Chapter 19 – His Highness’ Unusual Behavior in the Blink of an Eye

…

Next day

Today is October 1st, the National Day holiday, and the school is on a 10-day break. Jian Mei can finally go back to his grandfather’s house and have some fun. The classmates in his class are making plans to go to the amusement park together. Of course, there are also polite inquiries about whether he will go or not. However, after experiencing some things, Jian Mei still prefers to go back to the countryside and accompany his grandfather in the small medicinal shed.

The roads in the village are somewhat secluded. When he arrived at the entrance of the village, he saw many people returning from the fields. They would greet him when they saw him:

“Meimei is back!”

“This child seems to have grown taller.”

“Auntie just picked some fresh cucumbers from the field. They are tender. Take some and taste.”

“Take this with you. I remember your grandfather likes it…”

It wasn’t a long distance from the village entrance to his home, but Jian Mei had to walk slowly because he was overwhelmed by the greetings. It was hard to say whether he was used to it or not, but he was accustomed to it. His grandfather was generous and often provided free medical treatment to the elderly in the village. Nowadays, many young people have gone to work in the city, leaving behind only women, children, and elderly people living alone. Going to the hospital from the village is quite far, so everyone would come to Grandpa Jian for a quick check-up for any small or big ailments.

When Jian Mei reached the doorstep of his house, he happened to see a calico cat approaching gracefully from a short distance. He crouched down and said, “Little Lili, where have you been?”

The calico cat gave him a disdainful glance and went inside.

Jian Mei carried the fruits and vegetables in his arms and followed the cat’s steps into the house. He opened his voice, “Grandpa!”

The old man sitting on the rocking chair under the vine arbor woke up with a start, raised his head, and smiled, “Ah, Meimei, you’re back from vacation to see grandpa?”

Jian Mei asked, “Where should I put these fruits and vegetables?”

“Put them in the water tank next to the well.” The old man fanned himself with a fan. “Wash two cucumbers for us to eat.”

“Okay.”

Jian Mei put his small backpack on the table and then ran over to squat by the water tank to wash the cucumbers. He asked, “Grandpa, when I came here today, I saw Aunt Li. She was having some difficulty breathing, and I heard her cough a few times. It seems that the cool autumn weather has worsened her asthma.”

“Observation, listening, questioning, and pulse diagnosis, all are essential.” The old man said with his eyes closed, “But it’s her old problem. Later, go to the backyard and fetch a pair of medicines for me to check. Don’t mix them up.”

When Jian Mei was young and just learned to walk, he would follow behind his grandfather as a little assistant in the medicinal shed. The medicine cabinet at home was tall and big, and sometimes when the old man had difficulty with his legs, Jian Mei would climb up and down to fetch the medicines. Even without knowing how to read, he could remember the locations. He was well-versed in the various prescriptions. Later, when he started elementary school, Jian Mei’s father installed a medicine cabinet with automatic lifting for his grandfather, despite objections, to save the elderly from having to climb high and low.

The doctor’s work kept him busy in the clinic and operating room throughout the year, while Shen Meina traveled around the country for her acting engagements. Jian Mei grew up in the countryside and was closest to his grandfather.

Jian Mei handed the cucumber to his grandfather as promised and said, “Grandpa, taste it.”

The cucumber was juicy and tender, and after being washed with well water, it had a hint of sweetness. The old man sighed, “The produce is good this year. The heavens have blessed us with food, and the crops have yielded a bountiful harvest. The medicinal herbs on the mountain are growing well, even these fruits and vegetables taste good.”

Jian Mei sat on a small horse stool nearby, watching the chickens wandering around in the nearby pen. He murmured, “Grandpa doesn’t even cultivate the land. Everything is either sent by Grandpa or the aunties.”

The old man chuckled, “What do you know, you little rascal?”

“I know!” Jian Mei took a bite of the small cucumber, and a gentle breeze rustled through the vines. His round eyes curved as he whispered, “Because Grandpa doesn’t want the aunties to be afraid to come and seek medical help.”

Perhaps only people in the village would understand this unspoken mutual understanding.

Some elderly people who had lost their ability to work had no income, especially those whose children had passed away.

They tried to endure both major and minor illnesses on their own, afraid to go to the clinic or see a doctor.

Nobody knew the lifetime savings of the old man, but he never had to worry about food and clothing. Yet, he still accepted the fruits and vegetables brought by neighbors and villagers. This way, people who fell ill would come without any concerns.

The old man leisurely ate the cucumber, and he said with some emotion, “When your grandmother was alive, she loved planting flowers and plants.”

Jian Mei was curious, “I’ve never heard you mention that.”

His grandmother had passed away early, and the couple had a deep affection for each other. No one in the family dared to mention this sad matter, and Jian Mei had only seen a photo of her on his grandfather’s bedside table since he was young.

The old man smiled, “Do you want to see it?”

Jian Mei nodded vigorously, “Come on then.”

The old man got up and walked towards the inner room, and Jian Mei followed closely behind him. In the study, there was a well-locked cabinet. The old man took out an album from inside. It must have been quite old, as the album had yellowed, but it was well-preserved. When the album was opened, the old photos inside were still in good condition.

“This… is the first time your grandmother’s Orchid has bloomed.”

Jian Mei sat on the sofa, leaning against his grandfather, pointing to a photo. “And this one?”

“This is your grandmother’s Purple Vervain.” The old man’s smile was gentle and benevolent. “I told her that there were plenty of them on the mountain, but she wouldn’t listen. She insisted on planting them at home because they looked beautiful.”

Though his words seemed reproachful, they were filled with indulgence.

Jian Mei looked at the photos with affectionate eyes. “Grandma was so beautiful.”

The old man’s voice couldn’t contain his pride. “Indeed, she was the most beautiful woman in the surrounding ten miles.”

Jian Mei burst into a wide smile, quietly listening to his grandfather’s stories about him and his wife. Over the years, his grandfather had grown old, and his memory was fading for many things. However, when he saw the photos, he could vividly recall every background and story behind them. These memories had accompanied him throughout his later years as he replayed them countless times in his mind.

“It’s Ah Li.”

“It’s not Ah Li, it’s Ah Li’s mother.”

“So Ah Li’s mother was already at home when she was so small?”

“Yes.” The old man looked at the cat in the photo. “That year, when we went to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs, this tortoiseshell cat broke its leg. Your grandmother found it and brought it home. It stayed with us ever since. It was very affectionate, always sticking to your grandmother, following her wherever she went.”

Jian Mei asked, “Is it no longer around?”

The old man paused as he flipped through the photos, then nodded gently. “During the time when your grandmother was hospitalized and was not at home, it refused to eat or drink. After she passed away, it started eating again, disappeared for a couple of months, and then one day it came back pregnant and gave birth to Ah Li, the only offspring, and then it left.”

At first, Jian Mei didn’t understand. “Where did it go?”

The old man paused, reached out and gently touched Jian Mei’s head, his voice tender. “It went to find your grandmother.”

The curtains in the room gently fluttered in the wind, and the tortoiseshell cat leisurely walked in from outside. After circling around, it jumped onto the sofa and finally settled down on the old man’s lap.

The old man stroked Ah Li’s head and whispered softly, “Ah Li, thank you for keeping me company for these past ten years or so in place of your mother.”

The tortoiseshell cat lazily flicked its tail.

The old man, being of advanced age, easily grew drowsy. He had said he wanted to look at the photo album, but before long, he dozed off, leaning against the sofa. Jian Mei didn’t disturb him. He brought a blanket from the study and covered his grandfather, walking softly along the way, afraid of waking him up.

Walking to the other side of the window, he continued looking at the photo album.

The album was thick, and flipping through it would eventually lead to pictures of his parents, his brother, and himself. He first saw his brother’s childhood photos, followed by his own. Jian Mei was engrossed in looking at them when he felt a slight vibration from his phone. He took it out and saw a reply from Lu Xingwang: [Be safe on the way.]

It turned out that he had messaged Lu Xingwang in the morning, informing him that he was going back to the countryside, and Lu Xingwang was only responding now.

Jian Mei didn’t mind and instead told him, “I’ve already arrived. Right now, I’m in my grandfather’s study looking at the photo album. It’s all pictures from my childhood, quite interesting. Do you want to see?”

Lu Xingwang was currently in the mechanical assembly room, looking at components for a new type of mech. After briefly scanning the message, he replied indifferently: [Busy.]

Jian Mei sighed and typed a response, “Alright then, when I was a child, for some reason, my mom always treated me like a girl and made me wear dresses for photos. I wanted to show you, but forget it.”

…

There was silence for a while on the other end.

Then, Lu Xingwang messaged him: [Done with work.]