The next morning, Zhan returned to the shop owner at the motor park. Just like yesterday, he wore a nose mask, still uneasy in Guangzhou, convinced he might bump into someone who knew him. Around half-past ten, he reached the shop. After greeting him, the shop owner said,
"Alright, I'll leave my boy in charge of the shop so we can head to Foshan. I'll show you the house, sir."
Zhan replied, "Alright then, thank you."
He hadn't imagined Foshan was that far from central Guangzhou, because even after thirty minutes of driving, they still hadn't arrived. Not that he cared about the distance.....he had no reason to go back into the city anyway. At last, they reached Foshan in forty five minutes. The shop owner hailed a rickshaw, and together they went to the neighborhood where the house was located.
The area wasn't bad, though most houses were either middle-class or lower-class. When they reached the compound, the shop owner and a housing agent took Zhan around to inspect the place. Afterward, the agent asked, "So, what do you think of the house, sir?"
Since Zhan didn't really have a choice, he simply answered, "Yes, it's fine."
The agent handed him the keys along with the payment receipt, which Zhan slipped into his bag. After the agent left, the shop owner said, "You see, this neighborhood is peaceful, and it's full of people."
Zhan nodded. "True, it's nice."
"And the house is new, so there shouldn't be any problems."
"I can see that. But here's what I'd like," Zhan said. "If you don't mind, I want to give you a list of things I need for the house...groceries and some essentials. Could you help me buy them here in the local market? I'm planning to move in tomorrow."
"No problem, sir. What do you need exactly?"
Zhan listed everything he wanted.....food supplies and household items. He handed over his ATM card, but the shop owner waved it away.
"No, sir. Better you just transfer the money."
"I can't do transfers, that's why I gave you the card," Zhan explained.
The man hesitated, then said, "Well, I don't want to forget anything. Best if we just go to the market together, sir."
Zhan paused in thought, then agreed. "Alright, let's go."
They took a rickshaw to the market.
By late afternoon, Zhan had bought everything he needed with Ouyang's help....groceries, cooking gas, a few kitchen utensils, and even ready-made curtains with their rods. By five-thirty, Ouyang was fixing the last curtain in place.
"Thank you so much, Ouyang. I really appreciate it," Zhan said sincerely.
"It's nothing, sir. Just helping out. But here's what you should do now," Ouyang replied. "Go around and greet your neighbors so they'll know who you are. Just tell them you're a student who just moved in. These days, people are watchful. You don't want anyone mistaking you for something else."
Zhan stayed quiet, studying him. After a moment, he nodded. "Yes, I will. But tomorrow, when I officially move in. For now, I'm exhausted. I'd like to return to Guangzhou, rest, and pack up my things first."
"That's fine, sir. And if you need anything, just call me. When you settle in properly, I'll even introduce you to my parents and my wife, though they live in another neighborhood. It'll be good for you to know people."
Smiling faintly, Zhan said, "Alright, when I come back, we'll arrange it."
By around six o'clock, they were back in Guangzhou. Zhan urged Ouyang to let him withdraw some cash to pay him, but Ouyang refused, insisting the amount he had already given was enough. That touched Zhan deeply. He felt truly grateful for his kindness. Finally, he took a rickshaw back to his hotel, drained from the long day.
***
The next morning, Zhan checked out of the hotel, even though his booking hadn't yet expired, and returned to Foshan around eleven. Sitting on the bed in his new room, he looked around quietly. For the first time since leaving home, thoughts of his brothers overwhelmed him. He admitted to himself how much he missed them....especially HIS Yibo. The weight of that longing made him feel unusually low.
But then, he forced himself to shake it off. Entering the kitchen, he cooked instant noodles, realizing it had been ages since he'd last had them. Just as Ouyang had said, the house had steady power; they hadn't lost electricity even once. After charging his phone, he put on his jacket and stepped outside, ready to do exactly what Ouyang had advised.
The small house next door was where he first knocked at the gate. A woman opened it and looked him up and down before saying, "Welcome."
Zhan replied politely, "Good morning."
The woman responded with a curious expression, still studying him as if trying to figure him out.
"I'm your neighbor," Zhan explained, pointing at the house nearby. "I just moved in yesterday."
"Oh, I see. Welcome," she said warmly. "I heard some neighbors mentioning that someone had taken the house, but I hadn't seen anyone. So it's true then."
Zhan followed her inside and sat on a small sofa in the modest sitting room. She smiled at him and said, "Welcome to the neighborhood. What's your name?"
Without thinking much, Zhan replied, "Sean. My name is Sean. I'm a student, studying in Guangzhou, and i arranged accommodation for myself here."
"Ah, welcome, Sean. I hope you'll enjoy living here; we don't have many problems in this neighborhood. People call me Mama Hanyu. Soon, I'll take you around to introduce you to the rest of the neighbors." She stood up, adding, "Let me get you some water to drink before we go."
While she went inside, Zhan's eyes drifted to a little girl lying down, who couldn't have been more than eight years old. She was breathing through her mouth, each breath sounding heavy. When the woman returned, Zhan asked softly, "Is she unwell?"
Mama Hanyu sighed. "Yes. Hanyu hasn't been well for almost a week now. She hasn't gone to school. I've been sponging her body with cold water all day because today's fever feels different....it's worse. The fever just won't go down."
Surprised, Zhan asked, "And you haven't taken her to the hospital yet, Aunty?"
Her expression grew uneasy. "Their father already bought her some medicine from the pharmacy. He gave her the first set until it finished, and then got some more."
Zhan looked at her in disbelief. He couldn't understand how parents could risk a child's health like this...relying on over-the-counter medicine when the girl's condition was clearly critical.
He got up, walked over to the child, and knelt beside her. She couldn't even close her mouth; it looked as if a severe throat infection had taken hold. Her noisy breathing made his chest tighten. He gently opened her mouth to look inside, then immediately rose to his feet in alarm.
"She needs to be taken to a hospital right now," Zhan insisted.
Worried, Mama Hanyu asked, "Really?"
"Yes," Zhan urged. "Find a rickshaw quickly. Don't waste any more time."
Suddenly, the girl began to struggle for breath. Alarmed, Mama Hanyu grabbed her up, panicked. "This is how she's been breathing since morning...like it will stop at any moment, then return. Let me call their father...."
"No," Zhan interrupted firmly. "Let's just go to the hospital first. You can call him once we're there."
They rushed out of the house together. In her panic, Mama Hanyu didn't even bother locking the door. They flagged down a rickshaw, and she instructed the driver to head to a hospital some distance from Foshan.
Zhan expected a big hospital, but they ended up at a clinic. It seemed reputable, with many patients waiting, but he doubted whether it had the right equipment for such a serious case.
Just as they arrived at the entrance, they saw Dr Jing about to leave, car keys in hand. He stopped in surprise, staring at Zhan....just as Zhan was staring back at him.
Before either of them could speak, Mama Hanyu cried out. The girl's breathing had suddenly worsened, and she seemed on the verge of suffocating.
Dr Jing shoved his keys into his pocket, rushed forward, and took the child from her arms. Seeing her condition, he immediately turned back inside the clinic, with nurses running to assist.
Zhan followed quickly, catching up just enough to say in a low voice, "I think it's Diphtheria....the symptoms fit."
Dr Jing spun around to look at him, then glanced down at the child. But there was no time to ask questions. He carried her straight into the emergency unit, where another doctor joined him.
Zhan stepped aside while Mama Hanyu cried in distress at the reception, nurses trying to calm her.
Inside, Dr Jing quickly put on gloves and protective gear before examining the girl. Zhan's words stayed in his mind, and after some rapid tests, he realized Zhan was right.
The head doctor of the clinic came in as well, pulling on a mask and peering over the child. His face grew grave. "It's diphtheria. She must be transferred to Guangzhou. We don't have the facilities here."
Still wearing his protective gown, Dr Jing didn't waste a second. He lifted the girl into his arms and walked briskly out of the emergency room.
"Where are you taking her, Doctor?" Mama Hanyu cried, running after him.
He glanced at Zhan, as if words had failed him, then simply said, "To Guangzhou. Take the kid mother to our hospital there."
And with that, he carried the child to his car, with the head doctor at his side, and they drove off urgently toward the city.
Zhan was already exhausted from trying to calm Mama Hanyu all the way until they arrived in Guangzhou. He hadn't forgotten the hospital's name....it was one of the most popular ones, though known to be expensive. They took a taxi, which dropped them right in front of the hospital.
For over twenty minutes, they sat in the large reception area. People of all races moved back and forth, and everything felt organized, like something from abroad. Visiting hours were strict; no one could just walk in at will.
Zhan glanced at Mama Hanyu for what felt like the hundredth time and said softly, "Please stop crying. She'll be fine. This is one of the best hospitals. Don't worry too much."
He pitied her deeply, knowing that even if Hanyu was admitted, Mama Hanyu wouldn't be allowed to stay with her due to the contagious infection. The ward for such patients was separate, and only staff were allowed in.
After twenty more minutes, a nurse in a neat uniform approached them. She looked directly at Zhan and spoke in English:
"The doctor wants to see you in his office."
Zhan stood up and asked in English, "Which office?"
"First floor, office number one. Dr Jing," the nurse replied.
"Okay," Zhan nodded.
Mama Hanyu immediately jumped to her feet, her voice trembling. "Shall we go together?"
Zhan gently shook his head. "No, just wait here. I'll be back soon."
He went upstairs and stopped at the door the nurse had indicated. After knocking and being invited in, he entered. The office was large, tidy, and well air-conditioned. Dr Jing sat in his chair, freshly changed into clean clothes, looking neat and refreshed.
Zhan walked up to the desk, sat down, and asked, "Doctor, how is she?"
Dr Jing looked at him closely. "Sorry, I forgot your name. Remind me, please?"
"Sean," Zhan replied briefly.
"Sean," Dr Jing repeated, "how did you know it was diphtheria?"
Zhan hesitated, then quickly said, "I once worked at a small clinic."
"Oh really? So you have some experience?" Dr Jing asked, raising his brows.
Zhan forced a small smile but didn't reply.
"Have you found a hostel yet?" Dr Jing continued.
"Not yet. I'm staying with my aunt in Foshan," Zhan answered quietly.
"What about your parents?" Dr Jing asked.
Zhan fell silent, staring at him for a moment before saying simply, "They're late."
Dr Jing lowered his eyes for a moment, then looked back up. "I see, I'm sorry for asking. Well, Foshan is far. Traveling every day will be difficult. Off-campus housing here in the city would be better."
Zhan just gave a faint smile, not explaining further. Dr Jing paused, realizing not everyone had the same privileges in life, and this young man had already lost his parents.
"What course were you admitted into?" he asked.
Zhan hesitated again, then finally said, "Microbiology."
"That's good," Dr Jing nodded. "But I'm guessing your aunt isn't very financially stable?"
Again, Zhan only smiled faintly.
Dr Jing let out a slow breath. "Well, here we don't employ health workers without proper certification, and honestly, we don't even have open vacancies right now. We only take fully qualified staff, many of whom are foreign doctors....some even from India. But I'll see what I can do. Maybe I can arrange for you to work part-time on weekends as an auxiliary nurse. That way you can support yourself without being too much of a burden on others."
Zhan stared at him in disbelief. Working in such a reputable hospital? He could hardly believe it. "I'd really appreciate that if you could," he said earnestly.
"Of course, but I'll need to use some connections. Our rules here are very strict," Dr Jing replied. "Would you be okay with that?"
Zhan only looked at him quietly.
"Don't worry," Dr Jing said more gently. "I'll do my best to get you started here."
Zhan lowered his voice. "Thank you… but I must admit something. About the admission I mentioned earlier....it isn't exactly as I said."
Dr Jing frowned. "What do you mean?"
Zhan lowered his head. "I was offered admission a long time ago. But we couldn't gather the tuition in time. When I finally went to the school, I found out the admission had already been cancelled."
"Oh…" Dr Jing sighed, leaning back slightly. "I see."
He thought for a moment, then said quietly, "Don't worry, Sean. You can still work here. The salary is decent, and you'll be able to save up, retake the exams, and apply for admission again."
Zhan gave a small, grateful smile. "Thank you very much, Dr Wu Jing."
"Don't mention it, and Dr Jing for you only" he replied kindly smiling.
Suddenly, Zhan remembered and asked quickly, "Doctor, how is the girl?"
Dr Jing's expression softened, and his tone grew quiet. "She's already gone… we couldn't do anything in time."
Zhan's chest tightened, his heart sinking. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, "She's… gone?"
"Yes," Dr Jing said gently. "What's your connection to her mother?"
"She's my neighbor in Foshan," Zhan said in a trembling voice.
"Then please, try to comfort her. The child has passed away."
Zhan stared at him in shock. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
He rose abruptly, wiping at his eyes, and turned toward the door.
"Wait, Sean," Dr Jing called after him.
Zhan stopped and looked back.
"Tell her this: she should give the father's number to the hospital staff, and then go home to rest. We'll contact the father ourselves. We don't want any commotion here."
Zhan lowered his voice. "Please… let the nurses tell her. I don't have the strength."
Dr Jing picked up his phone. "Alright, I'll inform them now."
He called the nurses downstairs, while Zhan left the office slowly, his steps heavy.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛