Chapter 139: The Farewell
The life of teaching in the countryside was simple and full of fun.
Whenever Ming Han saw Little Black, he wished he could tell Da Xu, who was a hundred miles away, “I’ve found your true heir. He’s exactly like you.”
During their three years of middle school, Da Xu had been the comedian of their group. Though he lived without a care in the world, his presence truly brought them endless amusement. Whenever Ming Han suffered a setback, Da Xu would certainly run over and kick him while he was down.
Now Little Black had become their source of amusement too. At only ten years old, he was exhausting himself worrying about Ming Han’s lifelong happiness. Every day, he sang Ming Han’s praises in front of Su Lei.
“Teacher Su, don’t you think Teacher Ming’s profile is handsome?”
Su Lei tilted her head and considered it. “Not bad, I suppose.”
“Teacher Su, don’t you think Brother Han is especially charming when he sings?”
“Mm! He’s quite good.”
Although Su Lei had an excellent impression of Ming Han, she regarded him only as a younger brother. This drove Little Black nearly frantic.
Little Black cast Ming Han a sidelong glance and said in exasperation, “In the end, you’re just not charming enough!”
Ming Han’s heart ached. Had he come to teach in the countryside just so this kid could mock him?
Su Lei also began teasing him. “Junior, what do you think of Little Black as a matchmaker?”
Ming Han smiled. “The matchmaker is pretty good. It’s just that the groom isn’t much to speak of.”
Su Lei’s face immediately turned red.
…
Another half month passed, and Little Black grew increasingly desperate. There was still no sign that Ming Han and Su Lei were getting together.
One day, Little Black suddenly said to Ming Han, “Brother Han, if you still don’t get together with Teacher Su, I’ll die with my eyes open.”
“Stop saying things like that,” Ming Han scolded.
After that day, Ming Han did not see Little Black in class for two days in a row.
He was both worried and puzzled.
That day, he and Su Lei deliberately set aside some time to visit the village head’s home and ask about Little Black.
The village head was tidying his vegetable garden outside his house. After hearing why they had come, he told them some deeply shocking news: Little Black had congenital heart disease.
The news left Ming Han stunned for a long time.
How was that possible? Little Black was so lively and unruly. No matter how one looked at him, he did not resemble a sick child at all.
He was the boy who called himself Brother Black!
“You know what it’s like in a place like this,” the village head said sorrowfully. “Being diagnosed with heart disease is practically the same as being sentenced to death. His parents only took him to the county hospital, got him some basic medicine, and brought him home.”
“How can medicine solve this?” Ming Han cried. “He needs surgery!”
“Heh…” The village head gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh. “The medical expenses are two hundred thousand yuan. I don’t even know whether our whole village could scrape together that much.”
The villagers’ primary means of survival was self-sufficiency, and they had no real way to save money.
“Little Black’s parents have been working away from home these past few years and have managed to save some money, but they’re still nowhere near two hundred thousand. The boy may not be able to hold on until then.”
Not hold on until then? Until when?
Little Black’s life was slipping away far faster than his parents could save money. He would never live to see the day they had enough for the operation. It was unbearably tragic.
“Where is he these days?” Ming Han asked.
“He only came back from the hospital yesterday. If he doesn’t have surgery soon, he may not make it,” the village head replied.
At that moment, Ming Han wished he were a fabulously wealthy man, able to sign a check for hundreds of thousands without a second thought. He would even have settled for being a thief—robbing the rich to help the poor.
“Let’s go see him,” Su Lei said.
The village head nodded, set down his hoe, and led the way.
Little Black’s house stood at the far end of the village, with mountain ranges rising behind it.
His parents were sitting outside, weaving straw mats. This was how they made their living.
Each mat earned them five yuan. If they could sell forty thousand of them, their son might be saved.
When they saw the village head approaching with the volunteer teachers, they hurried to their feet and greeted them.
“How is Little Black doing?” the village head asked.
Little Black’s mother wiped away a tear. “It’s our fault for being useless. We don’t have the ability to save him.”
Everyone sighed.
“May we go in and see him?” Ming Han asked.
Little Black’s mother nodded. “You two teachers are truly kind.”
When Ming Han and Su Lei entered, Little Black was staring blankly at the ceiling, his face pale.
At the sound of them coming in, he turned his head and saw Brother Han and Sister Su Lei.
He immediately broke into a grin, looking just as fearless as ever.
“Brother Han, did you and Teacher Su come to deliver your wedding invitation?”
Ming Han sighed helplessly. “When will you ever stop thinking about that?”
“Hmm…” Little Black pondered for a moment. “I really do think you two are perfect for each other! Just like Little Red and me.”
Ming Han had seen people suffering from serious illnesses before, such as Tank. Back then, Tank had been filled with utter despair toward life. But Little Black was so young and painfully thin, yet so optimistic. He was like a little sun.
Seeing the sorrow on Ming Han’s face, Little Black pretended not to care.
“Brother Black is still full of life!”
He reminded Ming Han that Teacher Su was an exceptionally good girl and that he absolutely had to seize the opportunity.
He also said that once he recovered, he would take the two jars of loquat preserves his parents had brought back from the city and go to Little Red’s family to ask for her hand. He was sure he could move Little Red’s older brother.
“Right, Brother Han?”
Ming Han nodded. “Zhang Hui will beat you half to death.”
…
A month of teaching in the countryside came to an end, and the four volunteer teachers were about to leave.
Many of the children could not accept it. The village head told them, “Your four older brothers and sisters are students too. They have to go back and continue their studies.”
Professor Su still came to collect them, arriving at the school around noon.
There were no classes that day, but many of the students gathered at the school of their own accord.
They stood in the formation Ming Han usually used during physical education.
Zhang Yun was at the head of the group.
Yang Yafang was visibly moved. “You must all work hard at your studies. When you get into the county school, we’ll be able to meet again.”
The senior student said, “Every day I spent with you made me happy.”
Su Lei said, “You must all take good care of yourselves. Don’t fight, keep yourselves clean, and don’t use foul language…”
At that moment, Su Lei sounded just like a nagging mother.
Ming Han bowed and said, “Thank you.”
Thank you for giving me such a wonderful experience.
The four of them boarded the vehicle. Some of the children had already begun to sob quietly.
Ming Han looked toward Little Black’s home and silently said in his heart, “Hang in there!”
The vehicle slowly started moving, crawling along the rugged mountain road.
Then, from behind them, a song suddenly rose into the air:
Beyond the pavilion,
beside the ancient road,
green grass stretches to the horizon.
The evening breeze brushes the willows,
the flute’s fading notes drift away,
the setting sun sinks beyond the mountains…
It was the song Su Lei had taught them.
Su Lei had said, “You should sing this song when bidding farewell to your most precious companions.”
Teacher, you are our most precious companion!
Tears immediately streamed down Su Lei’s face.
“Brother Han, keep going! You must be happy!”
That was Little Black’s voice.
He had still managed to come.
But he had not seen the Brother Han he had worried about so deeply. At that thought, Ming Han suddenly grinned like a complete fool.