Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
Urban Divine Doctor
墨書 Inktalez
In a corner of a small town weathered by time, there stood an old residential building. The dim yellow lights in the hallway flickered intermittently, as if they might be swallowed by darkness at any moment. Five-year-old Haochen curled up in the corner of his small, dimly lit room. Outside, the rain poured down in torrents, with large raindrops pounding against the window, creating a dull and chilling sound. Lightning streaked across the pitch-black sky, followed closely by a deafening clap of thunder that made him tremble, his tiny body shrinking into a tight ball.
“Knock, knock, knock!” A sudden urgent knocking echoed through the silence of the terrifying night, sounding particularly jarring. Haochen looked up in fear, and before he could react, his neighbor, Aunt Wang, rushed in with a panicked expression. Her hair was soaked from the rain, strands sticking to her anxious face.
“Haochen, come with me!” Aunt Wang didn’t pause to wipe the rain from her face; she grabbed the bewildered Haochen and ran outside. His little feet stumbled as he cried out, “Aunt Wang, what’s wrong? Where are Mom and Dad?” Aunt Wang didn’t answer; she only tightened her grip on his hand and hurried down the stairs.
In the hospital corridor, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled every inch of air. The harsh white lights cast a cold glow over the space. Haochen was pulled along by Aunt Wang, his small figure appearing helpless among the serious faces of passing adults. He searched desperately around him until finally, in a corner of a patient room, he saw his parents lying on a hospital bed.
“Dad! Mom!” Haochen broke free from Aunt Wang’s grasp and rushed to the bedside, crying out. He saw his parents covered in blood, their faces pale as paper. No matter how loudly he called out, that familiar warm embrace would never respond again. Tears streamed uncontrollably from his clear eyes as his small heart filled with overwhelming sorrow.
Around him, adults were either sobbing quietly or covering their faces in grief. Haochen felt a buzzing in his ears; his heart was heavy with loss for his parents and fear for the future. In that moment, it felt as if his world had collapsed; all happiness vanished without a trace.
From that day on, every night, Haochen would reunite with his parents in dreams. In those dreams, their smiles were still warm; they would play with him in the park and buy him his favorite candies. But each time he reached out to grasp that happiness with a smile, he would wake up suddenly to find himself alone, tears already soaking his pillow.
When Grandma heard the terrible news, she rushed from the countryside overnight. She walked unsteadily into the hospital and saw her frail grandson by the bedside. Holding back tears that threatened to spill over, she opened her arms and tightly embraced Haochen. Her calloused yet warm hands gently stroked Haochen’s head as if conveying a strength capable of withstanding all worldly suffering.
“Haochen, dear, don’t be afraid; Grandma is here,” her voice was thick with emotion but unwavering. Haochen clung to her tightly as if grasping onto a lifeline and cried out loud.
To raise Haochen alone, Grandma resolutely decided to stay in this unfamiliar and cold city. She had once lived a peaceful life in the countryside—working at dawn and resting at dusk—but now she had to struggle through the bustling chaos of this metropolis for her grandson.
Every day before dawn broke and while the city still slept, Grandma would quietly rise from bed. After a quick wash-up, she would pack her bamboo basket filled with handmade crafts and head out. She set up her small stall in a corner of the market; it marked the beginning of her hope for each day.
In summer, under the blazing sun that seemed to trap the entire city in a giant steamer, Grandma sat at her stall while the relentless heat beat down on her weathered face. Before long, her cheeks turned bright red from sun exposure; sweat poured down like strings of pearls rolling off her skin and soaking her clothes. Yet every time a passerby approached, Grandma would instantly perk up with a smile plastered across her face as she enthusiastically introduced her goods: “Miss, take a look at this hand-stitched handkerchief! I sewed it stitch by stitch; it’s beautiful! Buy one!”
On a winter day, the cold wind cut through the air like a knife, and Grandma's hands were red and cracked, with gaping wounds that were hard to look at. Yet she continued to deftly handle her crafting materials, weaving together pieces that carried hope. Her breath formed white clouds in the frigid air, but she remained steadfast at her stall, determined to earn a little more money so that Haochen could eat better and stay warm.
As night fell and the lights began to twinkle, Grandma dragged her weary body home. After a simple dinner, she would pull Haochen close under the dim light that flickered like candlelight and tell him ancient stories.
"Once upon a time, there was a little hero who was brave and kind, always helping those in need..." Grandma's voice was soft and soothing, like a gentle stream flowing through the mountains, nourishing Haochen's heart. Nestled in her embrace, he listened intently, his eyes wide open. The enchanting tales gradually dispelled the gloom that hung over him throughout the day, allowing him to feel the warmth and love of home amidst their difficult life.
Under Grandma's meticulous care, Haochen grew up and entered school. He understood the hardships she faced and had been well-behaved since he was old enough to comprehend their struggles.
Haochen's room was small and dimly lit, with patches of peeling paint revealing the mottled wall beneath. But he paid no mind; every day after school, he would rush home to sit at his worn desk, studying diligently under the faint light. His textbooks were battered from frequent use, their covers nearly falling apart, yet every page was neatly organized with dense notes—a testament to his thirst for knowledge and dreams for the future.
Whenever he encountered a problem he didn't understand, he never gave up easily. At school, during breaks, he would timidly yet resolutely approach his teacher with his book in hand and quietly ask, "Teacher, I don't quite understand this question. Could you explain it to me?" The teacher always responded patiently while Haochen listened intently, nodding occasionally with a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. At home on weekends, he would walk for a long time to the library to research answers among the rows of bookshelves.
At school, his classmates wore new and stylish clothes and carried trendy backpacks while Haochen's clothes were patched in several places and his backpack was tattered with frayed edges. But he never felt inferior; instead, he worked even harder in his studies. He knew that only knowledge could change his and Grandma's fate—a belief firmly rooted in his heart.
One day, the school organized a cultural performance requiring all students to wear matching outfits. Haochen frowned as he read the notice from his teacher; he knew how hard Grandma worked for money and that this expense would be a significant burden for them.
When he got home, Haochen quietly set down his backpack and helped Grandma with chores as usual. He swept the floor and washed the dishes quickly but somewhat absentmindedly. Noticing something was off, Grandma asked with concern, "Haochen, what's wrong? Did something happen at school?" Haochen opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated; ultimately, he just shook his head and softly replied, "It's nothing, Grandma."
That night, as Haochen lay in bed tossing and turning unable to sleep, he thought about how his classmates would be wearing beautiful performance outfits on stage while he would have to miss out due to lack of money. His heart felt heavy with disappointment. But more than anything, he didn't want to burden Grandma; she had already worked so hard.
The next morning when Haochen woke up, he found a brand-new performance outfit laid out on his desk. He turned in surprise to see Grandma standing nearby with a tired yet content smile on her face.
"Haochen," she said gently, "I know you've wanted this outfit for a long time. I sold my cherished jewelry from years past to buy it for you. Go ahead and participate in the event; don’t worry about money."
Xiao Haochen looked at his grandmother in front of him. Her hair had turned even grayer, and the wrinkles on her face had deepened, marks of the hard work she had endured for him. Tears welled up in his eyes as he threw himself into her embrace, choking on his words, "Grandma, you’ve worked so hard. I will study diligently from now on and earn a lot of money to give you a good life."
His grandmother gently patted his back and smiled, "Good, Grandma believes in you."
From that day on, the seed of a dream in Xiao Haochen's heart took root deeply under his grandmother's care and love. As he grew, it flourished and became ever more resolute. He knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead might be, as long as his grandmother was by his side, he would have the courage and strength to forge ahead.
Comment 0 Comment Count