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墨書 Inktalez
Principal Uncle came to the capital for medical treatment, and I found a way to help him secure an appointment with a specialist and coordinate the surgery. Everything went smoothly.
In the hospital room, Principal Uncle was in tears, saying, "Liu Ya, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have much time left!"
My sister entered the room, "Uncle, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be where I am today, nor would Xiao Liu! You just rest here and recover. Once you're better, Xiao Liu and I will take you to see Raising the National Flag and the Great Wall!"
That year after the college entrance examination, my sister made thorough plans for me. She had my examination permit sent directly to her, and she handled everything from checking scores to submitting applications. The acceptance letter was sent straight to her.
I agreed to my parents' arrangement with the Lai Family just to keep them calm. On the day we were supposed to get our marriage certificate, I persuaded Old Lai to drink, and my sister, who had come from Beijing to pick me up, reported him for drunk driving!
My sister enrolled me at Capital Medical University. After five years of undergraduate studies, I continued on to graduate school and was about to start my doctoral studies. My advisor treated me exceptionally well; he was also the vice president of a renowned tertiary hospital. His son was my classmate, and we got along very well.
My sister's situation back then was even more challenging than mine. Our parents tore up her college acceptance letter and locked her in a room, waiting for her fiancé's wedding procession to arrive! Principal Uncle secretly helped her pry open the back window and slipped her five hundred yuan!
At that time, five hundred yuan was definitely not a small amount. My sister came to Beijing alone, working while self-studying. She completed her associate degree first and then her bachelor's degree until she eventually became a business manager at an import-export company where she met my brother-in-law, who was also part of the management team.
The difficulties she faced cannot be fully captured in just a few words. Those who walk through storms at night understand the value of sunshine the most.
When Grandma passed away, my simple call of "sister" and "let me see you off" struck a chord in my sister's heart that had once been filled with resentment. She used to be like me, and I ultimately became someone like her.
During my five years in college, I focused on two things: my major and writing online literature! My major speaks for itself; it was my strength and a required course. In my freshman year, my sister and brother-in-law supported me financially, but later on, I became self-sufficient through writing online literature!
Principal Uncle was discharged from the hospital, and my older sister and I bought him direct flight tickets to Jiangcheng.
At the boarding gate, Principal Uncle murmured, “Da Ya, Liu Ya... Ever since Liu Ya left, the Lai Family has been demanding a bride price from your parents. Your parents refused to acknowledge it, saying they lost their daughter and it was enough that they didn’t ask for compensation. The two families were at odds with each other.
Eventually, they stopped arguing, but your mother developed a tumor in her head... A lot of money was spent, but it couldn’t be treated back home...”
My sister and I exchanged glances and handed him the nutritional supplements we bought: “Uncle, take care of yourself. When you retire, bring Auntie to Beijing for a trip...”
Later, my parents still went to Beijing accompanied by Second Sister. They were both illiterate “blind bats,” and with Second Sister’s third-grade level of education, it took a lot of effort for them to find me.
The doctor told them in front of me, “Go back; eat whatever you want!”
I bought them train tickets to Jiangcheng and slipped them 5000 yuan.
My mother’s failing health perked up as her eyes sparkled: “Your brother is already thirty and still hasn’t found the right match... What’s your number? I’ll have him come find you.”
I replied, “The train is about to leave; you should get on. I’m going abroad.”
My sister had remained silent throughout.
Uncle Village told me another story:
That year, before I was born, my two-year-old brother was playing with Grandpa. Mischievous as he was, he picked up a pesticide bottle and drank the water inside. After being poisoned, he fell to the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth. My older sister, returning from laundry duty, found him and rushed him to the Rural Health Clinic.
They performed an enema and gastric lavage in a frantic rescue attempt. My older sister’s bare feet were bloodied from running; she was terrified and lay on the ground unable to move.
My brother was saved but opened his eyes only to say, “It’s all my sister’s fault...”
My father took off his shoes and angrily struck my sister: “If Fu Lai dies, I’ll make you pay with your life!”
Grandpa jabbed her with a scorching hot smoking pipe: “You’re nothing but a troublemaker!”
My mother grabbed a rolling pin and beat my sister senseless!
My sister lay in bed for a full seven days before finally opening her eyes.
She said: The life they gave me had already been returned to them that day!
Epilogue
Grandma was good, but she left early.
With Principal Uncle gone, my sister and I returned home for the funeral.
Principal Uncle had no sons, and his two daughters were not particularly gifted; they married off to neighboring villages after finishing Junior High. In rural areas, a family without boys is considered a "dead-end," and with Principal Uncle's wife aging, she was left wondering how to handle his funeral without any male heirs.
I drove back to the village in my Mercedes-Benz, while my sister arrived in her BMW, both of us making quite an entrance. The New Village Head, who was about my age and had once been a student of Principal Uncle, nodded along as we laid out our plans. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything!" he assured us.
We arranged for a fine coffin, quality burial clothes, and various Ceremony items. The expenses for hosting guests, including food and drinks, would be covered by my sister and me. Among the Sisters, we knelt together with Principal Uncle's daughters to receive condolences from the attendees.
The funeral for Principal Uncle was quite grand! Surprisingly, my grandfather was still alive, though his mind wasn't very sharp. He leaned on his cane, trying to inquire, "Which families are those two in the shed from?" (In our area, "guests" refers to female relatives.)
Many people gathered to watch, but no one paid him any attention. "When I grow old (in our dialect, 'old' means to pass away), make sure your daughters give me a send-off like this!" he jabbed at my father. My mother, Qiang Ying, stepped forward to see what was happening; it didn’t seem dignified at all!
My father hunched over in silence. As the only male in the family, my brother felt obligated to help out at Principal Uncle's place during this time. He attempted several times to approach me and my sister for a greeting, but we both avoided making eye contact with him. Perhaps he wanted to apologize, but apologies have their time limits!
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