Volume 0 / Chapter 6: Are You Okay?

Morning at Yu Liang's House

"Honey, is Xueyao's situation... difficult to handle?"

"It shouldn't be too hard." Yu Liang gave an ambiguous answer.

He certainly wouldn't mention that last night he'd looked up some information. This corrective surgery was actually similar to gender confirmation surgery. Since Mo Xueyao had no external female organs, they'd need to reconstruct certain areas using existing tissue, much like in transition procedures. While the end result might be indistinguishable from a biological girl, and potentially better than outcomes for typical transition patients, it was still incredibly complex.

It could be considered among the most intricate of surgical procedures.

Far from simple.

In 1999, doctors in China with experience performing such surgeries could be counted on one hand. Why else would they need to bring in specialists? Hiring foreign doctors was clearly out of the question – that would be far too expensive.

"But it's fifty thousand yuan... sigh, Xiaoyu's family has it so tough. Can they afford that much?"

"If they can't, we lend it to them," Yu Liang replied matter-of-factly.

"Lend it? What about our expenses?"

"What's the issue? Friends should help each other in times of need. Besides, our families are so close."

"No matter how close, you can't just casually hand over that much money! Our daughter's schooling still costs a lot!"

"What kind of attitude is that?" Yu Liang frowned and put down his chopsticks. "Money can be earned back. The money for our daughter's schooling isn't gone forever – it's not like we're destitute. But illness can't be delayed. Since it's been discovered, it needs prompt treatment. It's also better for Xueyao's future growth and development."

"He's not even your son. Why are you so concerned? Are you this good to your own daughter?"

"...Forget it. Talking to someone with no education is pointless. Always so shortsighted." Yu Liang was getting angry. "Can friendship between people really be measured by money?"

"Tch. Let's see if you still say that after being a section chief for a few more years."

"I can't be bothered arguing with you. Debating with someone who barely finished elementary school is an insult to my intelligence as a university graduate." Yu Liang quickly finished the porridge in his bowl and retreated into his study.

...

"Mom, anything I can help with?"

"Go mop the floor," Mom answered instantly, almost reflexively. Then she paused abruptly. "Never mind, don't mop. I'll do it myself."

"Huh? What's that about? Think I don't do a good job?" Mo Xueyao pouted, his stubbornness flaring like a challenge – tell him not to do it, then he absolutely would. He grabbed a rag, got down on his knees, and started scrubbing the floor earnestly.

The apartment didn't even have proper flooring; only the kitchen and bathroom had tiles. The living room and bedrooms just had a layer of dark red paint on the concrete.

Mo Xueyao scrubbed diligently, and soon the floor shone as if it had been waxed.

By the time he finished, Mom had already completed a bunch of other tasks.

"Husband, hang the laundry," Mom instructed while quickly eating breakfast. She finished her bowl of porridge in just three minutes. It still felt hot to Mo Xueyao when he tasted it...

"I'm heading out."

"So early today too?"

"If I finish work early, I will get off early." With that, Mom pushed open the door and left, followed by the rapid sound of her footsteps hurrying down the stairs.

Mo Xueyao, holding a bowl of plain rice porridge now slightly stained with cooking oil, looked towards the balcony where Dad was still hanging clothes. "Dad! Come eat!"

"Coming right away."

Breakfast wasn't lavish.

The main dish was plain rice porridge. Side dishes were preserved mustard greens Meigan cai, salted duck eggs, and one fried egg per person.

[Meigan cai is a type of dry pickled Chinese mustard]

Far from luxuries meal , it was even rather plain.

But Mo Xueyao was used to it. While you couldn't exactly savor delicious flavors in such a meal, it served its purpose mechanically – filling your stomach without complaint.

"Xiaoyao, leave the bowls. I'll wash them."

"What's going on today? Why are you both being so nice to me?" Mo Xueyao looked suspicious. "Are you guys planning something weird?"

"What 'weird' thing could it be? Would parents ever harm their own child?" Dad flicked Mo Xueyao's forehead lightly. "Alright, hurry up and do your homework. It's the final stretch of summer vacation. How much have you actually done?"

"It's almost finished, don't worry! You think I'd let the teacher come looking for me at home?" Mo Xueyao scratched his cheek. "Hmm, but I don't plan on staying home today."

"Where are you going then?"

"I'm going to— the Xinhua Bookstore! At least they have air conditioning there. Today's supposed to hit 39 degrees Celsius! Good luck surviving at home, Dad!" Mo Xueyao announced, getting dressed, slipping on his canvas shoes, and heading out.

"Oh, okay. Be careful on the road. Come back early."

"Got it! Dad, you're getting as naggy as Mom!" Mo Xueyao rolled his eyes and slammed the outer metal door shut with a bang as he started down the stairs.

Mo Xueyao lived on the sixth floor, the top floor of the residential building. The fifth floor was occupied by a family who ran a fried food stall – the kind that sold fried pork chops, fried tenderloin skewers, and stinky tofu from a mobile cart.

Because they sold stinky tofu, walking past their door always meant catching a whiff of that distinctive fermented smell.

Their son was also much older than Mo Xueyao; he was already in university this year. Rumor had it the family made pretty good money. Last time, Mo Xueyao saw their son talking on a brand-new Nokia cell phone.

Mo Xueyao couldn't help but daydream about it. Just imagining it filled him with envy.

He walked all the way downstairs. The flowerbeds beside the path were neglected, overgrown with weeds. Raising a rabbit would be easy here, Mo Xueyao thought, despite having no actual experience with rabbits. Just let it eat the grass here every day.

He'd actually wanted a pet for a long time.

Sadly, the house was small and money was tight; there just wasn't spare cash for such things.

If only I'd been born into a rich family... It was a fantasy he often had.

He imagined getting an allowance of— one hundred yuan a day!

Then he could buy anything he wanted.

Like the remote-control car in the shop by the entrance – even though he'd be starting senior high in September, he still had a soft spot for things like that.

Hmm, and he could save up to buy a knock-off game console too!

The kind with a black-and-white screen.

Of course, the official name for that thing was a 'learning computer'.

Though Mo Xueyao had never actually seen anyone use it to 'learn'.

Most kids held them, playing games with utter delight.

Mo Xueyao got on his bike and was about to leave through the back gate of the complex when he heard someone call out.

"Yo! Xueyao—!"

"Ah, Uncle." Mo Xueyao turned towards the voice, catching the mingled scents of frying oil, chili, and cumin.

"Heading out?"

"Going to Xinhua Bookstore."

"Whoa! Studying so hard?"

"Haha... not really. Just going for the AC."

"Had breakfast?"

"Yeah, ate already," Mo Xueyao replied quickly.

"Want a skewer of stinky tofu?"

"Uh... no need." Mo Xueyao swallowed.

"Haha, come on! Fresh out of the fryer!" The man laughed heartily, handing Mo Xueyao a skewer of golden, crispy stinky tofu. "Sweet chili sauce?"

"Uh... really, it's okay." Mo Xueyao subtly wiped a bit of drool from the corner of his mouth.

But the man was insistent. He grabbed Mo Xueyao's arm and shoved the bamboo skewer into his hand.

"Eat up, eat up! Be careful on the road!"

"Ah, okay." Mo Xueyao accepted the stinky tofu, feeling pleased. To savor the taste and not wolf it down, he took small, deliberate bites.

Holding the skewer in one hand and steering the bike with the other, he wobbled his way through several traffic lights before finally finishing it.

Xinhua Bookstore was quite a distance from home. Mo Xueyao wasn't in a hurry anyway; getting there early was pointless since the bookstore wasn't open yet.

It was nice to look at the scenery along the way. Mornings were one of the rare, slightly cooler times in the summer.

—Though 'cooler' was relative.

There was a line of people in front of a roadside baked flatbread stall.

They sold just plain baked flatbreads and fried dough sticks. If you wanted soy milk, you had to go buy it from a shop specializing in that next door.

Mo Xueyao remembered when he was in school. If Mom didn't have time to make breakfast, he'd happily take money to buy breakfast outside.

Yeah, eating out for breakfast was a treat.

Because it rarely happened.

Back then, he'd spend fifty cents on a baked flatbread wrapped around a fried dough stick, then another fifty cents for a bag of soy milk next door.

Yes, it was served in a very thin plastic bag – cheaper that way. You could pour it into a bowl to drink or just stick a straw straight in.

If the road was too bumpy, accidents could happen – like the soy milk bag bursting, making the bike basket sticky and messy, and wasting the precious drink.

So Mo Xueyao usually chose to drink it right away on the road.

Sure, he'd get thirsty later while eating the flatbread and dough stick, but that was better than wasting it.

Thinking of this, he instinctively patted his pocket.

Right, didn't bring any money today.

Otherwise, he'd have loved to buy a bag of sweet soy milk.

He was pretty thirsty after that stinky tofu, after all.

The sun climbed higher, and the heat intensified once more.

By the time Mo Xueyao reached the entrance of Xinhua Bookstore, quite a few bicycles were already parked.

He found a spot near a pillar, carefully locked his bike, and joined the crowd waiting at the door.

Many were there, all around his age.

Probably also here for the AC and some reading.

For kids in that era without many playmates nearby, summer entertainment options were limited.

Reading books you liked at Xinhua Bookstore was one form of 'entertainment.'

Soon, the store opened. Everyone rushed inside. Most headed straight for the third floor, which sold popular fiction.

Mo Xueyao, however, went to the second floor. This area mostly held popular science books or science fiction.

Things like "World's Unsolved Mysteries" – there were so many versions, and he never seemed to tire of them!

Mo Xueyao sat cross-legged on the floor. The air conditioning was blissfully strong. After carefully browsing for half an hour, he selected three or four books and began reading with deep interest.

Inside the bookstore, the outside world vanished.

Time seemed to fly. When he finished the last book he'd picked up and glanced at the large wall clock, he was shocked to see it was already 5:00 PM.

He hadn't even eaten lunch. While reading, he hadn't felt hungry, but now his stomach growled loudly.

"Ahh—" Mo Xueyao stretched hugely, returned the books to their shelves, and walked out of the bookstore feeling a bit unsteady.

Maybe from sitting too long, causing reduced blood flow to his head, Mo Xueyao felt a headache coming on. A vein pulsed at his temple. Rubbing it didn't help at all.

"Ugh... headache..." He patted his head, as if trying to physically drive the pain away.

It didn't work.

Bathed in the orange-red glow of the evening sunset, Mo Xueyao unsteadily got onto his bike.

The moment he started pedaling, the headache nearly made him crash into a pillar, startling him into a cold sweat.

"Guess I need to go slow today... ugh... mmph... the headache's getting worse. Is it because I skipped lunch? Shouldn't be, that'd make my stomach hurt..."

Mo Xueyao mumbled to himself, unable to concentrate.

The bicycle moved slowly forward, but he kept scratching his head.

The scratching offered only temporary relief; the pain returned the moment he stopped.

As Mo Xueyao struggled against the headache, he lost control of the handlebars. The bike wobbled sideways.

A sharp screech of brakes filled the air. Startled, he lost his balance completely and fell to the ground.

His head hit the pavement with a solid thud. The world spun violently; everything blurred.

A man's anxious voice sounded nearby: "Are you okay?"

Do I... look okay? Mo Xueyao thought in response.

The headache... seemed gone.

But his consciousness... began to fade.