"Well, if you'd come for a check-up earlier, we might have been able to treat it. Even if it couldn't be cured, you could have at least lived a few more years. Now the cancer cells have spread everywhere. There's no point in treatment..."
***
Zhao Dong didn't know how he left the hospital. He stood at the entrance, staring at the medical report in his hand. After a long moment, a bitter, self-mocking smile touched his lips. He had just been discharged from the military, only to be diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was only in his twenties. Is there anything more ironic in the world?
Zhao Dong bought two cans of beer from a convenience store and drank them alone on the roadside. With a deep sigh, he tossed the medical report away and hailed a taxi home. Things had already come to this. He was powerless to change anything, so what was the use of suffering? It was better to face it head-on.
On the way home, a myriad of thoughts flooded Zhao Dong's mind. I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing? I've been away for years. Being in the special forces required secrecy, and I was always out on missions. Sometimes I'd be gone for half a year, even a full year, so I barely contacted them. In three years, I can count the number of times we've spoken on one hand. But during my time away, I sent money back periodically. My parents are illiterate, so I always sent the money to my best friend, Wang Hao, and asked him to pass it on to them. The money I've sent over the years should have been more than enough for them to live without worry...
The taxi passed through the bustling city, gradually making its way toward the outskirts. Soon, it arrived at an old district on the edge of the city, and Zhao Dong got out. It looked just as he remembered it: dust hung in the air, and the streets were lined with dilapidated roads and aging shops. This was the backstreet district, a world away from the prosperous metropolis.
Zhao Dong walked into a narrow alley. The small courtyard at the very end was his home. Thinking of his parents, and then of his own terminal illness, his heart suddenly grew heavy.
He finally reached his front gate. The rusty iron gate of the small courtyard was shut tight. Zhao Dong rubbed his face, forced a semblance of a normal smile, and knocked.
"Dad, Mom, I'm back!"
A moment later, he heard slow, hesitant footsteps from within, and his heart sank. It seems my parents have aged a lot over the years.
While he was lost in thought, the rusted iron gate creaked open. Zhao Dong frowned at the person standing before him. It was a disheveled old woman in ragged clothes. Her hair was white and matted, her face was covered in wrinkles, and she was frighteningly gaunt.
Zhao Dong was stunned, not recognizing her for a moment. "You are...?"
The old woman stared at Zhao Dong, and in the next second, murky tears streamed from her sunken eye sockets. "You... you're Xiao Dong?"
Zhao Dong's heart jolted. He stared intently at the old woman. A moment later, an expression of utter disbelief washed over his face as he stammered, "Mom?!"
His mother's tears burst forth in a flood. She choked out, "Xiao Dong, you're finally back!"
Zhao Dong's eyes instantly welled up, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe the person standing before him was his own mother! Tears streamed down Zhao Dong's face as he pulled his mother into a tight hug, his voice raw with emotion. "Mom, why do you look like this? What happened?"
"My child... it's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."
Mother and son cried in each other's arms. After a long while, Zhao Dong wiped his eyes. His voice was hoarse and his eyes were red as he asked, "Mom, where's Dad?"
"Your dad... Your dad, he..." Zhang Cuimei hesitated, wiping her tears. She glanced around cautiously before whispering nervously, "Xiao Dong, come inside first..."
With that, she pulled Zhao Dong into the courtyard and immediately bolted the gate shut behind them. Zhao Dong frowned, puzzled by his mother's actions.
"Come inside with me, son."
Zhang Cuimei walked unsteadily into the dilapidated one-story house, and Zhao Dong followed. Once inside, as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he saw the person reclining on the old wooden bed. It was his father, Zhao Kangyou!
"Dad!"
The man on the bed startled. When his eyes focused, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.
"Xiao... Xiao Dong?!"
"Dad!"
Just as Zhao Dong stepped forward, his gaze fell on his father's legs. In that instant, Zhao Dong froze, his mind reeling as if struck by lightning.
"Dad, your... your legs... What happened?"
Zhao Kangyou glanced at Zhang Cuimei, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. He then forced a smile. "Xiao Dong, my legs are fine. I just had a bad fall last year and broke them..."
"You broke them in a fall?" Zhao Dong was sharp; he had caught the fleeting glance that passed between his parents. His eyes red with tears, he pressed, "Dad! Tell me the truth! What really happened to your legs? And why are you and Mom living like this? I've been sending money to Wang Hao to give to you all this time, haven't I?"
A bitter expression crossed Zhao Kangyou's face.
When Zhao Kangyou remained silent, Zhao Dong turned to his mother. Zhang Cuimei was wiping away a ceaseless stream of tears, a heartbreaking sight. Tears welled up in Zhao Dong's eyes as well. His heart twisted in agony at the state of his parents. Why? Why did this happen? How could my parents have ended up like this in just a few years?
Finally, through her tears, Zhang Cuimei looked at her husband. "Kangyou, just tell him the truth. He'll find out sooner or later."
Zhao Kangyou heaved a heavy sigh. "Xiao Dong, first, you have to promise me you won't do anything rash, no matter what you hear."
Zhao Dong's fists clenched tightly. With red-rimmed eyes, he said, "Dad, I promise. Tell me."
Zhao Kangyou sighed and finally spoke. "Xiao Dong, the truth is... we only received the first few payments you sent home. After that, we never got another cent. All that money... it was all taken by Wang Hao."
"What?! Why didn't you call and tell me?" Zhao Dong's fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. Wang Hao... my best friend from school... Why? Why would he do something like this? I still remember every call. He'd always say Mom and Dad were doing great and always ask how I was doing... So why?
Zhang Cuimei added through quiet sobs, "Xiao Dong, we didn't dare tell you. Wang Hao threatened us. He said if we told you, he would break both of your arms and legs when you got discharged. We didn't dare... He's also the one who broke your father's leg."
Zhao Dong slammed his fist on a nearby table. "That animal! I'm going to find him and demand an explanation!"
He turned toward the door, but Zhang Cuimei grabbed him, tears streaming down her face. "Son, please, listen to your mother! Don't go! Please, don't go! I'm begging you..."
"Mom, that bastard did this to our family. Why shouldn't I go demand an answer?" Beyond his pain, Zhao Dong was filled with a searing confusion.
Wiping away her tears, Zhang Cuimei choked out, "Son... this Wang Hao isn't someone we can afford to cross now. He used your money for loan-sharking and made a lot of connections. Now he runs with the gangs; he's even a boss with his own underlings. Our family can't afford to offend him!"
Zhao Kangyou also sighed. "Xiao Dong, the money's gone. Let's just consider it the price we paid to avoid a bigger disaster. Please, don't go looking for Wang Hao."
Zhao Dong's eyes turned bloodshot as a terrifying rage emanated from him. Wang Hao not only stole the money meant to support my parents, but he also broke my father's leg? I swear I will have my revenge for this, or I'm no man!
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Dong reined in his anger, not wanting to worry his parents. He tried to comfort them. "Dad, Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Besides, your son was a soldier. You think I'm going to be afraid of the likes of them?"
"Son, you've been away for years. You don't know how terrifying the gangs in East Sea are. Anyone who crosses them meets a bad end." Fear was thick in Zhang Cuimei's eyes as she spoke.
Just as she finished speaking, a violent BANG! resounded from the iron gate. Hostile shouts followed from outside.
"You two old fools, what are you doing locking your gate in broad daylight? Get on the phone and ask that useless son of yours why the money hasn't come in yet!"