The 99th Divorce

Ye Zhenhua had already finished preparing breakfast. When he saw Li Jinnan walking out, he smiled and waved him over. “You’re up so early? Have some breakfast. I’ll help Youyou’s grandfather out.”

“Let me help you,” Li Jinnan said.

Ye Zhenhua approved very much of the initiative that Li Jinnan displayed. He nodded his head but waved his hand and said, “It’s fine. Just eat first. Youyou should be out soon. You’re intending to go back to Kingstown today, aren’t you? What time will you be leaving?”

“Yes, but you’ll have to ask Youyou for the details. I’m fine with anything,” Li Jinnan replied.

“There are only two bus services to Kingstown,” Ye Zhenhua said. “One is at 10 a.m., and the other is at 2 p.m. There aren’t any more bus services to Kingstown after that. I think it’ll be better if you take the afternoon bus. It’ll give you a little more time to get ready.”

Li Jinnan felt his heart warm up as he replied, “Thanks, Dad. I drove here, so we can leave anytime. We can even leave tonight. That way, Youyou will be able to spend more time with you.”

Ye Zhenhua understood and replied, “That’s not necessary. It’s not safe to drive back at night. You should leave before the sky gets dark.”

Caught up in the conversation, the two men reached Gramps’ room without realizing it. The old man had been awake for some time. He was sitting at the edge of the bed holding a photo frame. His cloudy eyes were filled with warmth as he stared at the photograph.

When he sensed a commotion, Youyou’s grandfather raised his head. He saw Ye Zhenhua, and a kind smile appeared on his face as he waved him over. “Come here.”

Ye Zhenhua had no choice but to walk over. “Dad, it’s time for breakfast,” he said.

Youyou’s grandfather was smiling as he asked, “Why isn’t your mom back from the fields yet?”

Li Jinnan was stunned when he heard that. Youyou’s grandmother wasn’t at home, and he had never heard Qianqian mention her either. He had assumed she was no longer around.

But, the old man was now suffering from senile dementia. He was unexpectedly speaking of his other half.

Ye Zhenhua reached out to help him up and replied, “Mom will be back. The harvest has been bountiful lately, so Mom’s been busy.”

“I’ll go and help her,” his father said.

“Mom doesn’t need your help. You just have to stay home and wait,” Ye Zhenhua replied.

“OK...” Youyou’s grandfather inched along as his son held him up, but his hand refused to let go of the photo frame. “When will she be back?”

“She’ll be back when the work’s done,” Ye Zhenhua said.

“Keep some food for her so that she’ll be able to eat when she gets home.” Youyou’s grandfather held the photo frame and gazed intently at his old companion in the picture. “I don’t want her to accuse me of eating her share and not thinking of her. It’ll be horrible if she gets angry and decides to leave.”

Ye Zhenhua made a sound of assent. He was used to this. He reached out intending to take the photo frame and said, “Dad, it’s time for breakfast. Put that down.”

“OK...” The old man was a little reluctant. He looked at the photo frame as Ye Zhenhua held his hand and walked out.

After two steps, he turned around and said, “No, I don’t want your mother to lose her temper and accuse me of not caring for her. Women can be so troublesome.” With that, he hugged the photo frame in his arms and was finally willing to walk out. “What’s for breakfast?”

Li Jinnan’s heart, which had sat unmoved for many years, was finally touched by this old man. Everyone would one day grow old and die. The dead were already dead, but those left alive would have to spend the rest of their lives thinking of them and missing them. What a cold and hard truth.