I Bacame the Mother of His Child-Chapter 67 - 66: Cai Qingqing Opens Up

Sichuan Pavilion’s branch had a bustling opening and was doing business as hot as fire, Xu Xiuxiu expressed great satisfaction, especially after calculating the profit and realizing that she could recoup most of the initial costs such as rent and renovation in just one month, Xu Xiuxiu was nearly laughing her teeth off.

That day, finally having some free time, Xu Xiuxiu once again left her two children and ran to the hospital to visit Cai Qingqing.

Xu Xiuxiu was very distressed by Cai Qingqing, a polite yet fatefully miserable little girl, so whenever Xu Xiuxiu had some spare time, aside from accompanying Zhao Nan and Song Chengguang, the two rambunctious kids, she almost always went to the hospital to keep the little girl company.

Acute leukemia was very hard to cure and progressed very quickly, a completely terminal illness given the current medical standards. Now in the hospital, she was merely clinging to life, undergoing treatment with the mentality of living each day as it comes. Xu Xiuxiu had known the little girl for less than a month and had watched her become as thin as skin and bones, her little face smaller than a palm.

"Sister-in-law Cai, the weather outside seems nice today. Let me wrap Qingqing in a blanket and take her downstairs for a walk!" Xu Xiuxiu walked familiarly into the ward, set down some gifts and fruits she had brought, and inquired about the situation with Sister-in-law Cai. After learning that Cai Qingqing’s condition had been relatively stable in the past two days, she looked at the frail yet resilient little girl on the bed and suggested.

The little girl glanced occasionally at the sun outside the window, her longing eyes overly apparent. In this autumn and winter season, it’s actually quite nice to walk around the small grass lawn of the hospital around two or three in the afternoon. After all, everyone knew that Cai Qingqing’s condition could worsen at any time. Xu Xiuxiu genuinely couldn’t bear to let her spend the last period of her life in the hospital. An occasional stroll on the hospital’s small grass lawn was quite nice, except for the trouble of going downstairs and upstairs.

"Could we?" Cai Qingqing hesitated yet looked forward expectantly upon hearing this. Since she had been hospitalized for her illness, aside from undergoing chemotherapy and surgery, she hadn’t left this hospital room in over a month. It would be a lie to say she didn’t want to go out for a walk, but she was also aware of her condition. She didn’t want to worry her parents, so upon hearing Xu Xiuxiu’s suggestion, despite being very tempted, she first looked at her mom beside the bed, her face haggard.

Cai Bo’s wife looked at her relatively spirited daughter, originally intending to refuse, but the words choked in her throat. After a pause, she lowered her gaze and agreed, "Just this once today." Cai Bo’s wife requested somewhat sternly.

"Thank you, mom," Cai Qingqing smiled contentedly.

Xu Xiuxiu, upon making the suggestion, had suddenly thought she was being reckless, but upon seeing Cai Qingqing’s satisfied and innocent smile, and after getting the consent from Cai Bo’s wife, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Xiuxiu turned around to borrow a wheelchair from the hospital, and together with Cai Bo’s wife, they placed Cai Qingqing in it and carried her downstairs. It wasn’t easy carrying her down three floors; both Xu Xiuxiu and Cai Bo’s wife found it somewhat strenuous. Sitting in the wheelchair, Cai Qingqing’s eyes briefly reddened before she quickly hid them and they disappeared.

"Sister-in-law, today Qingqing’s dad went to look for work with the workers. I need to rush home to tidy up some stuff and make dinner later. Could you keep an eye on Qingqing for me? I will come back as soon as I can," said Xu Xiuxiu who had been to the hospital several times to help watch Cai Qingqing, but Cai Bo’s wife still politely asked.

Xu Xiuxiu smiled and nodded, "Sister-in-law, go ahead, I’ll walk Qingqing around on the lawn. When Qingqing gets tired, I’ll call the hospital’s nurse to help carry her upstairs. Don’t rush too much, I’m not in a hurry." Xu Xiuxiu reassured Cai Bo’s wife, not wanting her to hurry back and forth worried about Cai Qingqing.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Cai Bo’s wife expressed with gratitude, her eyes reddening again as she had deeply experienced the warmth and coldness of relationships due to her daughter’s illness. She then carefully tucked the blanket around Cai Qingqing’s legs, "Qingqing, be good, don’t trouble your Aunt Xiu Xiu, understood?" Cai Bo’s wife nervously instructed Cai Qingqing.

"I understand, Mom." Cai Qingqing nodded obediently.

"Sister-in-law, you know your own daughter; is she the type to trouble others? You don’t need to worry so much." The more Xu Xiuxiu spent time with Cai Qingqing, the more familiar she became with the little girl and the more her heart ached for her sensible nature.

"Thank you." Cai Bo’s wife nodded with teary eyes, then reluctantly left the hospital.

Xu Xiuxiu pushed Cai Qingqing’s wheelchair, walking across the lawn. When she noticed the sunlight was getting harsh, she moved Cai Qingqing under the shade of a tree to cool down.

"Auntie, how do you know so many interesting things?" Xu Xiuxiu tried hard to recall some jokes from her past life and shared them one by one, making Cai Qingqing laugh until her face turned red. The little girl seemed very happy.

"I read them in books."

"Then, Auntie, do the books say where people go when they die?" The smile on Cai Qingqing’s face did not fade as she looked at Xu Xiuxiu with curiosity. It seemed as though she was just asking about something she didn’t know, as simple as asking what they were having for dinner today.

Xu Xiuxiu felt a sudden tight grip around her heart from this innocent question.

"Why are you asking that, Qingqing?" Xu Xiuxiu finally found her voice after a long pause. Normally eloquent, she found herself at a loss for words, her anxious lips struggling to part.

"Auntie, you don’t need to be so cautious. I know everything. I also know that I’m about to die." Cai Qingqing shrugged and blinked her eyes at Xu Xiuxiu, yet a hint of loss flashed across her face, "Ever since I got sick, my grandparents and several uncles visited. Behind my back, they advised my parents not to waste more money on my treatment, saying that my illness cannot be cured and I will eventually die." Over the course of more than a month battling a terminal disease, the little girl seemed to have suddenly grown up, become sensible, and understood many things.

"..."

"The uncle in the next bed had the same disease I do. A few days ago, my parents told me he was discharged from the hospital because he got better, but I know he died. I saw his parents; they were very sad." Cai Qingqing’s eyes reddened, "Auntie, I’m actually very scared too, scared of being burned into ashes and put into a jar like the people who died in our village. It must be very painful." Cai Qingqing had seen funerals in her village where the body was placed on a big pile of firewood, lit, and burned until dawn.

"Qingqing won’t die." Unable to bear hearing such heart-wrenching words, Xu Xiuxiu embraced the little girl, trying to stop her from continuing with the painful talk. Each sentence felt as sharp as a blade, making it hard to breathe. novelbuddy.cσ๓