Chapter 90: Childhood Sweethearts
After hearing what Zhang Nianzu said, Old Wu smiled bitterly: "What kind of news can be neither good nor bad?" He paused and said, "Don't tell me you sold the repair shop for a high price." His imagination could only go so far...
Zhang Nianzu put his arm around Old Wu's shoulders and whispered in his ear, "Tangdou's disease can be cured!"
"What?" Old Wu's eyes widened bigger than copper bells. He said hesitantly, "Did someone recommend some so-called new medicine to you?"
"Someone successfully matched Tangdou's bone marrow!"
Zhang Nianzu still said this in a very low voice, but every word seemed to hammer into Old Wu's heart. He stared at Zhang Nianzu blankly, and fell to the ground without any warning. Zhang Nianzu grabbed him and picked him up.
"You...can't joke with me!" Old Wu's tears and snot started flowing.
"Would I joke with you about this?"
Old Wu's legs went limp and he clung to Zhang Nianzu's arm, saying in a trembling voice, "Who is it? Does he agree to donate his bone marrow to Tangdou?"
Zhang Nianzu nodded at Zhang Xiaoliang and said, "This child secretly had a bone marrow puncture when he first came to see Tangdou. He and his parents agreed."
Old Wu leaned forward and seemed to be about to kneel down to Zhang Xiaoliang. Zhang Nianzu picked him up again and said, "But before that, I have to tell you something - I think you have the right to know."
"you say!"
Zhang Nianzu thought for a moment and said word by word: "Tangdou transplanted the child's bone marrow, and he can only live to 45 years old. Can you accept this result?"
Old Wu was stunned and said, "What kind of words are you talking about? Why is this happening?"
"Just think of it as a family history. The blood produced in Xiaoliang's bone marrow...is not healthy either. No one in his family can live past 45. Do you understand what I mean?"
Old Wu murmured, "45 years old... There are still 35 years left, and I will probably be gone by then..." Old Wu is a typical late marriage and late childbirth person. He is 51 years old this year.
Zhang Nianzu said: "Don't think about it for now. Do you want Tangdou to live just to take care of you and see you to the end of your life?"
Old Wu resolutely said: "I can accept it, but your sister-in-law..."
Zhang Nianzu said: "Just make the decision yourself. Don't tell her yet. At least she can still be happy for 35 years, right?"
Old Wu wiped his tears and said, "I'll listen to you. I'll go and thank Xiaoliang."
"No need." Zhang Nianzu said, "Don't scare Tangdou." The abnormal behavior of his father and Zhang Nianzu has attracted Wu Doudou's attention.
Old Wu whispered, " Do you mean to hide the sugar beans from us first?"
Zhang Nianzu also frowned. No matter what, Wu Doudou was the one who had the most right to know, but how should he tell her? Should he tell a child who had been suffering from illness for a long time that although his illness could be cured temporarily, he would still die in middle age?
At this time, Zhang Xiaoliang suddenly said, "Wu Doudou, come out with me."
Zhang Nianzu looked at Zhang Xiaoliang hesitantly , but Zhang Xiaoliang just nodded at him.
Wu Doudou looked at his father with inquiring eyes. Old Wu subconsciously said, "The doctor doesn't let Tangdou run around." Patients with this disease are more fragile than flowers in a greenhouse. Any sharp or ridged object from the outside world can be fatal.
Zhang Xiaoliang waved his hand domineeringly: "Don't worry, I'm here."
Old Wu nodded to Wu Doudou. What else could he say?
Wu Doudou walked out of the ward with Zhang Xiaoliang, smiling in her hospital gown. Zhang Xiaoliang took her up the stairs, and the two of them soon reached the rooftop.
Wu Doudou was a little out of breath due to fatigue after the illness, but she also seemed very excited as her vision improved. She asked Zhang Xiaoliang with a smile: "Why did you bring me here?" It was early autumn at this time. Wu Doudou was thin, with big, bright eyes, like an elf in the wind.
Zhang Xiaoliang considerately took off his school uniform and put it on her, and said seriously: "Wu Doudou, you have to survive."
Wu Doudou's smile faded, and she said mischievously, "It's difficult." The little girl was precocious, and during this period she had experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature that her peers could hardly experience. She had already realized that unless a miracle happened, she would just have to endure suffering in the hospital. She had thought about persuading her parents to give up, but she felt that that would be too cruel for them, so she resigned herself to waiting here for the last moment.
Zhang Xiaoliang said: "I'm serious, you can use my bone marrow."
When Wu Doudou realized the meaning of this sentence, she covered her mouth in surprise.
Zhang Xiaoliang nodded and said, "Yes, our bone marrow matching was successful. I called you here to congratulate you and apologize."
Wu Doudou asked in tears: "Why do you want to apologize?"
"Because my bone marrow can only help you live to 45 years old - you don't need to ask too much, I will slowly tell you the reason later. When you are 45 years old, your parents will be old, and your children will need your company. Or you can regard my apology as a warning to them in advance. I know it seems simple to make the choice now, but after you make the choice, you must have the courage to bear it."
Wu Doudou asked, "Why are you so sure?"
"Because there is no exception in our family, my bone marrow can only provide you with poisonous blood. My father knew his fate, but he still chose to give birth to me at the age of 35. In the past 10 years, he has not behaved like a good father. He is careless and sometimes impatient with me, but the only thing he taught me is the courage to live. I will always miss him."
Wu Doudou was shocked and asked, "Don't you have a father?"
Zhang Xiaoliang said, "That's my current adoptive father. He's a very good man. My name used to be Fang Xiaoliang, but I changed it later. This is what my father taught me before he died. He said that if someone were to adopt you, you should take that person's surname and be a good son to that person. This is both a way of repaying a favor and a moral obligation."
Wu Doudou suddenly said, "We are the same age, so doesn't that mean... we will die in the same year?"
Zhang Xiaoliang smiled and said, "You are so pessimistic. You should emphasize that we were born in the same year. Now it's your turn to give me an answer. If you choose to accept my bone marrow, you must promise me that you will live a wonderful life in the future and not cry like a poor creature. After all, my blood will flow in your body in the future, and I can't afford to be embarrassed by someone like that."
Wu Doudou had been crying silently while Zhang Xiaoliang was saying these words. At this moment, she wrinkled her nose and said, "Do you think I look like that kind of person?"
Zhang Xiaoliang asked: "So what is your answer?"
Wu Doudou suddenly hugged Zhang Xiaoliang:
"Live hard, live and die together."
Zhang Xiaoliang raised his eyebrows coolly, then put his hand on Wu Doudou's back and patted her gently.
On the rooftop, the two children hugged each other, and the scene was... very shocking.
