Chapter 3: Carrying Her Along
Using his humor and the harsh conditions of the nearly seatless hospital ward, Zhai Da barely managed to brush off the head teacher and the cluster of classmates.
When Head Teacher Ding Rong left, she conveyed the school's concern, advising him to rest well tomorrow and return to school the day after.
She also emphasized once again that the college entrance exam was not the only path; if Zhai Da chose to repeat the year at their school, he could get a 20% discount, and if he decided to work, her husband worked at the electronics factory.
She noted that the mock exam results wouldn’t differ much from the actual exam, and the pressure in senior year was always intense. There had been cases before of students snapping under pressure—during her ten years of work, three kite-flying incidents had occurred in Dongyang County.
To her, Zhai Da’s fainting was simply due to stress, but only Zhai Da himself knew it was probably some aftereffect of his rebirth that caused the mishap.
If he had the kind of ambition that led to “stress-induced anger from studying,” how could he have ended up at a mediocre vocational college?
It was only that Lin Shuyao, his unrequited love, looked displeased when she left. If she hadn’t refused him publicly and saved his face, why would she bother to rush to the hospital after her exam?
Was she after a discount for Zhai Da’s repeat year?
But the whole act of saving face only made things worse for her; that “Ayase Haruka”—she wouldn’t believe a word of it. Zhai Da was clearly just stubborn for the sake of pride.
He just liked her! He just couldn’t admit it openly!
The ward finally returned to quiet. Zhai Da drew the curtain, changed back into his own clothes, and fell into a brief silence.
He took a deep, deep breath—so deep that his lungs ached—then slowly exhaled.
Then, with the brightest, most reassuring smile, he pulled back the curtain to greet his mother.
“Mom! See, I’m just fine! No more tears!”
Yu Xiaoli wiped at her eyes, laughing through tears, “No more tears, no more tears… those who cry have no luck!”
This saying, of uncertain origin, was something his mother had repeated all her life. On the eve of her passing in the previous life, bedridden Yu Xiaoli comforted Zhai Da in exactly this way.
Even though this middle-aged woman before him, in the final stage of her life weighed down by chemotherapy and radiation, had been reduced to less than 80 pounds...
Zhai Da’s eyes grew moist.
Outside the hospital, Yu Xiaoli pulled out a rusted but sturdy old “28-inch steel-framed” bicycle from under the shelter.
In 2008, electric bikes were not uncommon even in small towns, but his mother never splurged on one; they cost over 2,000 yuan, and she often heard about stolen batteries.
So the “28-inch steel-framed” bike passed down from his grandfather became their only means of transportation.
Zhai Da’s school was only a kilometer away, but Yu Xiaoli’s workplace was eight kilometers from home, so she usually rode it.
From a young age, Yu Xiaoli used this bicycle to ferry Zhai Da around town—visiting friends in one place for half a day, then another friend for the rest—so she could squeeze in factory work.
This old relic unexpectedly became Zhai Da’s second piece of [equipment].
When he saw his mother pushing the bike, strange text appeared before his eyes, a jagged line tracing from the handlebars to a sleek, tech-like text box, as if a game overlapped reality.
“Discovered white special item, [Durable Permanent 28-Inch Steel Frame]: This old bicycle, carrying three generations, has never been involved in a single accident.”
“Ownership status: Not owned, not activated.”
“Effects: 1. Frame durability +20%, 2. Riding safety +20%.”
“Activation pending acquisition of ownership by the host.”
“Note: Its crossbar is as sturdy as the backbone of its original owner.”
Zhai Da was taken aback—this was truly unexpected yet fitting.
A bicycle carrying three generations...
He took the bike and began pushing it forward. “Mom, can you give me this bike?”
Yu Xiaoli was confused. “Give it to you? It’s all family property. Are you planning to sell it?”
“What could I get for it if I sold it? It belonged to grandpa. Can it just be mine from now on?”
“What about my work then?”
“Consider it lent to you, no time limit.”
Yu Xiaoli chuckled, feeling that since he woke up, her son... had become humorous!
Perhaps Zhai Da himself hadn’t realized it—a weary adult soul reborn into a youthful body wouldn’t usually be so carefree; there would normally be some dissonance and awkwardness.
But he seemed to adapt well.
The little book *Clown’s Love Letter* had quite an impact.
Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.
If I’m reborn, I’m not going to waste it. I’m not reborn for nothing.
“All right, all right, the bike’s yours from now on. When mom rides it, just consider it borrowed!”
Between mother and son, things were simple. With her words, the on-screen description of the bike changed.
“Ownership of [Durable Permanent 28-Inch Steel Frame] acquired, equipment effects activated...”
The [equipment] itself wasn’t inherently magical; it was granted by the system—after all, this world held no supernatural powers.
Except for him, perhaps.
Once owned and activated, the system didn’t seem to restrict lending it out, which was important!
Zhai Da chuckled; he would still let his mother ride it.
Safety was the greatest luxury, even for a humble 28-inch steel bike!
Here, he had to take a jab at the Maybach—a rip-off piece of junk! If only he’d bought a cheap M9, maybe Xiaoyi could have driven herself to the hospital.
Leaving the hospital yard, not wanting his mother to tire further, Zhai Da insisted on riding, letting her sit sidesaddle behind him.
After riding from the factory to the hospital, Yu Xiaoli was already quite exhausted.
Zhai Da tested the bike briefly, then set off steadily toward the setting sun.
The breeze, not yet summer’s heat, felt especially refreshing. He wasn’t sure if it was his youthful body opening its pores or simply the beauty of his mood.
In the past, at this age, he had always dreamed of carrying his beloved girl, like Lin Shuyao.
But this time, he suddenly felt that carrying his mother was the better life.
With his mother sitting behind him, seeing he seemed truly fine, she finally relaxed a little.
“Xiao Da, what do you want for dinner? Mom will cook for you.”
Zhai Da smiled brightly. “Pan-fried cold jelly!”
It was a local specialty, one he hadn’t tasted in nearly ten years since his mother passed away.
He rarely came back to Dongyang County—without family, it wasn’t home; without longing, it wasn’t hometown.
“All right, then you ride to the East Street market. I’ll buy you a fish head stew to nourish your body.”
Perhaps because of his poor exam performance, Yu Xiaoli felt Zhai Da was especially obedient and patient today.
Although they depended on each other, communication had always been tough during his adolescence—one studying, the other working, their exchanges limited to nods. Whenever she spoke, he grew impatient.
Today, however, her son was unusually easy to talk to.
She had to say a few more words.
Yu Xiaoli began chattering from the back seat: “A good man aims far! Your grandpa was just the same—he got into college in his thirties, then got sent off to the Northwest, but he still learned a lot.”
“Mom’s right; grandpa was amazing.”
“You’re no less clever than any kid, just unlucky. If you have to repeat the year, mom will support you! Next year, you’ll be a real man!”
“Is repeating too far off? This is only the second mock exam. Can’t we try to salvage it?”
“Then just think it over slowly. Why are you so obedient today? Did fainting change your temper?”
“This is called enlightenment! Mom, rest assured. Just watch me—I’ll make our lives better and better!”
“So young and already talking about life... but being obedient is a good thing.”
“Fine! I’ll listen to everything you say!”
The small, scattered talks and the subtle hints of big things made Yu Xiaoli feel it had been a long time since she’d spoken so much with her son.
And Zhai Da felt the same.
Facing the sunset-tinged wind, Zhai Da felt his heart—once castrated by the big city and frozen by forty million yuan—soften at last.
Forgive the Maybach for three seconds.
Simple and peaceful is the truth, really.
Life must witness thirty thousand sunsets. He recalled a high school essay, *I and the Earth Temple*, which said:
The sun is always both setting and rising; as it fades behind the mountain, casting the melancholy twilight, it simultaneously burns on the other side, climbing the peak to scatter fierce dawn light.
So life will experience over thirty thousand new beginnings.
And now, he held the most precious one.
No matter who the great powers are, thank you!
“Listening to me, huh? Then can I keep your phone?”
“Mom, what did you say? The wind’s too loud; I can’t hear you!”