for uremia in the Beautiful Country. Seven or eight million yuan in 2003 could buy seven or eight small apartments within the second ring of Yanjing.
Li Mei Juan could never earn seven or eight million yuan in her lifetime selling kebabs, and even if Xu Qingfan really could produce seven or eight million, he believed that the family of three would not accept it because subconsciously they had already priced their lives, perhaps at five hundred thousand yuan, maybe a million, but certainly not at seven or eight million; their lives were not worth that much money.
[In the end, it’s the poverty illness.] Xu Qingfan shook his head helplessly.
They lingered in the hospital for over two hours until the other teachers finished their movie and called to hurry them, and then Wu Lingyu reluctantly bid farewell to her family: "Grandpa, Dad, we’re leaving. I will study hard and listen to Mom, Dad, keep it up, you’ll definitely beat the illness!"
Wang Wenbiao couldn’t help but have red eyes when he witnessed such a touching moment and sneakily stuffed a few hundred yuan from his wallet into the red plastic bag containing the apples.
Xu Qingfan saw this scene but said nothing.
"Go back and study hard, listen to your teacher, Dad is proud of you."
"Mhm!" Wu Lingyu, sobbing, nodded her head and left the ward with the others, looking back reluctantly when she reached the door.
"Go on~"
"Mhm." The little girl could no longer control her emotions, and tears streamed down her face.
Upon leaving the hospital, those who had been chilled by the air conditioning instantly felt revitalized, basking in the glaring sunlight.
Wang Wenbiao hailed a cab and, after everyone got in, his heart skipped a beat, [Oh no, I gave away all my money just now...]
"Do any of you have money on you?" Sitting in the passenger seat, Wang Wenbiao asked, somewhat red-faced, as he looked back at them.
The cab driver glanced at Wang Wenbiao out of the corner of his eye and caught sight of the empty wallet, wondering whether to kick these potential dine-and-dashers out at the next intersection.
"Haha~ Teacher, I’ve got money on me, enough to cover the fare, don’t worry." Xu Qingfan chuckled as he took out his wallet and flamboyantly extracted a red fifty-yuan note.
The driver averted his gaze, silently criticizing in his mind: [What kind of person is this, a teacher letting a student pay.]
After they reached their destination and paid the fare, Wang Wenbiao rushed them out of the cab as if making an escape.
"Brother Biao, can I go up front to take a look?" After getting out at Zhengjia Square, Xu Qingfan pointed to a store selling candied haws and asked.
"Sure, but don’t go too far, the bus is coming back soon!" He said and then led the way.
There was quite a crowd gathered outside the shop, where the owner was demonstrating the making of sugar figurines.
Molten white sugar from the shopkeeper’s iron spoon drizzled onto the oiled paper, promptly taking the shape of a lively sugar dragon.
On the straw column, many finished sugar figurines were displayed, including the imposing Sun Wukong and the lifelike white phoenix.
Xu Qingfan thought: [There’s the gift!]
"Boss, I’ll take six; can you give me a discount?" Xu Qingfan asked, taking out a fifty-yuan note.
"It’s a small business, kiddo, if you buy six big ones, uncle will give you a small one for free!" The shopkeeper answered cheerfully, his handiwork not missing a beat.
Xia Xiaoxiao eyed a Chang’e sugar figurine with bright eyes, "I want that one!" She nudged Xu Qingfan’s arm and pointed.
Xu Qingfan got the message and picked five he thought were pretty: "Pick whichever you like, go choose!" He patted Wu Lingyu’s head and said.
"I don’t need one..." Wu Lingyu reflexively replied.
"Pick one!" Xu Qingfan glared at her fiercely.
"I..."
"Hmm?"
"I’ll pick then, don’t be mean to me..." Wu Lingyu said, ashamed, lowering her head and reaching for the little tiger’s head.
"Pick a big one!" Xu Qingfan slapped her hand away and picked out a large version of the same tiger, "Boss, how much is it in total?"
"Eh hehe~ generous kid, uncle will give you a discount, they usually sell for ten yuan each, but for six... let’s make it fifty yuan!"
"Are you still giving out the small ones?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" The shopkeeper said joyfully as he took the money.
"Here’s yours, Yu’s, and this one’s for you, Brother Biao." Xu Qingfan gave the big tiger and Chang’e to the two little girls, and gave the extra small one to Wang Wenbiao.
"Haha~ then the teacher won’t stand on ceremony!"
Xia Xiaoxiao held the Chang’e candy figure in her hand with delight, lifting it above her head against the sun to observe the pattern.
Wu Lingyu felt a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. She followed suit, lifting her tiger candy figure above her head. After playing with it, she carefully put it in her backpack, worried that the books might crush it. The little girl gently hugged her backpack in front of her.
The school bus arrived shortly, and after a few of them boarded, a large number of students had already fallen asleep, with the ones still awake looking drowsy.
Xu Qingfan sat next to Xia Xiaoxiao as he had done during the day, while Wu Lingyu sat alone as usual. But this time she didn’t feel sad because she had her backpack next to her, inside of which was the candy figure Xu Qingfan had bought for her.
Even though the other girls had one too, Wu Lingyu wasn’t greedy. She was quite content with just a little bit of affection, leaning against the window, the little girl sweetly drifted into dreamland. "So nice~"
...
"Pack up your things, we’re at school!"
Xu Qingfan rubbed his shoulder, which had gotten sore from Xia Xiaoxiao leaning on it, and looked out the window.
Xia Xiaoxiao looked half asleep, with a red sleep mark on her right cheek, "What time is it?"
He lifted his left hand to check the time and, yawning, said, "Ha~ it’s five o’clock."
"Doesn’t that mean school’s over?" Xia Xiaoxiao asked, backpack on.
"Right, school’s out, and you can take the bus home after getting off," Xu Qingfan thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Xia Xiaoxiao felt something was amiss. After getting off the bus, she came to her senses: "Go home my head, we still have to bring homework home. If you dare not do your homework, I’ll tell Aunt Yao on you!"
"I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it, what’s the rush, Yu, right?" Xu Qingfan put his arms around both of their shoulders, heading toward the direction of the fifth teaching building.
"Ah... I... I don’t know..." Wu Lingyu’s neck shrank nervously as she felt the close contact with Xu Qingfan, looking timid.
"We’ll go on up first!" Upon reaching the second floor, he let go of Wu Lingyu and said with a smile.
"Okay!" Wu Lingyu’s cheeks felt hot, and she ran back to the classroom clutching her backpack.
Back in the classroom, most of the students had already left. Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi were still quietly waiting for their group leader to return.
"Brother Qing Fan!!!" The two little ones had been waiting in the stairwell, and they ran excitedly hand in hand when they saw Xu Qingfan and Xia Xiaoxiao’s figures.
"Eh!" Xu Qingfan let go of Xia Xiaoxiao’s arm and happily spread his arms wide.
"Hmph~" Xia Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes silently and stood aside to watch their performance.
Of course, the two kids didn’t rush into Xu Qingfan’s arms, they stopped just short of the finish line.
"Brother Qing Fan, did your exam go well? Did you bring Ningning a gift!" Lin Wanning couldn’t wait to ask.
"I did, I did, a little bunny and a little kitty." Xu Qingfan took out the candy figures he had picked for them from his backpack.
"Wow!!!" The two little ones’ eyes sparkled as they received their candy figures.
Xia Xiaoxiao flaunted her own candy figure, also taking it out from her backpack, "Wow! Xiao Xiao, yours is so pretty." The two little girls were indeed captivated.
"Yeah, the shopkeeper said this one is the most difficult one to make." Xia Xiaoxiao said with a proud look on her face.
"So amazing!!!"
"Yiyi got a jade rabbit, and Xiao Xiao got Chang’e. They can be paired up perfectly!"
"Yours are pretty too." Xia Xiaoxiao was floated by their praises, speaking quite happily.
Xu Qingfan followed behind, shaking his head amusedly, witnessing their interesting competitive spirit.
After giving the last Sun Wukong candy figure to Xiao Ruawen, Xu Qingfan finally finished his mission for the day.
