Chapter 23

Qi Hai had worked on construction sites for many years and had good aim. The broom flew from his hand and accurately hit… the cabinet next to Qi Wu.

Qi Baizi saw that he didn’t really intend to hit anyone and breathed a small sigh of relief. After settling her aunt, Wu Yanfang, and her cousin, Qi Wu, she walked over to Qi Hai, who was squatting on the ground with his head in his hands, and gently patted his shoulder.

“Uncle, let’s go out and talk.”

With that, Qi Baizi turned and left the room, walking straight out of the courtyard. The alley was pitch black. Qi Baizi skillfully pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and lit one in front of Qi Hai.

Qi Hai had initially thought she was getting one for him and reached out to take it, only to grasp at empty air. At the same time, he was shocked to see Qi Baizi smoking.

“You… when did you learn to smoke?”

“A couple of days ago.”

After catching up on sleep on Sunday, Qi Baizi had gone to her part-time job at the fried chicken shop in the evening. During a break, she went outside for some air with Pei Ran. Pei Ran lit a cigarette and, seeing her yawning constantly, let her take a drag.

It was very harsh at first, making Qi Baizi’s nose and eyes stream, but after finishing one, she felt a sense of relief, a lightness she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Pei Ran reminded her that it was fine for a pick-me-up, but she should never get addicted. Then, with a smile, she stuffed the remaining half-pack of cigarettes into her pocket.

Pei Ran seemed to enjoy leading good kids ‘astray’, but Qi Baizi didn’t mind much.

There were too many things she hadn’t tried. For so many years, besides making money, she had been learning to accept loss. Now it was time to try learning something new. As long as it didn’t cross any lines, she was willing to try both good and bad things.

The fire that had just been extinguished in Qi Hai flared up again. He tried to snatch the cigarette pack from Qi Baizi’s hand. “Don’t smoke this!”

Qi Baizi took half a step back, easily dodging him. She tilted her head back slightly, her hair tucked behind her ears, revealing her whole face. Her smile was a little smug, and she held the cigarette somewhat unskillfully in her right hand, her previous student-like aura completely gone.

Qi Hai’s heart tightened at the sight… When had Little Bai grown up?

Once this thought emerged, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile. Yes, the child had grown up long ago. Especially his niece, who had been standing on her own two feet for a long time.

“Give your uncle one.” A bitter smile still hung on Qi Hai’s lips. The wrinkles on his rough skin weren’t obvious, but Qi Baizi could still sense that he had aged.

Qi Baizi handed him a cigarette and helped him light it.

Qi Hai took a deep drag, then slowly exhaled the smoke, leaning against a utility pole with a sigh. “Little Bai, Uncle isn’t angry at your cousin. I’m angry at myself.”

“Do you understand me, Uncle?” He gave Qi Baizi a deep look. Qi Baizi understood his helplessness and made a comforting sound.

“Don’t be so pessimistic, Uncle. Although my mom is gone, we’re still a family. Whose money isn’t money?”

Qi Hai frowned slightly.

Qi Baizi said, “Unless I have no family left, then there’s no point in me working so hard to make money.”

As she spoke, she pointed to a mud puddle at her feet, then to the endless darkness in the distance, and said to Qi Hai, “Uncle, tell me, Qi Wu is a girl. How can anyone feel at ease with her living in an environment like this?”

“And besides, for Aunt’s illness, hospitalization is one thing, but the living environment is also very important.” Qi Baizi took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled. “Listen to me. We’ll move this month first, and as soon as I get my salary, we’ll arrange for Aunt to be hospitalized.”

Qi Hai hesitated for a moment and said, “Little Bai, I can’t bring myself to spend your money with a clear conscience.”

“Then consider it as me repaying my debt in advance,” Qi Baizi smoothly picked up the conversation. “You can pay me back the extra money after Aunt gets better.”

“Where did you get the money?” Qi Hai was reminded of the time before his sister Qi Yue’s condition became critical. Qi Baizi had worked part-time and attended classes day and night. If there were no classes during the day, she worked part-time; if there were classes, she attended them. She would even work night shifts without sleeping—in two months, Qi Baizi had lost more than ten kilograms. The bones in her shoulders protruded through her clothes; she was much worse off than now.

“I haven’t had the chance to tell you and Aunt yet, I’ve been officially hired.” Qi Baizi held up four fingers. “I’m making this much a month now. It’s more than enough to cover your expenses.”

Qi Hai was too surprised to speak. Qi Baizi stubbed out her cigarette and went inside to find Qi Wu.

The moment Qi Wu saw Qi Baizi enter, she ran back to her room in fear and sat on her bed. Qi Baizi and her aunt exchanged a helpless glance, and she followed her in.

The two cousins closed the door, and Qi Baizi sat down opposite Qi Wu.

“What are you hiding from? Are you afraid of me or your dad?”

“…Both.” Qi Wu lowered her eyes. The smell of damp, rotting wood in the room filled her nostrils, causing the already tearful Qi Wu to break down even more. “I don’t want my mom to suffer like this anymore. She married my dad, gave birth to me, and has never had a good day in her life.”

Qi Wu looked up. “I didn’t listen to you and hide it from my dad because I’ve made up my mind. Starting next week, I’m going to take on more part-time jobs. I’ll slowly save up and pay you back.”

“I don’t want… I don’t want to be in your debt.”

Qi Baizi gave a bitter smile. “Part-time jobs are very tiring.”

“I’m not afraid!” Qi Wu bit her lip. “If you could endure it, so can I.”

“It’s different.” After a long silence, Qi Baizi said, “We haven’t reached rock bottom yet.”

“There are already two people in the family working. We don’t need a student like you.”

Qi Wu wanted to retort, “I…”

But Qi Baizi interrupted her. “Your father and I have discussed it. Consider the money for rent and hospitalization as me repaying my debt in advance. After Aunt gets better, you can pay me back for the extra amount.”

“Is that okay?”

Qi Baizi stared into Qi Wu’s eyes with utmost sincerity, as if with a magical power. Qi Wu gradually calmed down.

A few seconds later, she nodded.

Qi Baizi smiled in relief. She knew how important dignity was to Qi Wu, just like when she had been forced to accept help from her uncle and aunt. Back then, she had also gritted her teeth and, with tears in her eyes, promised to pay them back in the future.

She just hadn’t expected her aunt to fall ill so suddenly.

Qi Baizi didn’t actually know if her aunt could be cured, but she still wanted to leave her uncle and cousin with a glimmer of hope. The pain of losing a loved one was too great. Since it hadn’t happened, there was no need to constantly anticipate it, otherwise the pain would be endless.

“I’ll pick you up from school tomorrow night. We’ll go look at apartments.”

***

Back home, Qi Baizi took a quick shower and lay down in bed.

She had eaten braised pork ribs at her uncle’s house for dinner. Her uncle wasn’t a great cook, and the plain ribs left her mouth feeling greasy. Now she felt a bit of indigestion. Not long after lying down, she had to run to the bathroom three times, and sharp pains shot through her stomach.

As she was about to vomit over the toilet again, Qi Baizi suddenly heard a man’s voice in the hallway. Out of vigilance, she opened the bathroom door a crack and secretly listened. A man, she didn’t know who, was on the phone in the kitchen.

The man spoke with a regional accent, but she could barely understand him. He was saying something into the receiver like “got another one,” “hotter than the last one,” “boobs like balloons,” his voice low but unable to conceal its lewd tone.

Qi Baizi closed the door and couldn’t help but vomit into the toilet again.

As luck would have it, when she was heading back, the man finished his call, and the two came face to face.

Qi Baizi looked very unwell. She clutched her stomach, hurried past the man, and quickly returned to her room, closing the door.

The next morning, Qi Baizi requested leave again. She felt very embarrassed about it, but her body just wasn’t cooperating. Around three in the morning, her stomach pain had broken her out in a cold sweat, and she finally couldn’t bear it anymore, quickly hailing a taxi to the hospital.

At the hospital, she underwent another round of examinations, which concluded with a diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis. The doctor prescribed two IV drips and a few boxes of medicine for her to take home. By the time she finished the drip, it was already bright outside, and the road in front of the hospital was in the thick of the morning rush hour. Qi Baizi wanted to go home and change, but by the time she got back, it was already seven o’clock.

Gu Yuetong naturally granted her leave, and for the whole day at that. After learning the reason, she even thoughtfully asked if she needed someone to take care of her, offering to send Auntie Qin over.

Qi Baizi had initially only planned to ask for half a day’s leave. After all, taking leave might result in a pay cut, and she hadn’t yet figured out Gu Yuetong’s attitude on this matter, so she didn’t dare to be too presumptuous. But Gu Yuetong was so ‘humane’ that she dispelled all of Qi Baizi’s worries.

There was naturally no need for Auntie Qin to come. The bedroom in her shared apartment, excluding the common areas, was only ten square meters. There wouldn’t even be space for a small child to stay.

Besides, she didn’t want to owe so many favors. After politely declining, she went home, took her medicine, and simply buried her head under the covers to sleep.

She slept restlessly. Sounds came from the next room from time to time. Even though it was a workday, the people in the neighboring bedroom seemed to not be working.

If Qi Baizi remembered correctly, two girls lived there. She had seen them go to work just last week and hadn’t heard anything about them quitting or moving out.

The noise was getting too much. Qi Baizi had no choice but to dig out the earmuffs she wore for food delivery in the winter, which barely managed to block out the sound.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already evening. There were many messages on her phone, from both Pei Ran and Qi Wu, with a greeting from Gu Yuetong sandwiched in between: Feeling better?

Without a second thought, Qi Baizi opened Gu Yuetong’s message first and replied: Much better. I can work normally tomorrow.

Gu Yuetong replied almost instantly: No rush. Focus on getting well first.

Qi Baizi didn’t know what to say and replied with a smiling person emoji.

Gu Yuetong didn’t reply again.

Qi Baizi then called Qi Wu, only to learn that Qi Wu had also come down with gastroenteritis. It was milder than Qi Baizi’s case, though; she hadn’t needed an IV drip. She went to the school in the morning, the school doctor gave her some medicine, and after two doses, she was almost better.

Qi Baizi joked, “Your dad must have poisoned us.”

Qi Wu said seriously, “He and my mom are fine.”

Qi Baizi: …They must have antibodies!!!

Qi Wu asked, “Are we still going to look at apartments?”

“Of course! Let’s go now!”

Since she had already taken the day off, she might as well go out early and look at a few more places. After all, they were planning to live there long-term. A comfortable place to live was key, so it was better to look at more options.

The two of them arranged to meet the agent at the entrance of a certain residential complex.