big city small home

Chapter 4

An hour and a quarter later, Lu Zhenzhong left Funing South Station.

Under the night, the lights of the South Square are dotted with lights, reflecting the street lights.There are pedestrians passing by in the square, and there are even locals who take a walk after dinner.Someone came up to him and asked him if he had a meal or a hotel?Lu Zhenzhong speaks in the authentic Yilin accent.The person who asked smiled at him, turned around to attract others.

In the southeast corner of the square, there are buses passing by the door.

Lu Zhenzhong walked in the direction of the bus, and saw Jing Li in the crowd walking leisurely, holding the hand of her little daughter.Lu Zhenzhong couldn't help but rushed towards Jing Li who was in the crowd. Just as he was about to wave to Jing Li, a Land Rover braked to a stop on the side of the road.

Even in the darkness, it is difficult to conceal the luster of the Land Rover body.

More than a decade ago, Land Rover was in the limelight, and those who could afford a Range Rover at that time were the real rich.People who buy Land Rover nowadays should have good financial ability.

Jingli and her second daughter, Zhuzhu, were familiar with each other on the road.

Lu Zhenzhong stopped in the crowd.

Xu was a little stimulated. Lu Zhenzhong, who had already walked to the bus platform, raised his hand to stop a taxi.

In just a few minutes, Lu Zhenzhong arrived home.

It would have been even closer.Originally, they lived in a village in the city and had a private house.Later, the village in the city was remodeled, and the house was transformed into an elevator room.

His parents didn't regret the loss of the small courtyard at all, but were complacent about living in the elevator room.

Lu Zhenzhong sent a message to his sister: "I'm back. I'm almost downstairs."

"Don't rush up. Let's meet first."

Lu Zhenzhong stopped and looked up at the window. Among the small high-rises on the 18th floor, the 10th floor is his parents' house.Among the many lighted windows, because of unfamiliarity, I have no ability to recognize my own windows at a glance.

Not long after, my sister arrived on a battery car.

"Zhenzhong!" My sister's voice came from behind.

My sister's house is nearby, and I live with my parents-in-law in a two-story private house that is waiting for demolition.My sister was looking forward to demolition before she got married, and now her second child is in sixth grade, and she is still looking forward to demolition year after year.

The night blurred their respective states, and the siblings looked at each other under the street lamp.

"It's good to have you back. I can hardly look Dad in the eye now."

"Does mom know about this?" Lu Zhenzhong asked.

"Don't dare to tell mom. I'm afraid she won't be able to bear it."

Lu Zhenzhong nodded.My mother is a typical housewife, she has not studied for a few years, and her father is the only one to follow her all her life. Perhaps the biggest idea she ever took was to give some seasonal vegetables to the neighbors and elders on her own initiative.

"What are you going to tell Dad?" Lu Mei raised her head and asked Lu Zhenzhong.Just by the street light, Lu Zhenzhong saw crow's feet in the corners of his sister's eyes even when she wasn't smiling.

"I haven't thought it through yet." Lu Zhenzhong replied, "Shall we discuss it first?"

"What can you discuss with me? What good ideas can I come up with?" Lu Mei became anxious.

"I mean—" Lu Zhenzhong's words came to his lips, he suddenly hesitated, and his voice slowed down, "I mean, I read the physical examination report you sent me, it was taken by chest X-ray, and I need to confirm it with my lungs. CT to reconfirm."

Lu Mei clasped her arms with both hands: "I asked my classmate Xiaoxia to show it to her father, and his father confirmed that it was lung cancer. In the early stage, when the tumor was small, the X-rays were not clear, but the chest X-rays showed shadows. It’s so big, the biggest lump is 5 centimeters, so it’s impossible to take the wrong photo.”

"You're right." Lu Zhenzhong nodded, but the topic changed again, "But further confirmation is still needed. It needs to be sent for examination, pathological diagnosis, and further diagnosis. You know, there are different types of lung cancer."

Lu Mei nodded her head: "Yes, I'm going to call you back. Can this further inspection be carried out without telling Dad?"

Lu Zhenzhong looked at his sister, her gaze was so earnest even under the dimly lit street lights.Lu Zhenzhong had too many words to say into those eyes.

For example: cancer treatment is a bottomless pit, and in the end it cannot escape the loss of human resources and wealth.Has my sister thought about what it means to be cured?

For example: Is it really meaningful to let my father be resuscitated in the ICU with tubes all over his body in pain and without dignity?
Lu Zhenzhong shook his head, not to his sister, but to himself who wanted to say what was on his mind regardless.

Take your time and draw it slowly.He warned himself in his heart.

"Sister, you are right. We will try our best to hide it from Dad, which will help stabilize his emotional stability. As for how to hide it? I can only play it by ear. I will not say anything tonight. Tomorrow will depend on the situation and find a way to coax Dad to go again." Do a test to confirm the diagnosis."

Lu Mei nodded: "I know you're tired too. You have to take the train home after get off work. Go back, wash and sleep, and we'll discuss what matters tomorrow."

Lu Mei rode on her little electric donkey and left.

On a cold spring night in March, the breath he exhales is white enough to be seen by the naked eye.

Lu Zhenzhong went all the way up to the tenth floor.

Some people are not sure whether to open the door by themselves or knock on the door.Thinking that older people like to go to bed early, they took the key to open the door.

Just when my mother came out of the bathroom in cotton-padded trousers and a padded jacket, she turned her head and saw the son she had been thinking about day and night: "Zhenzhong! My son!"

The sound of "my son" with a strong local accent put Lu Zhenzhong into the mood immediately.From this moment on, he became the youngest son in Shanghai with no distracting thoughts, as if he had never been out for ten years.

"Mom!" Lu Zhenzhong opened his arms and embraced the old mother whose head reached his chin.

"Cough, cough, cough." There was a coughing sound in the room.Lu Zhenzhong carried his mother to the bedroom.

He has adjusted his calm and joyful expression, and shouted affectionately: "Dad! Are you still asleep?"

"Cough, I was already lying down, but your mother went to the toilet and woke me up. Wake up, I can see you sooner. Why didn't you tell me in advance when you came back? Cough cough, have you had dinner yet?"

The old father wanted to lift the quilt and get out of bed, but was held down by Lu Zhenzhong: "I've eaten, and I'm full. It's cold, so you go to sleep. I have nothing to do. These two days are just free days between two projects. I think, go home for a while and see you and mom, you will be young. When the new project is launched, you will not be free."

Father Lu's chest heaved obviously, and there seemed to be phlegm in his throat. Under the light, some of his facial features were hidden under the shadow of the light. Except for his complexion, his energy was not bad.Lu Zhenzhong looked at it calmly, feeling a little relieved.After all, Yilin is a small town, and it is possible to misjudge the condition.

"Where's Zhenqi? Where's your wife? They didn't come back together?" The old father still had a lot to worry about.

Lu Zhenzhong smiled lightly, and before he had time to make excuses for his wife and daughter, he saw his old father cough violently.

Father Lu coughed badly.

The bed was shaking.

After this trembling cough, there seemed to be a touch of blood on the arm of the cotton sweater that Dad used to cover his mouth.Lu Zhenzhong's eyes were dizzy, and he wanted to take a closer look, but his father had already shrunk into the bed.

"Your father has chest tightness recently, and asked your sister to take him for a medical examination. The medical examination report has not yet come out. He has a quick temper and is in a hurry for everything. You said that Zhenqi didn't come back, so he didn't come back. It's so late and it's so cold You don’t need to go back if you want me to tell you. He’s in a hurry!” Mother Lu groaned while rubbing Father Lu’s chest.

Lu Zhenzhong wanted to continue pretending to be lighthearted, but the corners of his mouth were extremely heavy.

The fluke idea that "misjudgment of the condition is also possible" has disappeared.

(End of this chapter)