Free Web NovelChapter 123: Chapter 122: You Can Catch Me Now_1
The Internal Medicine Inpatient Department of the Sixth Hospital.
Xu Dayuan was speaking with the remaining staff, while Zhou Ning and Mr. Zhao stood outside the door, looking into the ward. Luo Suqin had awakened, lying on the bed with an oxygen tube, her face pale.
Her gaze fixed outside the window, in front of her was a laptop and a stack of manuscripts.
Whoever had brought these items was unknown, as Xu Dayuan hurried over.
"The doctor said that Luo Suqin’s condition allows her to leave the ICU now, but her heart problem has always been there, and her physical state is very poor, with many issues. They performed a physical examination on Luo Suqin, and indeed—as Mr. Guan and the others said—Luo Suqin is missing four toes, amputated years ago."
Mr. Zhao asked from the side,
"The leader just woke up and you brought her the computer and such?"
Xu Dayuan nodded. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"The people staying behind asked me early in the morning, saying that Luo Suqin wanted her computer and translation manuscripts. I thought since these were work-related, I didn’t stop them. It seems she places great importance on her work."
Zhou Ning pondered for a moment, shifting his gaze away from Luo Suqin.
"I have looked at the manuscripts, and the handwriting matches what’s in the diary. I believe it is left by Zhang Min’an. Didn’t Mr. Guan mention that when Zhang Min’an visited the publishing house before, he had only completed 10%, but now 90% is done.
She must want to finish Zhang Min’an’s remaining work as quickly as possible. It’s a commitment, but after this commitment is fulfilled, it’s uncertain... how Luo Suqin will choose."
Xu Dayuan and Mr. Zhao were both taken aback, with Mr. Zhao unable to restrain himself from asking.
"Zhou Xiaozhou, what do you mean? Are you saying Luo Suqin is now eager to complete this manuscript and then wants to end her own life?"
Xu Dayuan frowned deeply, thought for a moment, and nodded his head, clearly agreeing with Zhou Ning’s statement.
"Let’s not guess anymore, let’s go in and see."
Mr. Zhao pushed the door open. Luo Suqin slowly turned her head, and seeing Xu Dayuan, she smiled slightly.
"You’re here. I don’t know which one of you is good with computers, but I need your help with something. You don’t need to ask; I’ll explain everything clearly afterward."
Zhou Ning stepped forward, approaching Luo Suqin closely. Mr. Zhao ran to the end of the bed, cranked up the bed a bit so Luo Suqin could sit up more comfortably—it was a more comfortable position for her.
"What do you need us to do?"
Luo Suqin took a few deep breaths, trying to speak coherently.
"This document has to be sent to the publishing house. I’ve completed the final proofreading. It’s the last part, but my computer can’t connect to the internet right now."
Zhou Ning leaned in to check and chose to connect to his own phone’s hotspot. He then sent the email that Luo Suqin had prepared. The email was successfully sent, and an immediate reply was received. Luo Suqin’s face broke into a smile, and she nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you. At last, the final step is done. Please, sit. I know what you want to ask."
Zhou Ning sat down beside Xu Dayuan, while Mr. Zhao turned on the enforcement recorder and stood by the window, the angle just right to capture everyone in the frame. Xu Dayuan said,
"I just asked the doctor about your health issues, which require further treatment. If you feel up to it, tell us anything that comes to mind, anything at all; however, we need to record this."
Luo Suqin nodded, letting out a breath, looking in Mr. Zhao’s direction. Zhou Ning knew she wasn’t looking at Mr. Zhao, but outside the window, as if only this motion could take her thoughts back to the past.
"We met in August of 1964. Zhang Min’an was 22, I was 21. We were on the same train heading to Jidong City after university graduation. We were assigned to two neighboring primary and secondary schools in Jidong City, and both of us were English teachers.
"We talked about our dreams and ambitions along the way, which sparked feelings between us. Upon reaching the school, we threw ourselves into work. We often went to townships together to persuade students to attend classes."
That winter, Zhang Min’an had gone to the base of the mine to find a student and didn’t return for the entire night. His colleagues told me, so I hurried out to look for him. When I found him, he was already unconscious with a high fever on the mid-slope. He had appendicitis and hadn’t treated it; I knew it had to be this problem flaring up.
So I carried him down the mountain, walking for a whole day and night. It wasn’t until the evening that we reached the roadside, where we caught a ride on a fellow villager’s donkey cart. That’s how Zhang Min’an was finally taken to the hospital in time for surgery. I had hurried out so quickly that I was wearing cloth shoes, so my toes got frostbitten too.
During his hospitalization, his father came and just happened to hear about my condition. Knowing that I couldn’t have children in the future, he grabbed his belt and tried to hang himself in front of Zhang Min’an’s bed. Faced with such a vehement reaction, I could only leave temporarily.
Of course, his father also brought a girl with him, said to be his childhood betrothed. I hadn’t heard him mention her before. The girl was very down-to-earth and took very good care of Zhang Min’an; I felt it wasn’t right for me to destroy their relationship.
When Zhang Min’an was discharged from the hospital, we met, and I gave him a letter, telling him that I was transferring jobs and hoping for his happiness. After that, I left. Later on, I heard that he married that girl and they had a child, Zhang Guoqing.
Afterward, I continued working in Jixi City as an English teacher. We met again in 1976 when I was transferred back to Jidong City and even got assigned a staff apartment. In front of the Education Committee’s main gate, I saw Zhang Min’an—he hadn’t changed, just seemed much thinner.
We had a meal and talked about the changes in the past twelve years. He said his wife had passed away four years earlier, reflecting on the unpredictability of life. Of course, there was also the letter that troubled his wife; at that time, I deeply regretted having left that letter for Zhang Min’an.
We stayed in touch, but Zhang Guoqing, to oppose our potential union, made a scene and threatened to leave home. Reluctantly, we had to let it go. Zhang Min’an’s father, on the other hand, did hope we’d get together and admitted that it was his insistence that caused our separation years ago.
But nothing could change the past. In 1984, Zhang Guoqing was admitted to university. He left us with a warning: if he found out we were together, he’d report us to the Bureau of Education for misconduct. In that era, we bowed to social pressure and didn’t choose to be together.
I retired in 1998 and started taking up some translation work, which boosted my confidence. Zhang Min’an found me; he had retired early since his father had also passed away. He decided to leave Jidong City with me, and that’s when we moved to Qindao.
The pension was meager then, and housing prices here were very high. Zhang Guoqing stopped trying to obstruct us but kept asking Zhang Min’an for money. In truth, we were happy about it; giving him money in exchange for acknowledgement made us happy.
After all, besides Zhang Min’an, I had no relatives in this world; and Zhang Min’an had only this one child. His sister had died in her teens. But things started to spiral out of control.
In 2002, under Zhang Guoqing’s pressure, Zhang Min’an sold the two houses back in his hometown for a total of just over two hundred thousand yuan. We kept ten thousand for ourselves, giving the rest to him. But he said it wasn’t enough, and we had to desperately take on more translation work.
Our health declined with each passing year. In 2009, our two houses in Jidong City were demolished. I rushed back to deal with the issue and was compensated over eight hundred thousand yuan. I bought a house next to Daliu Village and gave the remaining hundred thousand to Zhang Guoqing.
After contributing over one million four hundred thousand in total, he was still not satisfied. That’s when we broke off the relationship. Zhang Min’an’s leg had been bothering him for a while. Under my urging, he saw doctors a few times until last May I learned that he had cancer.
He said he didn’t want treatment. First, we didn’t have the money, and second, the doctors said it was incurable. He preferred to live out his final days peacefully. I agreed, and I accompanied him to many places. He didn’t continue with the translation work he had last picked up.
When we went to Xiaolong Mountain, he said he wanted to rest there because of the beautiful scenery. I said after his cremation, I’d scatter his ashes there, and when I died, scatter mine there too. He shook his head."
At those words, Zhou Ning straightened his back. At that moment, his mind was torn; he longed to hear the truth, yet dreaded it.
Luo Suqin clutched the oxygen tube and drew a few strong breaths. Her complexion seemed to worsen, but she didn’t stop.
"He said he was afraid of fire and didn’t want to be burned. He wanted his flesh and bones to fertilize the flowers, grass, and trees here. I agreed to all his wishes.
On July 1, 2010, he didn’t wake up in the morning. You know, he died with a smile on his face. I think he must have felt very happy, after all, I was with him through his last days.
Then I inquired whether Xiaolong Mountain had a burial site, but I was told that it had become an archaeological site, a Han Dynasty tomb, and that getting in required walking a small path, with the periphery sealed off.
I was at a loss. On my own, I couldn’t carry him, let alone take him to Xiaolong Mountain, but I had promised Zhang Min’an. I went home and pondered for two days and nights. I came up with an idea and then bought an electric saw at the hardware store. In the back room, I cut his body up, wrapped it in plastic cloth, and loaded it onto the cart.
I started on July 3, 2010, at about ten at night. After three trips, I had transported all of his remains. As for the location, it was by the second mountain ridge on the north side of the path leading into the mountain.
I watched the Qindao news and knew that I had caused a negative image for the country, but these days I’ve been busy completing the last part of his manuscript. As long as I finish it, I am ready for whatever comes next. At least after his death, there will be a book with both our names, making our lifelong acquaintance and love not be in vain.
I’m sorry, officer. I should have clarified everything when you last visited, but sadly, this old frame of mine didn’t hold up."
As she spoke, Luo Suqin raised her hands, and the connected IV tubes and monitoring wires began to sway with the movement.
"Now you can arrest me."
