For me, winters in Sichuan are rather difficult to endure. Though it doesn’t snow, the cold is intense. As the New Year approaches, the rain becomes more frequent. People coming and going through the corridors track water everywhere with their feet, and though the cleaning staff constantly mops with fresh water, the walkways remain perpetually damp.
I’ve always been particularly sensitive to cold. Having grown accustomed to Beijing’s central heating, the prospect of spending winter in Sichuan filled me with some apprehension. While the hospital rooms have air conditioning, this isn’t a major hospital, so the corridors lack central heating. According to hospital policy, patients in the corridor can only be moved to proper rooms after surgery. Since the inflammation in my leg hasn’t subsided well enough, I need to stay in the corridor for two more nights.
Yang Lin went to sleep in the observation ward that night, but Yang Wan stayed, bustling about helping us with various hospital admission procedures. While she was out buying food, I made a call home.
My family is quite large, and my parents love to maintain appearances, gathering all the relatives almost every New Year. Though it was only the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the house was already bustling with activity. The first thing my mother did when answering the phone was to shout at my father: “Old Deng, tell Fifth Aunt and the others to quiet down, our son is calling!”
Her tone immediately softened as she spoke to me, “Son, you’re still not done with work? Everyone at home is waiting for you. Your Second Uncle wants to introduce you to a girlfriend prospect, she just returned from studying abroad. I saw her today, she’s quite beautiful…”
I didn’t respond to that topic, only saying, “Work is almost finished, but I accidentally broke my leg.”
“What!”
My mother’s voice suddenly rose so sharp that I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
“It’s not a big prob-“
“What do you mean it’s not a problem? Where are you? Your father and I will come right away.”
Sitting on the hospital bed, I let out a small laugh. “If you leave, what about all the elders at home?”
“Well…”
Looking at the quiet corridor, I lifted my hand with the IV catheter and took a sip of water from the thermos at my bedside.
“Never mind, Mom. You coming here wouldn’t help much anyway. I’ve arranged for a care worker, and when I’m cleared for discharge, I can ask colleagues from our partner company here to send me back.”
My mother asked worriedly, “Are the partner company people reliable?”
“Of course they’re reliable, don’t worry.”
My mother let out a reluctant “Oh,” and then asked, “Do you need surgery? Your father has several friends in Chengdu, should we ask them to come check on you?”
“No need, it’s the New Year holiday, it wouldn’t be right to make people come to visit me in the hospital.”
“That’s true…”
My mother sounded helpless, “When is your surgery?”
“Still treating the inflammation. The doctor said they’ll schedule it based on how that goes, maybe the day after tomorrow.”
My mother sighed, “Oh you… this foot of yours has always been prone to injury since you were little.”
Just then, Yang Wan came back carrying two bowls of wonton. Seeing me on the phone, she pulled up a chair to sit by my bedside and set the wontons down to cool. I got nervous and quickly said to my mother, “Mom… let’s talk later, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I hung up immediately.
Yang Wan took spoons from her bag and sterilized them with hot water, asking, “Was that Auntie?”
I instinctively clasped my hands on my knee and nodded, “Yes.”
Yang Wan turned to pour out the water used to sterilize the spoons and said, “Auntie must be very angry with us, having you get into a car accident during New Year’s, making it so you can’t go home for the reunion.”
Looking down, I said, “It’s fine, I didn’t want to go back.”
Yang Wan nodded but didn’t pursue the topic. She handed me a spoon, then looked at my right hand with the IV drip and suddenly hesitated.
Seeing her uncertainty, I quickly said, “I’m left-handed, it’s fine.”
Only then did her brow relax. “That’s good. With the New Year coming up, it’s hard to find care workers. The earliest one can come is tomorrow afternoon. You’ll have to make do with me for now. For bathroom needs, I’ll ask male nurses to help, and I’ll handle the IV changes and meals.”
I asked Yang Wan, “Aren’t you going home for New Year’s?”
Yang Wan handed me the wontons, “I live nearby, I can go back anytime. Besides… I don’t want to go home for New Year’s either. There are too many people there, and once they start talking about me, it never ends. I can’t handle it all.”
“May I ask how old you are?”
Yang Wan smiled, “Thirty. You understand.”
She moved her chair a bit closer, “Eat while it’s hot, I’ll hold it for you.”
I tried moving my hand with the IV, “I can hold it myself.”
“Better not, we don’t want blood flowing back into the line.”
She rested her elbows on her knees to support herself, “My brother just told me you’re nice, not giving him any trouble and not making any demands.”
I scooped up a wonton and took a bite.
The scallion fragrance was especially strong, and the broth was very flavorful.
Yang Wan smiled and asked, “Is it good? The nurses told me this place is famous.”
I nodded, “Mm, it’s delicious.”
“Then tomorrow morning I’ll buy you their beef noodles. Hmm… you’re from the North, probably can’t handle spicy food, right?”
“I can eat spicy food.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Really.”
Why can I eat spicy food?
I learned it deliberately.
I remember, back in the Great Ming Dynasty, Yang Wan always craved chili peppers. Unfortunately, neither Song Yunqing nor I dared to eat them.