The 99th Divorce

Two sentences from Ou Ming’s father was all it took to convince Jiao Ziqing.

Many hours later, Ou Ming had still not moved in the bed. Jiao Ziqing checked the time. It was past 11 a.m. She knew Ou Ming hadn’t had a bite to eat since afternoon the day before. How could he recover by relying solely on liquid infusion?

Jiao Ziqing walked to Ou Ming’s bedside and nudged him. “Ou Ming, get up to eat,” she pleaded.

Ou Ming stayed still on the bed. At the same time, the infusion was complete. The nurse entered to remove the needle. Still, Ou Ming didn’t move a muscle.

The more Jiao Ziqing watched, the harder her heart ached. She sat by her son’s side, and pressed her hand to her lips to keep from sobbing out loud. Her shoulders still quivered, and she could be heard swallowing her sobs.

Ou Ming raised his head a wee bit and opened his eyes, but they remained absolutely empty. They had no light or spirit.

When Jiao Ziqing saw Ou Ming’s eyes, she got up quickly. She bit down hard on her own knuckles and pinched herself to prevent the sound of her cries from escaping her lips.

Although Ou Ming couldn’t see, his hearing ability had always been good. Hearing the barely restrained weeping, Ou Ming closed his eyes and asked, “When can I be discharged?”

Jiao Ziqing wanted to answer when she finally heard him speak. The moment she removed her hand from her mouth, the floodgate of tears opened. Instead of speaking, she started crying.

“You’ll be discharged once you’re recovered.” Ou Huojin walked in carrying a new bag of packed food. “What you need to do now is focus on taking care of your body. Regardless of the circumstances, you need to eat. Even if you don’t have an appetite, you still have to eat a little.”

Jiao Ziqing looked toward her husband. She held his hand and suppressed her weeping like a little child.

Ou Huojin patter her hand gently. He faced Ou Ming and said, “I know you don’t like hospitals, but you can’t be discharged yet. There’s actually a high chance that your eyes will recover. But, if you insist on continuing the way you are, that might become the very reason your eyes don’t.

Ou Ming still remained indifferent.

Ou Huojin’s voice turned earnest as he continued speaking. “Xiao Ou, you’re already 31 years old. After this New Year, you’ll be 32. You have to be more sensible. You’re an adult, so stop making your parents worry.”

“Got it.” Ou Ming didn’t raise his head or open his eyes, but he answered. “You guys should go home. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll eat when I’m hungry.”

“No. Eat now. Xiao Ou, please eat now. Mom is begging you. Eat something, will you?” Jiao Ziqing opened the lunch box and said, “This was cooked by Auntie Gui. Haven’t you always loved Auntie Gui’s cooking? Come, try some.”

As she spoke, she brought the bowl in front of Ou Ming.

Ou Ming turned around to face the other direction in annoyance, “You’re so frustrating! I don’t want to eat!”

Jiao Ziqing’s hand froze mid-action. She was shocked that her own son found her frustrating. She suddenly felt a wave of sadness.

This was the scene Wen Fenglin witnessed when he came in. He sighed to himself and said, “Xiao Jiao, if the child doesn’t want to eat, then let him go hungry.”

When Ou Huojin heard that, he looked at Wen Fenglin in displeasure and said, “Lao Wen, I guess anything goes since this isn’t your son.”

“How could you say that? It’s not as if it is my fault that your son is in this state,” Wen Fenglin said.