Journey Through Realms: Fulfilling Last Wishes

Chapter 35 - The Little White Cabbage of the 1980s

Chapter 35: The Little White Cabbage of the 1980s

Shen Yang returned shortly after stepping out, this time pushing a brand-new wheelchair. It wasn’t an ordinary one—he had gone through considerable effort to get it, pulling favors through connections all the way to Hong Kong.

He understood An Ran’s desire to leave her confined space. Despite his and Aunt Li’s best efforts to keep her entertained with jokes, stories, or books, the monotony eventually wore her down. An Ran’s limited education also made it hard for her to fully enjoy some of these activities.

When Dr. Jiang finally approved the idea of using a wheelchair, Shen Yang acted swiftly. Through his elder brother, Shen Jie, and a network of friends, he acquired the wheelchair. While the process felt slow to him, it was much faster than what an average person could achieve, especially in this era when even basic medical equipment was hard to come by.

The hospital had wheelchairs, but Shen Yang found them too old and uncomfortable for An Ran. He wanted her to have the best.

____

“Where did you get that? Don’t tell me you embezzled funds! You’re really going all out,” An Ran exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise at the sight of the shiny, new wheelchair.

Shen Yang rolled his eyes.

“Can’t you think of something nice for once? You think I’d resort to embezzlement just for a wheelchair? What kind of imagination do you have?”

An Ran grinned cheekily, brushing aside the thought.

“Alright then, no embezzlement. Help me get on, Little Shenzi. Your empress is ready to depart!”

Shen Yang’s brows twitched at the nickname. “Do you still want to go out? Watch your words!”

An Ran feigned submission, her tone exaggeratedly meek.

“Oh, mighty Officer Shen, I humbly beg your forgiveness for my inappropriate words.”

Shen Yang found her antics amusing.

“Fine, since you’ve admitted your mistake, I’ll let it slide. Let’s get you on the wheelchair.”

An Ran muttered a sarcastic “Thank you, Officer Shen, for your generosity,” through gritted teeth, but Shen Yang didn’t press further. He had learned to pick his battles with her fiery personality.

____

Without waiting for further protests, Shen Yang gently picked An Ran up and placed her in the wheelchair. She stiffened slightly, startled by the unexpected physical contact, but refused to show her unease. Her tightly gripping hands on his arm, however, betrayed her nervousness.

“Sit still. If you move too much, I might accidentally push you into a ditch,” Shen Yang teased, noticing her fidgeting with the wheelchair.

“So stingy. I’m just exploring my ride,” An Ran retorted, her earlier curiosity now dampened by his remarks.

Shen Yang sighed.

“I’m just looking out for you. Let’s get you some food first, then you can have all the time you want to explore later.”

An Ran grumbled under her breath.

“Always saying it’s for my own good. I’m not a kid, you know.”

Used to her sarcasm, Shen Yang didn’t argue further. He pushed her towards the hospital’s cafeteria, knowing they couldn’t venture too far from the hospital grounds just yet.

______

When they arrived at the cafeteria, Shen Yang asked, “What do you feel like eating? I’ll get it for you.”

An Ran’s eyes lit up at the question.

“Anything? Really? Don’t blame me if I go overboard!”

“Anything,” Shen Yang confirmed with a nod.

Finally free from the monotonous patient meals, An Ran felt like she had struck gold. She began looking at the menu, eager to make the most of this rare opportunity.

Shen Yang surprised An Ran by letting her order freely without his usual restrictions or lectures about what was appropriate for her recovery. An Ran, suspicious of his uncharacteristic behavior, couldn’t help but ask, “Are you in love or something? You’re unusually agreeable today.”

Caught off guard, Shen Yang’s face turned red as he quickly denied it.

“What nonsense is in your head? I’ve always been reasonable—you just have too many biases against me.”

“Bias? I don’t think so. Look at you blushing! You must have someone special in your life now,” An Ran teased, unwilling to let the matter go.

Shen Yang brushed off her probing.

“Just focus on choosing your food instead of prying into my private life.”

When they reached the hospital cafeteria, An Ran immediately understood why Shen Yang had been so calm about her food choices—the cafeteria menu was tailored for patients, ensuring all meals were healthy and recovery-friendly.

Realizing she had been outsmarted, An Ran turned to glare at Shen Yang. He chuckled to himself, feeling unfairly blamed.

She’s glaring at me because she didn’t think of this herself, he mused but decided to let it slide, reasoning that An Ran was still young and had her rebellious moments.

____

An Ran, determined to make the most of the opportunity, rattled off her choices—“I want the cabbage, those meatballs, a drumstick, and a fish. Oh, and a bowl of rice. Get whatever you want for yourself.”

Shen Yang raised an eyebrow at her ambitious order.

“Are you sure you can finish all that? No wasting food.”

“Isn’t that what you’re here for? You can help me eat if I can’t finish,” An Ran said matter-of-factly, masking her slight embarrassment with a commanding tone.

Shen Yang chuckled, appreciating her rare display of boldness.

“Alright, I’ll help if necessary. Let me get your order.”

As Shen Yang walked away, An Ran began to reflect. She thought about how much Shen Yang and Aunt Li had done for her during her recovery—covering her medical bills, bringing her meals, and keeping her company. These were gestures of care she had never expected.

_____

When Shen Yang returned with the food, he encouraged her to start eating.

“Hurry up and eat. We still have to do a check-up after this.”

An Ran, annoyed by his brusque tone, muttered, “What’s the rush? The food’s too hot anyway. Let it cool first.”

Shen Yang, used to their playful bickering, didn’t push further. He knew An Ran liked to challenge him and found her defiance amusing.

After a few bites, An Ran cautiously began, “Officer Shen, I have a favor to ask.”

Shen Yang immediately grew suspicious.

“If it’s about going outside, the answer is no.”

“Why do you always think I’m so frivolous?” An Ran said, feigning indignation. “This is a serious request.”

“Alright, let’s hear it then,” Shen Yang replied, intrigued.

Taking a deep breath, An Ran hesitated before speaking.

“I don’t have an ID or household registration. Without it, I can’t work or support myself. I was wondering if you could help me get one.”

Shen Yang listened patiently, impressed by her foresight. He appreciated that she wasn’t letting her temporary comfort distract her from planning for the future.

“Is that all? I’ve already started working on it. You have two options—you can register under my household and come to Beijing with me, or you can register under Aunt Li’s household and stay here in Qingcheng. However, if you choose Aunt Li’s, we’ll need the consent of her two sons.”

An Ran froze, tears welling up in her eyes. She had been racking her brain for ways to ask for help, only to learn that Shen Yang and Aunt Li had already made plans for her.

“Think about it and let me know when you’re ready. There’s no rush,” Shen Yang said gently, trying to ease the emotional weight of his words.

An Ran lowered her head, silently eating her meal as tears mixed with her rice. She swallowed the lump in her throat along with her food, overwhelmed by gratitude for the two people who had selflessly supported her.

For the first time since arriving in this unfamiliar world, An Ran felt a sense of belonging and warmth, and she silently celebrated the choices that had brought her to Shen Yang and Aunt Li.