"When I met you, you were a child, and now you are an adult who can take charge of yourself. Dean Liu said with emotion.

"I want to thank you for taking care of you for so many years," Ding Dong said sincerely, "If it weren't for your letters of recommendation and help, I wouldn't have been able to apply for a student loan." ”

"That's because you're good enough, and I'm just doing it. Dean Liu said with a smile.

They stopped at a bench, and Dean Liu looked at Ding Dong: "Ding Dong, I will retire next month." ”

"Retired?" Ding Dong was stunned, and then she saw that Dean Liu's curly hair on his temples was already a little gray, and his face with a loving smile had also been deeply wrinkled by the years. How did this be quietly added to this familiar face?

"Why, you are no longer a child, can I still be young forever?" Dean Liu laughed and teased.

"No, no, I just feel like ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, which is a bit incredible. Ding Dong hid her sadness with a smile, which did not escape Dean Liu's eyes, but she did not debunk it.

"The new dean has taken office, Ding Dong, I'm afraid this time, you're going to be in trouble. Dean Liu said.

Ding Dong was stunned for a moment, and then she realized what the trouble Dean Liu was talking about.

Dean Liu nodded and said, "Just as you feared, after I leave, there will be no more allowances and reductions for your mother's monthly allowances. Ding Dong, your mother's hospitalization expenses will probably have to be paid according to the normal standards of the hospital. ”

Ding Dong also nodded, she already knew what Dean Liu didn't say in order to take care of her self-esteem, because of Dean Liu's care, Ding Dong not only received the care of reducing part of the fee, but also the preferential treatment of delayed payment.

None of this is going to happen now.

"I'm sorry, I tried my best to convince the new dean, but it didn't work. You know, it's an iron rule in the workplace for people to go tea and cool, so ...... I'm sorry. Dean Liu's powerlessness and guilt moved Ding Dong, but it made her feel distressed even more.

It is hard to imagine that Dean Liu asked others for himself, which made her more sad than Ding Dong pleading for himself.

"Don't say that, I've been cared for enough by you in ten years. Of course, Dean Liu could feel the sincerity in Ding Dongcheng's words, and she patted her shoulder comfortingly.

"When is the latest time to pay?" Ding Dong asked.

"I'm afraid it's the 2nd of next month. Dean Liu said, "However, you don't have to worry, I will help you pay ...... first."

"No!" Ding Dong interrupted Dean Liu without thinking, "How can I let you pay for it?" ”

"But ......"

"Don't worry, I'm already a person with a job!" Ding Dong smiled.

Who said that behind all smiles is hidden the strength of the old man?

No, it's not, that's not true.

Being strong has become a part of Ding Dong's life, a part of Ding Dong.

She had to be strong and go on, towards that place, that goal.

*****

"Mom, are you in a good mood today?"

"Mom, it's cold. ”

"Mom, what about the shawl I brought you last time?"

Ding Dong's questions are rarely answered by his mother.

At this time, she was sitting by the window, looking out the window at the sycamore leaves swaying in the wind. The wind blew up the translucent gauze curtains and flew gently, blowing broken hair to linger on the side of the face, and the face that was once plump and ruddy was already pale and emaciated. Her body, and even her hands, were emaciated, and the hand on the armrest of the wheelchair seemed to have only skin left, tightly wrapped around the joints, and even the protruding cyan veins could be clearly seen.

Ding Dong's gaze fell on the wheelchair along his mother's hand.

My mother didn't have to use a wheelchair in the first place, but she was very persistent on this issue. Dean Liu has said that this may be a manifestation of her escapism, and that following her wishes may be more helpful to her recovery. Ding Dong certainly agreed, and she wanted her mother to recover more than anyone else.

This is one of Ding Dong's few wishes in the past fifteen years.

She found the shawl in the simple cabinet next to the bed, the pure cashmere shawl that Ding Dong bought with his part-time salary, which was very suitable for the season of late summer and early autumn.

"Mom, let's get around. Ding Dong said, putting the shawl on his mother's body.

"It's almost a midterm exam, right?"

Mother asked suddenly.

"What?" Ding Dong didn't react for a moment.

Mother finally took her eyes off the plane tree and looked at Ding Dong. Mother's eyes are classical almond eyes, I don't know if it is the reason for not being in contact with the outside world for ten years, these eyes are more ethereal and purer than before.

In terms of appearance, Ding Dong inherited his father's melon seed face and gentle lips, her eyes and nose inherited her mother's, and her smooth black hair also looked like her mother, which made her "born from the advantages of her parents".

Still, her mother, who used to be a good neurosurgeon, would intermittently forget about her.

And this time, the question she suddenly asked, is it because of Ding Dong's concern?

"It's almost midterm, right?" asked the mother again.

Ding Dong didn't respond immediately, his mother's reason and memory were all chaotic, past, present and imagination appeared randomly, without warning, and there was no regularity at all, Ding Dong didn't know what kind of situation she was going to face at this time.

A strange look appeared on her mother's face, and she turned sideways, swept past Ding Dong, and looked at the door.

"Hey?," she wondered, "why didn't the kid come?"

"The kid?"

"The kids who come to your home to review with you before the exam. Mother looked at Ding Dong like a weirdo, "Your classmate." ”

Ding Dong immediately squatted down and looked at his mother tightly: "Which classmate? What is her name?"

"What's it called......" The mother showed a confused look, and just as Ding Dong looked at her seriously, waiting for the answer she was about to say, her mother's eyes suddenly became fierce. She grabbed Ding Dong's hand, glared at her viciously, and asked, "Where have you been?" Why don't you go home?"

Ding Dong's heart immediately sank.

She knew that the irascible soul that lurked deep inside her mother couldn't wait to surface and begin its mad attack.

"Mom, calm down. Ding Dong's hand was tightly clamped by his mother's hand, and the pain was doubled from the clamping of the bones. She tried to restrain the pain, trying to calm her mother in a calm tone, but as usual, she failed.

"Get out!

Mother suddenly let go of Ding Dong and then pushed her hard. Ding Dong, who was completely unprepared, fell to the ground like this, and his mother also fell from the wheelchair due to excessive force.

"Mom, are you okay?" Ding Dong couldn't care about his pain, and got up to help his mother.

"Don't touch me!" the mother scolded, and her voice changed from excitement. She refused Ding Dong's support, and waved her arms desperately, hitting Ding Dong's body one after another.

"Get out, get out, what are you going to do when you want to leave this house? Get out, get out!" cried her mother hysterically, her long-sun-barred, almost white to transparent skin flushed, and the blue veins on her forehead were shocking.

The nurses ran in from outside, and they pulled Ding Dong up, but Ding Dong pushed him away.

I don't know why, Ding Dong was stubborn at this time, and she only had one thought, which was to help her mother up. But the mother's resistance was so fierce that she picked up everything she could reach and hit Ding Dong: the shawl that fell on the ground, the slippers that fell off when she fell, and she even snatched the folder from the nurse's hand and threw it hard.

The hardwood folder slammed into Ding Dong's face, leaving a scrape on his cheekbone under his eye.

Soon, blood seeped out.

"Ding Dong, you go out first. Nurse Zhao grabbed Ding Dong and persuaded, "You are here, she will not be calm." ”

"Mom!"

Ding Dong called out to his mother almost with desperate sorrow, and all the unwillingness and pain turned into this cry. I don't know if she was shocked by the pain in Ding Dong's voice, her mother was slightly stunned, and then, she tried all her strength to burst out a poignant and sharp cry.

"Get out!"

The mother in the ward was still shouting, and Ding Dong sat on the bench in the corridor, listening to the noisy sounds. It's strange that this situation has been staged many times, but every time it brings her impact, it is still so strong.

I don't know how long I sat before the ward gradually quieted down. Come to think of it, it was the mother who had calmed down a little under the nurse's reassurance.

"Ding Dong, are you okay?"

Nurse Zhao walked out of the ward, looked at Ding Dong with concern, and said, "The wound on your face needs to be treated, come with me." ”

"Ah, no need, a little injury, it will be fine in a while. Ding Dong hurriedly shook his head.

"How can a girl's face be casual?" Nurse Zhao said angrily, pulling Ding Dong up and walking towards the processing room.

"Dean Liu has already told us, don't worry, we will take good care of your mother. ”

When treating the wound on the side of Ding Dong's face, Nurse Zhao said this to her.

"Thank you. ”

Words of thanks, Ding Dong has already said too much to these kind people. But other than that, she didn't know how to express her heart.

Language is pale at times, but when you don't have the strength to do more, it's the only thing you can use.

"Thank you for your work, we all hope you have a good job. Nurse Zhao smiled like a gentle elder, and Ding Dong also nodded and smiled.

"Don't worry, Nurse Zhao, I will work hard and make progress every day. ”

She regained her cheerfulness and liveliness, and Nurse Zhao showed a reassuring expression.

Sometimes your smile isn't yours alone, it's everyone's.

Ding Dong thought.

When everyone laughs, they really laugh.

"Buzz ......"

As soon as he walked out of the processing room, Ding Dong's mobile phone rang.

—a message from Mars.

"Areyoukittingme?" he said, "is this your prank?"

Below this sentence is a photo of a dinner knife: a black dinner knife, and a string of numbers is clearly visible at the handle - 1414.