Meng Po Gave Her A Bowl Of Soup - Chapter 7

These past few days, Xu Ruying had been quietly observing the two of them.

They were the closest family members she had once been most familiar with. She understood their temperaments far too well.

Before this, neither of them had been strong by nature.

Back then, when Xiao Mingyu and Song Wanyue had come alone to drift in this city with no one to rely on, Mingyu had not dared bring her mother with her, afraid that Huang Lan was getting older and was not in good health, and that she would suffer along with them. Later, as their days gradually improved, she had asked Huang Lan to come over more than once.

But Huang Lan had always smiled and said, “I know you’re filial, but Mom is used to life in the countryside. I can’t adapt to the big city anymore. As long as you and Wanyue are doing well, Mom is satisfied.”

And Wanyue?

Basically, after she had Mingyu, aside from her childhood friend Zhang Hui, she no longer had any especially close friends. What she liked most was clinging to Mingyu.

Many times, Mingyu would be frantic with work, sitting in front of the computer all night without even having time to talk. And her Wanyue would obediently and sensibly keep her company like that, looking over her course materials. In Wanyue’s words, “As long as you’re in front of my eyes, I feel happy.”

These two people, who were somewhat “solitary” and weak, were now comforting each other and licking each other’s wounds because of Mingyu’s sudden departure. They had become each other’s reason to keep going.

On the eighth day after Mingyu left.

Perhaps because she realized that Mingyu truly would never return, Song Wanyue, utterly disheartened, was finally struck down. She fell ill.

Huang Lan was a woman who had spent her whole life in the countryside. At her age, not only could she not find her way around anywhere, she did not even know what everyday medicine she should give Wanyue.

Wanyue was burning with fever, dazed and muddled, yet she still comforted her in a hoarse voice. “Auntie, I’m fine. I’ll be better after sleeping.”

Huang Lan was very anxious. “But you still have to take medicine. How can you get better without medicine? Where is the medicine at home?”

Song Wanyue forced herself to sit up and pointed at the medicine box beside her. “I took some.”

Just this one movement drenched her back in sweat. “There are dumplings I bought in the freezer. Go eat something first. I’ll sleep for a while…”

Huang Lan hurriedly supported her and helped her lie back down. “Don’t worry about me. Hurry and sleep.”

In the past, during every holiday or break, Mingyu would always bring Huang Lan over to stay for a while.

Wanyue’s body had been a little weak since childhood, and after growing up, she often caught colds and the like. Huang Lan had personally seen how fragile Wanyue became in front of her daughter.

Whenever she caught a cold or fell ill, she would curl up on the bed, looking at Mingyu pitifully with tearful eyes like a little puppy. Many times, she would stretch out both arms, asking to be hugged.

And Mingyu?

She would be so heartbroken that she would do whatever Wanyue asked.

At times like this, what Wanyue liked eating most was the preserved egg congee Mingyu made. She would curl up in Mingyu’s arms, eating the spoonfuls Mingyu fed her while acting spoiled and awkwardly muttering, “It’s not good if Auntie sees this.”

Xiao Mingyu would tap the tip of her nose and ask with a smile, “Now you know how to feel embarrassed?”

Every time, Huang Lan would pretend she was blind and had seen nothing, her old face flushing red as she hurried away.

…

Now, the person who loved her was no longer here.

There was no one left for her to lean on.

Song Wanyue curled herself into a ball, her hand pressed tightly over her chest. Sweat soaked through her clothes, and waves of dizziness surged to her head. In the depths of her misery, she could not help bringing the ring on her ring finger to her lips and kissing it softly.

Mingyu, Mingyu…

Xu Ruying had been waiting at the doorway since early morning.

She watched as Huang Lan hurried downstairs, asking this person and that before finally reaching the community hospital. Then, because she had no medical insurance card and had not brought her ID, she stood there so anxiously that tears were about to fall, saying again and again to the passing nurses, “I have money… I have money… My child is sick… I want to get some medicine…”

Huang Lan could read. She had looked at the medicine Wanyue had taken and knew it was not right for her symptoms.

Wanyue had been overly grief-stricken, her immune system was weakened, and she had spent all of last night waiting at the doorway in the wind.

The nurses were all busy. One of them glanced at Huang Lan impatiently. “Even if you have money, you still have to register. Did you go to the window to register?”

…

Huang Lan bit her lip. She narrowed her eyes and looked toward the window, but without her reading glasses, she could not see clearly. She was so anxious that sweat faintly seeped out across her forehead. Back where she lived, they all went to the local village doctor, and everyone was very familiar with one another. If anyone had an issue, they would go straight to the clinic, or if it was serious, they could directly call the village doctor over.

In this city where she had lost her daughter and had no relatives in sight, Huang Lan felt helpless for the first time. Her forehead was lined with white hair and the hardships of age, and her eyes were clouded with helplessness.

“Auntie.”

Xu Ruying could not bear the heartbreak and ache anymore. She walked out, doing her best to pull out a faint smile. “What a coincidence. Are you here to get medicine?”

Huang Lan froze when she saw her, then seemed to grab hold of a life-saving straw. “Yes, I… my child is sick. She has a fever. I want to get some fever-reducing medicine. But they say I can’t… my ID is at home. Do I need to go back for it? I, I…”

Her child.

Was Wanyue.

Xu Ruying pressed her lips together and tried hard to suppress the pain in her heart. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

Looking at her white-haired mother, Xu Ruying felt as though her heart were breaking. While soothing the old woman, she got the medicine as quickly as possible.

Actually, there was medicine at home. It was just that it was usually placed in the medicine box in the bedroom, and whenever anything happened, Mingyu had always been the one to look for it.

After getting the medicine.

Huang Lan felt much more at ease. Her haggard face carried an ingratiating smile. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Xu Ruying’s nose stung. She squeezed Huang Lan’s hand. “It’s all right. It’s all right…”

Huang Lan was a little uneasy. Because she had come from a small place and had only entered the city a few times in her whole life, there was always some inferiority in her heart, and she was afraid of causing trouble for others.

This trip outside.

Huang Lan not only brought back medicine, she also let Xu Ruying into the house.

She was old, and many things were hard for her to keep straight. Along the way, listening to Xu Ruying explain how the medicine should be taken had left her even more muddled. Later, seeing her helpless appearance, Xu Ruying took out her ID card. “Auntie, this is my ID. If you trust me, I can go home with you and help.”

Huang Lan looked at her with slight hesitation.

Actually, although the place she lived was not large, the customs in the village were simple and honest, and neighbors always helped one another.

She had lost her husband in middle age, and Mingyu had always been struggling in the big city. Over the years, whenever something happened, it was the neighbors and villagers who helped her. As the saying went, close neighbors were better than distant relatives. What was more, she had a very good impression of this clean and capable-looking young woman before her, even faintly feeling a sense of familiarity. She was willing, but Wanyue…

Seeing her hesitation, Xu Ruying’s voice softened. “It’s fine. I’ll only check how high her fever is. I won’t disturb her.”

Since she had put it that way, Huang Lan unconsciously nodded. In the past, she had often heard Mingyu mention President Xu too, saying how she took care of her, promoted her, and appreciated her. Over the years, the fact that Mingyu had been able to develop her abilities in the workplace had a great deal to do with the support of someone who valued her.

Huang Lan had even told her daughter before that people had to know gratitude and repay others within their ability.

Now, seeing President Xu so attentive, she found it difficult to refuse again.

She was just a little confused.

Huang Lan heard President Xu calling Wanyue so intimately, as if they were very familiar, but judging by Wanyue’s attitude toward her, it seemed they had not known each other before.

When Xu Ruying followed Huang Lan into the house and saw the group photo of herself and Wanyue from their student days in the living room, her nose stung, and tears almost fell.

Her gaze lingered greedily around the room.

Only a few days had passed, but everything had already changed beyond recognition.

She was no longer the owner of this home.

And this home, which had lost its mistress, also seemed to have lost its former vitality. Without her and Wanyue’s laughter and joy, everything was lifeless and heavy.

In the very center of the living room was Mingyu’s black-and-white photo. Beside it, the incense burner was still sending up thin curls of smoke.

Seeing President Xu’s gaze linger on the photo, Huang Lan explained faintly, “That child Wanyue… she’s sick, so sick she can barely get out of bed, but she still forced herself to come light incense.”

Before, Wanyue had been a firm materialist. But now, after hearing a crematorium master say that as long as incense was lit, a soul that wanted to return home would not lose its way, she personally lit incense every day no matter how awful she felt.

Xu Ruying did not speak. She lowered her head and took the medicine out of the bag, her long hair blocking her cheeks so that no one could see her expression. Only her voice trembled slightly. “I’ll go get her medicine.”

Song Wanyue was feverish and somewhat muddled.

This time, her refusal to take medicine was not only because she could not get out of bed. She also had a tiny selfish thought.

She had once overheard a student say in private that when she was little and had a fever, she had been so dazed from the fever that she saw her deceased grandmother.

At the time, Song Wanyue had been grading homework at the front. She wore a skirt suit, her long hair pinned up neatly and cleanly, looking extremely dignified and elegant. But those students did not know that their teacher’s ears had long since perked up because of their “ghost story.”

When she had been at her happiest, these things had been nothing more than a faint smile on Wanyue’s lips. She would not have taken them to heart at all.

But now, she could only rely on these things to see the beloved she longed for but could not reach.

Before falling asleep, Song Wanyue took out her phone and used their shared Moon Rain account to post a status.

—Let me dream of you. I’m begging you.

When her whole body was burning from the fever and even her consciousness had grown unclear, Song Wanyue heard the door creak. Immediately after, a delicate palm gently touched her forehead.

“Mingyu…”

Her fever-cracked red lips moved unconsciously.

Xu Ruying looked at her deeply, restraining the emotions in her heart as she said softly, “Miss Song, take some medicine.”

It was not Mingyu.

A scalding tear slid from the corner of Song Wanyue’s eye. Xu Ruying stared at that tear. It was as if something bitter had slid down onto the tip of her own heart, shattering into pieces and splashing blood.

Xu Ruying raised Song Wanyue’s head a little higher with a pillow, fed her the medicine bit by bit, then placed a cooling fever patch on her forehead.

This thing was something Wanyue had once seen used when her little nephew had a fever. She had found it quite novel. After Mingyu discovered this, she had secretly teased her for it, but had truly bought some for her.

Xu Ruying sat by the bed, staring foolishly at Song Wanyue. She very much wanted to touch her face and tell her, “Wanyue, don’t cry. I’m right beside you.”

But she could not.

The most familiar stranger—within this fortune, how much sorrow, regret, and pity there was.

In a haze, Song Wanyue felt that her head did not hurt as much anymore. The cool sensation dispelled traces of heat.

Very soon, the sweat on her forehead, neck, and arms was wiped dry.

Even the pillow towel was changed…

By the end, Song Wanyue faintly regained a little strength. She heard Huang Lan outside the bedroom door seemingly speaking with someone. Their voices were very, very soft.

Song Wanyue wanted to open her eyes and take a look, but in the end, she was still suppressed by heavy sleepiness.

She slept for an entire day. On the ninth day, when she woke up.

Song Wanyue struggled to sit up. Her body felt like a rusted machine, weak and heavy. Huang Lan, who had been dozing beside her, hurriedly held her down. “Don’t move. Your fever just went down.”

Song Wanyue looked at Huang Lan groggily. “Auntie, you went to buy medicine?”

Only when she spoke did she realize how hoarse her throat was.

“It was Xiao Xu from across the hall.”

After the earlier help and conversation, Huang Lan approved very much of Xu Ruying as a person. At Xu Ruying’s strong request, she had changed from calling her President Xu to Xiao Xu.

Xiao Xu?

Song Wanyue did not react for a moment. Huang Lan turned around to pick up the bowl on the table. “Yes, President Xu. Come, Mingyu, she even made you congee.”

Having only just recovered from the fever, Song Wanyue had no strength. She tilted her head and looked at Huang Lan. “Auntie, you… you let her into our house…”

“I, I was just a little anxious. Seeing you burning up so badly, I went downstairs to buy medicine, but I didn’t really understand anything. She helped me.”

Huang Lan was a little uneasy and nervous, afraid Song Wanyue would blame her. Wanyue was silent for a moment, then looked at her and smiled faintly. “It’s my fault.”

Before, Mingyu had always done these things. Mingyu had always been the one protecting her.

At that time, Song Wanyue’s sympathy would always suddenly overflow. When she saw begging elderly people or children, not only would she give them money, she would also buy them something to eat. If she met a particularly pitiful child, she would even crouch down and talk to them for a long time, looking as if she were seriously investigating whether the child had been abducted and whether she should call the police.

Every time, Xiao Mingyu would not know whether to laugh or cry. “How can you have no guard up against people at all? Look at the way that child’s mother is looking at you. If you keep staring at her child, she’ll be the one calling the police later.”

…

Song Wanyue looked at Huang Lan, whose head was lowered in self-blame. After a moment of silence, she lifted the blanket, stretched out both arms, and hugged Huang Lan. “Auntie.”

Huang Lan’s body stiffened slightly in her arms.

Song Wanyue rested her head on Huang Lan’s shoulder and said softly, “It’s my fault. Give me some time. I will be like… like Mingyu, and protect you properly.”

If Mingyu could do it, then so could she.

Huang Lan’s nose stung. On Wanyue’s body, she smelled her daughter’s scent. She stretched out both arms and gently hugged Wanyue. “Silly child, Auntie hopes you’ll be well.”

Wanyue could not let go of her because of what Mingyu had cared about.

But was Huang Lan not the same?

No one knew a daughter better than her mother. She knew that in Mingyu’s heart, Wanyue had been as important as her life.

Her daughter must have been very worried about her.

A mother was strong for her child.

No matter her age.

She would take good care of Wanyue for her daughter, helping her walk out of this pain bit by bit. At that time… at that time, she would go back.

Song Wanyue’s heart ached, but she restrained herself and did not shed tears again. “Mm. I will.”

In front of Mingyu’s grave, she had sworn an oath.

She would take care of Huang Lan and support her in old age until the end.

She wanted Mingyu to be at ease.

Sunlight streamed into the room from outside the window. Although it was very faint, as it shone on the two of them, it brought with it the vigorous vitality of morning.

Song Wanyue specially cooked a bowl of noodles for Huang Lan. Although just from the appearance, it still did not seem particularly tasty, she tried her best to recall the steps Mingyu took when cooking noodles, wanting to replicate her flavor.

Huang Lan ate a little more than she had in the previous two days, and her mood improved quite a bit. As for Song Wanyue, she reheated the congee President Xu had sent over. With her condition easing, she also knew that this matter had no absolute connection to President Xu, and that she should not drag her into it.

Although she still had no appetite, seeing Huang Lan’s heartbroken gaze, Song Wanyue picked up the spoon and tasted one bite. The savory congee slid through her mouth. After only one bite, she froze.

“What’s wrong?”

Huang Lan thought the taste did not suit her. Song Wanyue stared at the congee in a daze for a long time. In the end, she turned her head, her eyes faintly rippling with watery light, and asked in a trembling voice, “Auntie, who did you say made this congee?”