The Landlady and The Amnesiac

08

Chapter 8 – Untouchable Plot

Xiao Jiang’s full name was Jiang Sihan. Luo Bei still remembered the first time she met him.

He carried a guitar and didn’t talk much. The rent in shanty town was cheaper. The houses in the regular neighborhoods would generally charge three months refundable deposit and one month rent in advance. It was different in the slums. It would usually be a one month refundable deposit and one month rent. A fully furnished one would be two months refundable deposit and one month rent. So those who didn’t have enough money in their wallets would first choose to stay in the slums.

The room in the basement only had a bed and came with no other appliances so it was a one month refundable deposit and one month rent. Jiang Sihan paid 1,000 yuan in cash at that time. Luo Bei noticed that after paying the deposit and rent, he only had some small change left in his wallet. The biggest being a 50 yuan note.

Because the affable Grandma Luo didn’t like inquiring about other people’s affairs, Luo Bei had no idea what Jiang Sihan did for a living the entire time.

He seemed to be having a very hard time. The few times she had seen him, he was always carrying a plastic bag with instant noodles in it. His skin tone was originally very pale and with such a haggard appearance, he looked no different from the vampires on TV.

The hospital canteen was closed at the moment. Luo Bei went to a small restaurant nearby, bought Jiang Sihan an egg fried rice and requested for the boss to add an extra egg. After all, he looked really malnourished.

Luo Bei had read up on the process of giving birth prior and bought chocolate and red bull for Zhao Pianpian. They were apparently effective.

Jiang Sihan held the steaming hot disposable lunch box in his hands. It was heavy, enough for an adult man to fill his stomach. He was embarrassed to be in such a difficult situation at this time, but his stomach couldn’t lie. So he stood up and walked to the emergency exit without a word. When he opened the lid of the lunch box, he found that there were two chicken wings on the fragrant egg fried rice.

Many years later, Jiang Sihan would recall this bowl of egg fried rice with overwhelming nostalgia.

This was the best egg fried rice he had ever eaten.

Each grain of rice was separate, completely covered with lard and eggs. It was neither salty nor bland, the taste was just right.

It was Zhao Pianpian’s first time giving birth. When she was finally pushed into the delivery room, it was almost dawn the next day. Usually, once the mother entered the delivery room, the baby would be delivered soon after. A nurse came out to inform them that the mother and child were safe and sound at sunrise.

Grandma Luo was overjoyed. After chanting Amitabha1 several times, she hurriedly left the hospital, saying she wanted to make something for Zhao Pianpian to eat.

As for Luo Bei, when she looked at the baby who had been washed and bundled up, she couldn’t hold back her tears and her eyes reddened uncontrollably.

The little guy had wrinkles on his forehead and his skin was red. His eyes were barely opened, two little slits on his face. His little eyes looked extremely pitiful.

Luo Bei knew his vision was still blurry.

Zhao Pianpian did not fall asleep regardless of her debilitated state. She looked at the baby gently as if he was her whole world.

“Have you thought of what to name him?” Luo Bei asked.

Zhao Pianpian leaned her head and looked out the window. It was currently the best hour of the morning. She whispered, “Let’s call him Qichen.”

“Any meaning behind that?”

“Qi means the beginning. Early morning (Chen) is the golden time of the day. It goes without saying that a perfect day is when you set out early in the morning, no?”

Luo Bei recalled the plot of the novel. At first, the baby was indeed called Zhao Qichen, but later it was changed back to Lei Qichen. The plot was truly untouchable.