Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 3: We Must Change Beds Tomorrow

In the taxi, Mu Dong didn’t say much, letting Xiao Xiao tell the driver where to go. About twenty minutes later, the taxi entered a residential complex and stopped in front of a building. Sure enough, it was the Changsheng Residential Complex where Mu Dong had rented an apartment back in 2008. The old building from his memories, Unit 3 from his memories, and Room 602 on the top floor from his memories. His buttocks ached a little; he guessed the anesthetic had worn off. Xiao Xiao struggled to support Mu Dong’s left arm, while Mu Dong clung tightly to the stair railing with his right hand. They made their way into the apartment with great difficulty. The cluttered hallway and the worn-out furnishings—everything felt so unfamiliar yet so familiar. It was as if Mu Dong hadn’t traveled back through the years to return here, but had actually left just yesterday. They were both a bit tired. Xiao Xiao first helped Mu Dong lie down on the bed, then quickly turned on the air conditioner—it was truly sweltering in Quancheng in August. Next, she boiled some water and carefully helped Mu Dong drink a little. Then she hurried out, saying she was going to buy a few things. Mu Dong rested for a while, then pulled out the small mirror he usually used when shaving from the drawer of the bedside table and took a look at his face. Just as he remembered, his left eye was surrounded by a large, dark bruise, and his right eyelid was slightly swollen. The left side of his face was also bruised, while the right side bore purplish-red contusions. His lips were swollen, though thankfully not too badly—they were still a far cry from looking like a sausage. “Those bastards really went all out,” Mu Dong muttered under his breath. Come to think of it, the guy with the mohawk—who’d stabbed him in the butt—was clearly a seasoned pro; who knows how many people he’d already hurt. If it had been a novice, wildly stabbing away with a knife, who knows what might have happened. In a way, this was a blessing in disguise. He set the mirror down. Mu Dong struggled to his feet and, relying on a hazy memory, fished out a copy of *A Collection of the Finest Ancient Prose* from his desk drawer. He opened it to find a 50,000-yuan savings certificate lying quietly between the pages. Sure enough, it was just as he remembered. After putting the book away, Mu Dong thought for a moment, pieced together some scattered memories, and then, relying on his recollection, found the numbers on his phone and made a few calls. First, he called the company’s General Affairs Department to request time off. He didn’t mention the robbery; he simply said he was sick and needed about two weeks of rest, and that he would submit a sick leave note later. After requesting the leave, Mu Dong tentatively asked, “Are President Han and Wang Fei there?” “Yes, they are!” came the reply from the other end of the line. “Good,” Mu Dong said, feeling relieved. Next, he called Wang Fei to inform her of his leave. Wang Fei was an assistant in the company’s Marketing Department, responsible for collecting and maintaining sales data, as well as managing copywriting and contracts. Mu Dong asked Wang Fei a few indirect questions and learned about the company’s current operations. Currently, the contract with the provincial China Unicom had already been signed, and the first payment from Ludong Unicom had been received. All that remained was for the company to deliver the goods, coordinate logistics, and complete the warehouse receipt and signature confirmation. Mu Dong instructed Wang Fei to keep an eye on these follow-up tasks. Although these tasks were rather tedious, they posed no major problems, and Wang Fei was more than capable of handling them. The third call was to the company’s general manager, Han Yong. Mu Dong explained in detail why he had taken leave and how he had been injured in a robbery. He also asked General Manager Han to keep the injury a secret. Han Yong was taken aback by the news, but he comforted Mu Dong and promised to keep it confidential. “I finally managed to get by,” Mu Dong thought to himself. After hanging up, Mu Dong thought it over and ultimately decided not to tell his parents about his injury. In his previous life, after he’d been injured, he hadn’t known how long he’d need to recover. Assuming it would be a long time, he worried that taking care of him would be too much of a burden for Xiao Xiao, so he ultimately chose to return to his hometown to recuperate. The day after the injury, he forced himself to take a long-distance bus back home. Once there, his parents were heartbroken. Years later, Mu Dong still couldn’t forget the tears welling up in his mother’s eyes when she saw him in such a pitiful state. The sound of a door opening came from outside—Xiao Xiao was back. She was carrying a large suitcase and had a backpack slung over her shoulders. Mu Dong paused for a moment and asked, “Are you… moving in?” “Yes, starting today, I’m moving in with you. Since I’m still on summer break anyway, I’ll have time to take care of you,” Xiao Xiao replied. When Xiao Xiao first started her career, she was a volunteer teacher at a village elementary school in a suburban county, so naturally she lived at the school. Later, after completing her two-year volunteer assignment, she was transferred to the Fifth Elementary School in the city. Xiao Xiao didn’t live with Mu Dong; instead, she and another female teacher from the same school, Gao Ya, rented a two-bedroom apartment near the school. In the previous timeline, Mu Dong had begged and pleaded with Xiao Xiao to move in with him, but she had never given in. In Xiao Xiao’s words, “Your place is a den of wolves. Even staying there for a short while makes me nervous—living here permanently would be too terrifying.” The two had been in love for several years. Although their relationship was very close, they had never crossed that line. As a college graduate from a rural background, Xiao Xiao was deeply traditional at heart. She hoped to save her virginity for her wedding night. In fact, in the previous timeline, Xiao Xiao had indeed succeeded in doing so. But now, to take care of the injured Mu Dong, Xiao Xiao had voluntarily moved into the “den of wolves.” This hadn’t happened in the previous timeline. As she recalled, they’d spent the morning at the hospital, after which Mu Dong had insisted on returning to his hometown to recuperate. Xiao Xiao had tried to talk him out of it all afternoon, but in the end, she couldn’t persuade him, so the next day she accompanied him back to his hometown. Xiao Xiao opened her suitcase and began packing her things. Mu Dong said, “If you move out, Gao Ya will have to rent a place on her own—that’s a huge financial burden.” Xiao Xiao shot Mu Dong a withering glance and said, “What are you thinking? Once your injuries heal, I’ll be moving back, of course.” “Fine, whatever you say!” Mu Dong replied. But in his heart, he was thinking: We’ve been married for so many years now, and our child is already six years old—is that little secret of yours really such a big deal? The thought of their child made Mu Dong freeze in place. That’s right—our child. According to the timeline of the other reality, Xinyu wouldn’t come into this world until 2010, and then she’d grow up little by little, becoming that lively, adorable little girl. In that reality, Mu Dong had traveled to this one after falling into a coma following a car accident while trying to save a girl who looked just like Xinyu. Would his adorable Xiner still be able to come into his life according to the original timeline? Even if a child did appear on schedule, would she be Xiner? Mu Dong felt a growing ache in his heart. He furrowed his brow, pressed his right hand against his left chest, and gasped for breath. Xiao Xiao noticed something was wrong with Mu Dong, rushed over, patted him on the back, and asked anxiously, “What’s wrong again? What’s wrong? Mu Dong, where does it hurt?” A familiar scent wafted from her mouth and nose—it was Xiao Xiao’s natural fragrance. Mu Dong took a few deep breaths and felt slightly calmer. “It’s nothing,” he said. “I probably just got a little winded. I’m feeling much better now.” Xiao Xiao said, “Lie down for a little while longer. I’ll tidy up a bit, then we’ll go out to buy groceries. What would you like to eat?” Mu Dong lay back down as she suggested. “Get some congee,” he said. “I can’t think of anything else to eat—just buy whatever you think is good. Remember to pick up some ginger, and while you’re at it, stop by the herbal shop and get some rhubarb—two liang will do. Also, get one of those garlic presses.” Xiao Xiao looked at Mu Dong in puzzlement and was just about to speak when Mu Dong continued, “Go ahead and buy them. I’ll need them. I’ll tell you what to do when you get back.” After saying that, he rolled onto his side, facing the head of the bed, and said, “I’m feeling a little dizzy. I’m going to sleep for a bit.” Xiao Xiao walked over, gently tucked the corner of the blanket around Mu Dong, and whispered, “Go ahead and sleep. I’ll go buy the groceries.” With that, she got up and left. Xiao Xiao didn’t see the tears sliding down Mu Dong’s face as he lay with his back to her. This strong man hadn’t shed a single tear despite the excruciating pain from the car crash, the stinging agony of his knife wounds, or the helpless confusion he felt upon waking. But when he thought of the adorable Xinyu in another timeline—and wondered if he’d ever be able to have that lovely little sprite again in this one—the most tender part of Mu Dong’s heart was pierced until it bled profusely. He wept. Through his tear-blurred eyes, memories from another timeline flashed before him, one after another. Xin’er in her swaddling clothes, Xin’er crawling all over the floor, Xin’er taking her first wobbly steps, Xin’er babbling her first words, Xin’er running around everywhere, Xin’er getting her first teeth, Xin’er losing her baby teeth, Xin’er grinning at Mu Dong with her front teeth missing, Xin’er pecking playfully at his face… His mind felt a little muddled again, dazed and hazy. In his daze, Mu Dong saw Xiner running back and forth, giggling, dressed in a pure white gown. She looked just like a flower girl at a wedding, wearing a beautiful wreath on her head. The wreath shimmered with colorful light, making Xiner’s smiling face seem even more vibrant. Gradually, the wreath grew brighter. A white cloud formed beneath Xinyu’s feet, slowly rising and carrying her higher and higher into the sky. Xinyu shouted and jumped with joy, chattering away. From a distance, Xinyu thought she saw Mu Dong. She waved her little hands happily and called out, “Daddy, Daddy! I’m waiting for you on the clouds. Hurry up and bring Mom to pick me up!” Mu Dong was terrified and shouted, “Xin’er, come down quickly! Xin’er, come down quickly!” “Mu Dong! Mu Dong, what’s wrong? Mu Dong! …” Mu Dong felt his body being gently shaken and suddenly woke up. It was Xiao Xiao; she was looking at Mu Dong anxiously. Seeing that he had woken up, she asked softly, “Did you have a nightmare?” “I’m fine. My butt hurts a little—probably from being pinned down,” Mu Dong replied. Looking at the worried Xiao Xiao, Mu Dong didn’t know what to say. He certainly couldn’t tell her, “I’ve traveled back in time. We have a child named Xing’er who flew up to the heavens on a cloud.” If he actually said that, Xiao Xiao might not beat him to death, but she’d probably take him to see a psychiatrist. According to the timeline, Xinyu wouldn’t be born for another two years or so. Since they were destined to be father and daughter in that other timeline, surely that bond would hold in this one as well? Hmm, he’d rather not think about it for now. What’s meant to be will be; what isn’t meant to be shouldn’t be forced. Xiner would come back. Since I’ve traveled through time, I’ve ultimately returned with a wealth of knowledge. Now I need to make good use of this knowledge and carefully plan for the future. I’ll plan a happy and fulfilling life for Xiao Xiao, who’s stood by me through thick and thin, and lay a solid foundation for Xiner, who hasn’t arrived yet. In that other timeline, I owed this mother and daughter far, far too much; in this one, I’ll repay you with abundance and honor. With that thought, Mu Dong chuckled softly and said to Xiao Xiao, “I’m fine. I’m a little hungry—do you have anything to eat, beautiful?” Xiao Xiao perked up and hurriedly replied, “Of course, of course! I made some millet porridge, stewed some pork ribs, and even bought those water chestnut flatbreads you love.” “Oh no!” Xiao Xiao suddenly cried out in alarm, saying anxiously, “Did you hurt your teeth? Those water chestnut flatbreads are a bit hard—will you be able to chew them? Never mind, I’ll run downstairs and buy you some steamed buns instead.” Mu Dong quickly replied, “My teeth don’t hurt—I should be fine. Don’t go through all that trouble; you’ve had a tiring day already. Bring me a flatbread so I can give it a try. If it hurts, I’ll just soak it in the spare rib soup before eating.” Xiao Xiao quickly broke off a piece of the flatbread and handed it to him. Mu Dong took a bite and chewed a few times; his gums felt a little sore and tight, but it didn’t hurt. He said to Xiao Xiao, “My tooth’s fine—it doesn’t hurt. But just to be safe, I’ll eat the soft inside, and you can enjoy the fragrant, crispy crust. Beautiful lady, don’t get too touched, okay?” Horseshoe flatbreads are a type of bread shaped like a horseshoe. The fermented dough is pinched into small pieces, molded into horseshoe shapes, and baked by pressing them against the walls of an oven made from a repurposed large porcelain jar. The finished product has a hard, fragrant crust, while the inside is soft and white, like a steamed bun. It’s a traditional bread unique to the City of Springs. Mu Dong tried to get up to eat at the dining table, but Xiao Xiao firmly refused to let him. She served the food, sat on the edge of the bed, and carefully fed Mu Dong until he had finished. Then she hurriedly finished her own meal and rushed off to wash the dishes. After she was done, Xiao Xiao asked Mu Dong, “I bought all the things you wanted. How do you use them?” Mu Dong replied, “Take a small piece of ginger—well, about half the size of your palm will do—cut it into small pieces, put it in a garlic press, then add a small piece of rhubarb about half the size of your thumb, and pound them together into a paste.” “Then what?” Xiao Xiao asked curiously. Mu Dong said, “Then I’ll apply this to my face. It’ll quickly get rid of the bruising. Look, my face looks worse than a pig’s head—doesn’t it gross you out?” Xiao Xiao burst out laughing and said, “Wait a minute—I’ve never heard of anyone in your family knowing anything about medicine. Where did you learn this? Is it even reliable?” Mu Dong pursed his lips and said helplessly, “I saw it on TV a while back. It just so happens to come in handy now.” But in his heart, he thought, I can’t very well tell you that my mom went to great lengths to track down this recipe—and that in another timeline, you spent every day grinding herbs and applying poultices, becoming incredibly skilled at it. Xiao Xiao followed up, “So how long will it take for this to work?” Mu Dong replied, “They said on TV that if you apply it once a day, you’ll see results in three days. If you keep it on for seven days, it usually clears up the bruising. For more severe bruising, it takes about ten days.” As he spoke, he pointed to his own face and continued, “Look at my face—the redness and swelling on the right side should clear up in about three days, and the bruise on the left side should be gone in about seven. It’s just the area around my left eye that’s a bit trickier; that’ll probably take ten days. But as the TV show also mentioned, this folk remedy only works for injuries where the skin isn’t broken. If the skin is broken, using this could cause an infection. Look, those bastards may have hit me pretty hard, but thankfully they didn’t break the skin—otherwise, my face would be completely ruined!” Xiao Xiao let out an “Oh” and headed to the kitchen to get to work. A moment later, Xiao Xiao brought over a small bowl of mashed paste and carefully applied it to Mu Dong’s face. Mu Dong kept his eyes closed; his face felt hot and slightly stinging. After a while, his skin adjusted, and then certain areas of his face began to itch in waves. Mu Dong knew this meant the medicine was taking effect. About half an hour later, she wiped off the ointment and used a damp towel to clean Mu Dong’s face. Then they watched TV together. The broadcasts were mostly Olympic news—who had won gold medals, how the medal count stood—and it was all incredibly boring. As he watched, Mu Dong slowly drifted off to sleep. After all the turmoil of the day, he was truly exhausted. The apartment Mu Dong rented was a one-bedroom unit with no living room. The apartment was about 15 square meters and furnished with a 1. 5-meter-wide bed, a desk, a desktop computer table, and a folding dining table—which was set up for meals and put away afterward. The remaining living space was very limited. Fortunately, it had a private bathroom and kitchen; though small, they were quite practical. Mu Dong had managed to get by living there alone, but now that Xiao Xiao had moved in, it was definitely too cramped. Xiao Xiao made the bed a bit more comfortable for him. Then she adjusted the air conditioner’s temperature so the room wouldn’t get too cold late at night. Next, she took a few foam mats, put them together on the floor, laid a straw mat on top, and made a spot for her to sleep on the floor. Xiao Xiao was exhausted that day as well. She found a bedsheet to cover herself, fell asleep fully clothed, and soon drifted into a deep sleep. In the middle of the night, Mu Dong woke up with a strong urge to urinate. He forced himself to sit up, intending to go to the bathroom. The light from the streetlamp downstairs shone faintly through the curtains, casting a soft glow into the room. Mu Dong saw Xiao Xiao fast asleep on the makeshift bed on the floor, and a wave of warmth welled up inside him, mixed with a hint of guilt. Afraid of waking Xiao Xiao, Mu Dong didn’t turn on the light. He held his ground, carefully steadying himself against the wall as he quietly made his way to the bathroom. Then he crept back just as quietly. After lying back down, Mu Dong silently set himself a small goal: he absolutely had to get a new bed tomorrow.