Chapter Fifty: Encountering the Twin Sisters Once Again

With no other choice, Yufang stayed home while He Zhixing went alone to the city. He didn’t want Yufang to travel with him; it wasn’t suitable for a pregnant woman to endure the long, rough mountain roads. For the sake of both their health, he left her at home, making sure to tell his uncle and aunt that he was heading to the city to see his grandfather, as something had happened back in their hometown that required his attention.

When He Zhixing was about to leave, Yufang clung to him, reluctant to let go, and said, “Be careful. Remember to drive slowly.”

“I will,” he replied.

He wheeled his motorcycle out the door, started it, shifted gears, and set off toward the city. The mountain road wound and twisted, climbing and descending, and the hour-long journey was hard on anyone behind the wheel.

When he reached the village at the foot of Jinji Ridge, the two sisters were already waiting. As soon as they spotted him, they both threw themselves into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. “Brother He, our father... our father is gone...”

Their tears flowed like a breached dam, their grief pouring out in torrents. He Zhixing hurried to comfort them. “It’s all right, I’m here now. Don’t be afraid, as long as I’m with you. Try not to cry out here; we should go home before too many people gather.”

At his words, their wailing softened. He Zhixing asked, “Where’s your mother? Is she at home?”

Ling’er wiped her tears and replied, “Brother, she’s at home. We’re going with her soon, to the crematorium, to bring back Father’s ashes.”

“All right, I’ll go with you. Let’s head home.”

He took their hands and, passing his own family’s gate, glanced in to find his grandfather working in the courtyard. He called out, “Grandpa, I’m going to Ling’er’s house. I’ll come back after everything’s settled.”

His grandfather looked up from his woodworking and said, “Go on, help them well. I’m in good health, so don’t worry about me. Go on now.”

“Goodbye, Grandpa.”

When they arrived at Aunt Luo’s house, they found her with red, swollen eyes, clearly having just cried. He Zhixing greeted her with a nod and a soft “Auntie.” Seeing their mother, the two girls rushed into her arms, and together the three women wept anew.

“Mother, Father is gone...”

As the only man among them, it was up to He Zhixing to offer comfort. He hurried over, embracing them all, and soothed, “Please, don’t cry. What’s happened is beyond anyone’s control. Auntie, please don’t weep. Ling’er, Yan’er, try to console your mother.”

But his words only made their mother sob harder. “Oh, my poor Zhang! How could you bear to leave me alone? What will I do? What will my children do?”

Her cries grew louder, her tears soaking He Zhixing’s shoulder. The twin sisters, showing their maturity, choked back their own sobs and said, “Mother, please don’t cry. You still have us. We’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Their mother was still young, well cared for, and looked almost like a third sister. Eventually, after venting her grief, she quieted, lifted her head, and released the embrace. She turned to He Zhixing, saying, “Thank you, Xiao He.”

He answered, “There’s no need to thank me, Auntie. It’s my duty as a man to take care of you. When something happens to your family, I’m bound to do everything I can to help. Besides, I grew up with Ling’er and Yan’er; I’ve always thought of your family as my own.”

“Still, thank you, Xiao He. Without you, losing their father would have left us without our anchor. I’m sorry you had to see us like this.”

“I understand, Auntie.”

“As long as you understand. We still need to collect Uncle Zhang’s ashes. Our first priority is to see that he is properly laid to rest. The dead are already gone, but the living must go on. We must be brave—otherwise, even his spirit would not want to see us give up on life. Don’t worry, we will stand strong, and I will always be here for you.”

“Yes,” she replied.

Together, the four of them brought the ashes home. The next day, Uncle Zhang was buried. The truck involved in his accident was a total loss, having tumbled hundreds of meters down the mountainside.

“Alas, it was just bad luck,” people would say. “Hauling sand and stone through these mountains during a landslide—his life was too short…”

The construction company Uncle Zhang worked for paid over a hundred thousand in compensation, which was as much as one could hope for from the boss.

He Zhixing stayed by their side throughout. The two girls took a long leave from school, and during this period, He Zhixing took on nearly all the housework and cooking, as none of the three women could bring themselves to do anything.

When people face tragedy and the pain of losing a loved one, it takes time to heal. Time can dull the sharpest sorrow; time teaches us to face what comes, and in time, people awaken and learn to confront the future with courage.