CHAPTER 308: CHAPTER 308: RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE

"Stroke patient brought in?" the young nurse asked with a frown and a complex look in her eyes, to Xu Xiuxiu.

"Yes," Xu Xiuxiu nodded.

"It’s too late. The patient’s condition isn’t good. The patient’s family took them home at noon," the young nurse said with a sympathetic face, shaking her head. After speaking, perhaps realizing she was in the hospital and that tonight she was the only one on duty, her eyes suddenly revealed a bit of timidity.

Though she worked in the hospital and had seen many patients pass away, she still felt fear. The family quickly dragging the barely breathing patient home was self-explanatory. They did it out of fear the patient would die away from home!

"You said the patient’s condition is very poor?" Xiuxiu, hearing her words, could hardly hide her shock and nearly dropped the Little Baby in her arms.

How could this be? Despite rushing, could she really miss seeing him for one last time?

"Yes! When the family took him home, he was just hanging on by a thread. You should hurry home to see if you can catch a last glimpse of him," the nurse said, nodding and then advising Xiuxiu.

"I understand, thank you."

"No need," the young nurse immediately responded politely.

"Sis, how is it? Did you find out anything? Which room is Mom in?" Xu Jingjing, unable to contain her curiosity, approached and asked.

"It’s okay, Mom’s condition isn’t good, and Dad took her home," Xu Xiuxiu replied with a stunned look.

"Oh! Mom’s condition isn’t good; why did Dad take her home then? Shouldn’t she be in the hospital for treatment?" Xu Jingjing, puzzled, glanced at Xu Xiuxiu, who was pale and looked abnormal, "Sis, is Mom... is she..." Is she down to her last breath?

Xu Jingjing wanted to ask Xu Xiuxiu, but due to her timidity, the words that reached the tip of her tongue were stifled once again.

In their area, there was a saying and custom that if a person was about to pass away, they should not stay in a hospital or outside. Otherwise, if they died outside, their body and soul wouldn’t be able to enter their home. If it was a man, it was not so bad, for men are recorded in the family register and people would burn spirit money for them. But if a woman died outside, she would become a wandering ghost. Thus, whenever someone’s condition was off, people would promptly bring them home while the person still had a breath left.

Xu Jingjing knew about this saying, and because she knew it, she felt unease upon hearing that Mr. Xu had taken Mrs. Xu home. She had a fair guess of the situation and, even if she didn’t guess it entirely, she was more or less right.

"Jingjing, just because Dad took Mom home doesn’t necessarily mean what we’re thinking. Don’t scare yourself," Xu Xiuxiu said, turning to look at Xu Jingjing whose eyes were red and lips trembling with emotion, sighing, "In any case, we should prepare ourselves for the worst."

"Okay." Xu Jingjing wasn’t foolish; she clearly understood the implication behind Xu Xiuxiu’s words, so she nodded.

The distance from the county hospital to Xu Village wasn’t far, but since it was late at night and they were two women with three children, Xu Xiuxiu decided to spend ten yuan to rent a tricycle for safety reasons. The tricycle puttered from the county hospital all the way to Xu Village.

Ten yuan, in this era of high purchasing power, was an exorbitantly high price, akin to a lion’s demand. After all, the usual fare for a village tricycle ride for one person was merely thirty or twenty cents.

Xu Xiuxiu knew that the other party was asking an exorbitant price, but she had no choice; they operated late into the night, mostly to earn more than they could during the day.

The three-wheeled vehicle was expensive, yet it was fast and steady. However, when Xu Xiuxiu and Xu Jingjing arrived at Xu Village with the three children, the two sitting under the vehicle’s canopy heard heart-wrenching cries as soon as they got there.

The weeping was familiar, and upon closer listening, they realized it was Xu Qingqing’s voice. She was sobbing uncontrollably, and both Xu Jingjing and Xu Xiuxiu turned pale when they looked at each other!

"Second sister..." Xu Jingjing, holding Little Moon, stepped off the three-wheeler and saw Xu Qingqing, with her bulging belly, kneeling next to a stand covered with a white cloth. It seemed like there was someone lying on the stand, concealed by the white fabric, unidentifiable, but even a fool could guess what lay beneath the cloth.

"Si Ya..." Xu Qingqing turned her head, face tear-streaked, pallid and haggard, her eyes red and filled with sorrow.

"Second sister, what happened to Mom?" Xu Jingjing asked, voice trembling, her gaze fixed on the covered area, too afraid to look away.

Was it as she feared? Was it too late to see her for the last time? As a daughter, Xu Jingjing felt her emotions and sanity collapsing.

"Mom, she..." Xu Qingqing sobbed without completing her sentence, tears uncontrollably falling. She tried to speak, but her throat felt as if it were blocked, only able to let out pitiful cries of grief.

Xu Qingqing wailed.

"No, it can’t be. Second sister, tell me Mom’s alright, isn’t she?" Xu Jingjing shook her head vigorously, as if protesting, refusing to accept it, though internally guessing the most painful outcome. Yet, her lips continued to resist, as if such denial could maintain the illusion.

"Why didn’t you come earlier!" It was a mix of lamentation, complaint, blame, and sigh that left one with mixed feelings: "Mom kept calling your name, refusing to close her eyes. She probably had so much to tell you, but, unfortunately, she didn’t wait for you."

Calling out her name continuously, Xu Jingjing stared, choked up.

"Wuu wuu." Xu Jingjing, holding Little Moon, suddenly crouched down, her grip too tight due to her uncontrollable emotions, causing the sleeping Little Moon to burst into loud cries.

"Jingjing, you’re squeezing Little Moon." Although Xu Xiuxiu also lacked calm, she softly reminded when she saw even the strong and obedient Little Moon crying.

Xu Jingjing somewhat snapped back to reality, looking at Little Moon in her arms, guilt filling her eyes: "I’m sorry, Little Moon... I’m sorry..." Her apologies became indistinct towards the end, not only to Little Moon but also as if to Mrs. Xu...

Xu Xiuxiu, holding Little Baby, looked at the emotionally charged Xu Jingjing, then turning her head to the white cloth, felt as if her heart was being sliced with a sharp knife!

One of life’s greatest regrets is not being able to provide for parents when they’re gone, not even catching a last glimpse, a situation both sorrowful and the subject of pity.

"Second sister, where’s Dad?" Xu Xiuxiu, after trying to steady her emotions, asked about Mr. Xu’s condition.

"Dad’s locked himself in the room for half a day without making a sound; he doesn’t respond when called." Speaking of Mr. Xu, Xu Qingqing also seemed at a loss, as undoubtedly, the most heartbroken and distressed person in the family was Mr. Xu!