Marriage at Thirty - Chapter 6

Fu Linling didn’t say who that person was.

Lin Ran didn’t pay much attention, either. After all, it was just history. Besides, they had only been classmates for one year; they knew very few people in common, so even if Fu Linling said the name, Lin Ran might not know her.

The rain gradually subsided, and the two drove home separately.

After the rain, the weather grew warmer, and with the May Day holiday approaching, everyone started making travel plans early.

Lin Ran always preferred to travel outside of peak times, and besides, she was busy preparing for Zhang Wu’s wedding.

Auntie Wang heard that Zhang Wu was going to try on wedding dresses today and wanted to join the excitement, so Zhang Wu had Lin Ran pick her up as well to help make decisions.

The wedding dress was Lin Ran’s idea; she really wanted to see Zhang Wu in a gown, but after trying a few, Zhang Wu politely declined.

“I don’t feel comfortable in it. My old arms and legs, it doesn’t look good on me,” Zhang Wu said, rubbing her arms. “And it’s cold.”

Lin Ran burst out laughing. “Then do you want to try a Chinese-style one?”

The three then moved to a Chinese bridal shop. Zhang Wu ended up choosing a cheongsam (qipao) that was both elegant and flattering to her figure. They were all very satisfied.

“Since we’re not having a full banquet, just a dinner with relatives from both sides, this is enough,” Zhang Wu said.

“That’s fine too.”

Zhang Wu called Uncle Liu to hurry over to choose his suit. While waiting, Lin Ran suddenly thought, “Have you guys had your pre-marital checkup?”

“No. We didn’t have checkups when we got married before.”

“That was before. Since we have time now, let’s go get checked out, just in case.” Lin Ran took Zhang Wu for a checkup every year, worrying that if Uncle Liu had any issues, it would be difficult later. It was about time for her annual checkup anyway.

“I think that’s a good idea. Young people getting married all do this nowadays,” Auntie Wang chimed in.

“Alright then, let’s schedule one,” Zhang Wu said.

Uncle Liu arrived soon after. After trying on his suit, he was ready to take everyone out to eat, but Auntie Wang said, “I can’t go. I have an appointment to remove stitches; I have to go to the hospital.”

“Removing what stitches?” Zhang Wu asked.

“My tooth,” Auntie Wang pointed to her mouth.

“Oh, right.” Zhang Wu nodded, looking at Lin Ran. “The hospital is quite far from here, Ranran. Why don’t you take Auntie Wang over? Come eat with us when you’re done.”

“Sure.”

It wasn’t until they reached the hospital that Lin Ran belatedly realized this was the hospital where Fu Linling worked.

Since they were already there, she had to accompany Auntie Wang upstairs. Removing stitches wouldn’t take long.

After getting a number, they waited outside the clinic room. Auntie Wang lingered near the doorway. The nurse saw her and called out from inside, “Please wait a moment. Wait outside until your number is called.”

“Oh, okay.” Auntie Wang sat down on the sofa outside.

Lin Ran glanced into the clinic. There were several large rooms inside, each holding two or three machines that made a buzzing sound. There were quite a few doctors and nurses, but she didn’t see Fu Linling.

“How are things going with Dr. Fu?” Auntie Wang whispered when Lin Ran sat down.

“Quite well.”

“I knew it. You two are a good match,” Auntie Wang said happily.

Just then, the broadcast called Auntie Wang’s name. The two hurried in, and the nurse asked Auntie Wang to lie down.

“Where is Dr. Fu?” Auntie Wang asked.

“She’ll be right over.” Nurse Qin placed the tools on the tray. Turning around, she saw Lin Ran, her eyes lighting up. Then she said, “Family members can wait outside.”

“Okay.” Lin Ran backed out of the room, accidentally bumping into someone. She quickly turned to apologize, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Lin Ran looked up and saw Fu Linling.

The other person was wearing a white coat, a white cap, and a mask, revealing only her eyes, which were slightly upturned and seemed to be smiling.

“Are you here for…”

“Accompanying Auntie Wang,” Lin Ran gestured inside.

Fu Linling glanced inside and nodded: “I’ll go in now.”

“Okay.”

Lin Ran stepped aside. Fu Linling walked in, putting on gloves as she asked Auntie Wang, “No discomfort, right?”

“No.”

“Good. Open wide. We’re going to remove the stitches. It won’t hurt at all, don’t be nervous.”

Several interns gathered around.

The stitch removal process was quick. Lin Ran felt like they had just gathered before they dispersed.

Auntie Wang sat up, suddenly feeling the need to use the restroom, and went to the toilet.

While tidying up, Nurse Qin saw Lin Ran observing Fu Linling from the doorway, then looked at Auntie Wang, immediately becoming excited. She secretly sidled up to Fu Linling and whispered, “Dr. Fu, is that beautiful woman your blind date?”

Fu Linling was taking off her gloves. Hearing the question, she glanced at the doorway, unsure if Lin Ran had heard. Fearing she might be embarrassed, Fu Linling said, “No, she’s a classmate.”

“Oh, a classmate. She’s really pretty.”

Auntie Wang returned from the restroom. The nurse instructed her to come back for a follow-up check in six months. Auntie Wang nodded in agreement and wanted to chat with Dr. Fu, but the next patient had already arrived.

“Dr. Fu.” A young, beautiful, fashionably dressed girl walked past Lin Ran and straight to Fu Linling, holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Oh, are those for me or Dr. Fu?” the nurse teased.

Fu Linling was sitting at the computer reviewing a medical record. When she turned around, the patient blocked her face.

Lin Ran couldn’t see her expression.

After dropping Auntie Wang off at home, Lin Ran rushed to Uncle Liu’s house.

Uncle Liu was a high school Chinese teacher. He also had a daughter who was currently in university.

Dinner began when Lin Ran arrived.

The wedding date was set for May Day. Uncle Liu’s daughter would be able to return home then. They would register the marriage in the morning and host the dinner for guests in the afternoon—all done in one day.

“My daughter has a bit of a temper. She’s not easy to manage. If she does anything wrong, Ranran, please be understanding,” Uncle Liu said.

“It’s fine.” Even if she’s difficult, it’s not my job to manage her, and we won’t be living together, Lin Ran thought with an open mind.

“Eat more of this. Look how thin you are,” Zhang Wu put a few pieces of braised pork on her plate.

“I’ve gained two pounds already.”

“You’re still thin.”

After dinner, Uncle Liu washed the dishes and started writing the invitations. His calligraphy was good, so he was handwriting every single one.

“Xiao Ran, could you help me draw some pictures on them?” Uncle Liu was inspired.

Zhang Wu wasn’t pleased: “She finally has a few days off, and you’re putting her to work again.”

“But Xiao Ran draws so well,” Uncle Liu said, laughing.

“Draw what?” Lin Ran asked.

“A Wutong tree (Chinese parasol tree).”

“Okay.” If it had been anything else, Lin Ran might have found an excuse to decline.

The two worked together, one drawing and one writing. Zhang Wu sat nearby, watching them, a gentle smile on her face: “Ranran, did you see Dr. Fu this afternoon?”

“Mhm.”

“What do you think? Can things progress further?”

“We’re just classmates.”

“What?” Zhang Wu was surprised.

“She went to Yubei. Besides, I don’t think anything will come of it.”

“Why not?”

“She has admirers. She doesn’t seem like someone who lacks a partner. She probably only came on the blind date because she felt bad turning down Auntie Wang, or maybe she just wanted to see a classmate?”

Zhang Wu sighed and started to worry again.

Lin Ran laughed: “Why are you so worried? You’re getting married! You should be happy.”

Zhang Wu looked even more distressed.

After the wedding, Lin Ran definitely wouldn’t be able to visit her as often, and Zhang Wu wouldn’t be able to take care of Lin Ran’s daily life as she used to.

Lin Ran might truly be alone, and that worried her deeply.

“Maybe I shouldn’t get married.”

The words stunned the other two.

Uncle Liu dropped his brush in shock.

“Mom, that’s not funny,” Lin Ran said with a chuckle.

Zhang Wu went back to her room, looking dejected. Uncle Liu hurried over to comfort her.

Lin Ran finished her last drawing, faintly hearing Zhang Wu’s sobs. She put down the brush, picked up her bag, and quietly left.

Sitting in her car, she looked up at the window.

She understood Zhang Wu’s worry, a worry that had started after the divorce.

Worried that she wouldn’t eat well or dress warmly, worried that she felt inferior, worried that she thought she was different from others, worried that she was lonely and without companionship.

Uncle Liu had pursued Zhang Wu for many years, but Zhang Wu never agreed, fearing Lin Ran would feel uneasy. She only relented when Lin Ran turned thirty.

Lin Ran returned home and, unusually, went to sleep early that night.

Two days later, she took Zhang Wu and Uncle Liu for the health checkup, but the results were not good.

“Preliminary diagnosis: Madam Zhang has an ovarian tumor.”

All three faces immediately turned pale.

“Doctor, are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?” Lin Ran asked.

“We can run a few more detailed tests to confirm,” the doctor said, rewriting the lab requests. “Please go to the third floor.”

There was a long queue outside the elevator, so the three decided to take the stairs.

Midway, Zhang Wu’s knees suddenly buckled. Fortunately, Lin Ran was holding her, or she would have fallen.

“Mom.” Lin Ran quickly helped her rest at the landing, patting her back. “It’s okay, it’s okay. It might just be a misdiagnosis.”

“Impossible. The doctor couldn’t have made a mistake…” Zhang Wu was drenched in cold sweat. “Uncle Liu, we’re not getting married.”

“No! No matter what your illness is, I will face it with you,” Uncle Liu insisted.

Zhang Wu then looked at Lin Ran, tears streaming down her face: “Ranran, what are you going to do…”

“Don’t worry yourself sick. Let’s go get the tests done first. You have to believe in the current medical standard.”

“But that’s a tumor! Your aunt passed away from a tumor. Could it be hereditary? No, no, no… I’m not getting tested. Let’s go home. I’ll make you something delicious.” Zhang Wu adamantly refused any further tests.

The two couldn’t persuade her. People going up and down the stairs kept glancing their way.

Fu Linling came out of the restroom, passing through the hallway, and saw the congestion on the stairs. She called someone to disperse the crowd. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly heard Lin Ran’s voice.

She looked closely and saw it was indeed Lin Ran.

She squeezed her way down and tapped Lin Ran’s shoulder: “What happened?”

Lin Ran turned back and saw her, dressed in a white coat. As if finding her pillar of strength, she immediately said, “My mom was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor. She’s too scared to get tested now. She thinks it’s cancer…”

Fu Linling looked at Zhang Wu, who was pale and strongly resisting. She explained, “Auntie, please don’t worry. Most ovarian tumors are benign. A simple surgery will be enough.”

“Mom, she’s a doctor. Did you hear what she said?” Lin Ran quickly urged.

Zhang Wu looked up, asking Fu Linling: “Is that true?”

“Yes. If you go get it checked now, you’ll know. If a benign one isn’t treated in time, it could turn malignant,” Fu Linling said.

“Quick, quick, let’s go get the tests done right away.” Uncle Liu pulled Zhang Wu toward the third floor.

“Thank you,” Lin Ran said to Fu Linling.

A little while later, Fu Linling came up to the third floor and saw the three of them sitting on chairs outside.

“Did you get the tests done?” Fu Linling asked.

“Still waiting for our number,” Lin Ran said, holding Zhang Wu’s hand.

Zhang Wu’s eyes were red, still immersed in the fear of cancer, and she kept patting Lin Ran’s hand: “Ranran, you’re the one thing I can’t let go of. If I leave, what will you do all alone?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Dr. Fu said it’s likely fine, mostly benign. Don’t scare yourself.”

“What if I’m one of the small percentage?” Zhang Wu wiped a tear from her eye. “I want to live a few more years to see you get married…”

The nurse called Zhang Wu’s name from the list. Uncle Liu led Zhang Wu in for the exam. Just as they reached the door, Zhang Wu started crying again, looking back at Lin Ran.

Lin Ran sat in her seat and only lowered her head after Zhang Wu went inside.

Fu Linling walked over and sat down next to her, seeing a large tear drop onto the back of Lin Ran’s hand. Her heart lurched.

She reached out her hand, paused briefly behind Lin Ran’s back, and then gently patted her.

“What is the probability of it being benign?” Lin Ran looked up and asked.

Fu Linling looked into her moist eyes: “Over seventy percent.”

“Only seventy percent…” Lin Ran lowered her head again, her voice trembling. “Where am I supposed to find someone to marry now…”

After a long silence, Fu Linling said slowly: “Lin Ran, look at me.”

Lin Ran looked up at her, her eyes red, her expression bewildered.

“Lin Ran, let’s get married.”