The Norm of Life

Su Yang spoke as he opened the car door and stepped out.

"Where are you?" Lu Yun asked over the phone.

"I’m not sure where this is, but I’m parked in front of someone’s house," Su Yang replied, glancing around for something distinctive.

He spotted two large trees diagonally across from where he stood. "There are two big trees across from me."

"Wait, you’re not right outside my house, are you?"

With a click, the gate swung open.

Su Yang turned to see Lu Yun standing at the entrance of the courtyard, phone in hand.

The two exchanged a smile and hung up. Su Yang chuckled, "What a coincidence. I just randomly parked in front of your place."

Lu Yun looked tired, but it did little to diminish her ethereal beauty.

Her hair was tied up with a deep-red hairband, a few loose strands drifting across her cheeks.

She wore a simple white T-shirt with a cartoon bear print, denim shorts, and pink slippers.

Though dressed casually, she still looked stunning.

With a faint smile, Lu Yun walked toward Su Yang, who opened the trunk and retrieved two boxes of milk, a crate of cherries, and two gift boxes—one containing ginseng, the other deer antler.

He planned to give the alcohol, cigarettes, and tea later.

Lu Yun looked slightly embarrassed. "You really didn’t have to bring anything. Just coming is enough."

Su Yang grinned at her. "No way I’d show up empty-handed on my first visit. Here, take these lighter ones for me."

Lu Yun accepted the ginseng and deer antler, then led Su Yang into the courtyard.

The yard wasn’t large—about fifty or sixty square meters—with walls covered in climbing plants. A small patch of soil on the right held vegetables like bok choy, peppers, and scallions.

A few weathered wooden chairs were scattered around.

Lu Yun’s home was a three-story self-built house, its exterior entirely clad in white tiles. From the front, the ground floor had three rooms, the central one featuring double doors flanked by spring festival couplets.

Walking beside Lu Yun, Su Yang asked, "Has your family always lived here?"

"Yes," Lu Yun nodded.

"I thought your family lived in downtown Yangcheng City. Did you really commute this far for high school every day?"

"I stayed at my aunt’s place in the city during the week and only came back here on weekends."

"Oh, I see."

As they spoke, they entered the central room.

Inside stood a large round table, behind which was an altar for incense and candles—a common sight in village households.

This was the largest room, used for family gatherings and meals.

Su Yang set the gifts on the table just as a middle-aged woman’s weary voice called from upstairs.

"Yunyun, who’s here?"

Lu Yun looked up. "A friend. He came to see Dad."

"Oh, alright. Bring him upstairs, then."

"Okay."

Su Yang swallowed nervously and picked the gifts back up.

"The living room’s on the second floor. Let’s go up," Lu Yun said, guiding him up the stairs.

The upstairs living room had a typical homey setup: a large sofa facing a coffee table, opposite which was a 50-inch flat-screen TV. An air conditioner hummed nearby, maintaining a comfortable temperature.

It was clear Lu Yun’s family, though living in the village, was comfortably middle-class.

Two doors flanked the TV, likely leading to bedrooms.

Lu Yun’s mother sat on the sofa preparing tea. She appeared to be in her late forties, slightly plump, her hair pinned up with streaks of gray mixed in.

Her name was Li Xiurong. With a kind, round face and pronounced crow’s feet, she still carried traces of her youthful beauty—enough to explain how Lu Yun inherited her looks.

Noticing Su Yang, she smiled warmly. "Come, have a seat. Oh, you shouldn’t have brought all this!"

"It’s only proper. Hello, Auntie. I’m Lu Yun’s high school classmate. I think we’ve met before."

"Really? My memory isn’t what it used to be. What was your name again?"

"Su Yang. Just call me Xiao Su."

"Su Yang... yes, that does ring a bell."

Su Yang placed the gifts on the coffee table and sat beside Li Xiurong.

"Lu Yun and I were close in school. When I heard about Uncle’s condition, I knew I had to visit."

"That’s very thoughtful of you. Here, rest a bit and have some tea."

Su Yang accepted the cup, blowing on it lightly.

Lu Yun took a seat nearby.

"May I ask your surname, Auntie?"

"It’s Li. You can call me Auntie Li."

"Of course, Auntie Li."

The three chatted briefly.

After a few sips, Su Yang turned to Li Xiurong. "Auntie Li, is Uncle Lu in his room? I’d like to see him. We met a few times back in high school."

"Of course. He should be awake by now. Yunyun, take Xiao Su to see your father."

Lu Yun nodded and stood. Su Yang followed.

They entered the left-hand room.

The bedroom was modest—about twenty square meters—with a window, a wardrobe, and a large wooden bed at the far end.

Lu Yun’s father lay resting, his face pale and body noticeably thinner.

Though only around fifty, illness had aged him prematurely.

His square jaw and high nose bridge hinted at his handsome younger days, but now his sunken eyes betrayed his poor health.

"What’s your dad’s full name again?" Su Yang whispered.

"Lu Huai'an. Just call him Uncle Lu."

Su Yang nodded. Hearing movement, Lu Huai'an slowly opened his eyes toward the doorway.

He saw Lu Yun standing beside a tall young man.

Su Yang stepped forward with a small smile. "Uncle Lu."

"Who...?" Lu Huai'an frowned, trying to sit up.

Lu Yun hurried to assist, and Su Yang helped prop him against the headboard.

"You don’t remember me? I’m Su Yang," he said, pulling up a wooden chair.

"Su Yang? It sounds familiar. You’re... Yunyun’s classmate?" Lu Huai'an’s voice was weak.

"Yes, we were in high school together."

Lu Huai'an gazed at the ceiling, expression calm. "I remember now. We met a few times. Once at a parent-teacher meeting, I even comforted you about something."

Su Yang smiled faintly. "That’s right. I’d bombed an exam and was scared of going home."

"Ah, that was so long ago. You kids are all grown up now."

Lu Yun sat quietly on the bedside, listening.

"Did Yunyun tell you about my condition?"

Su Yang nodded. "Yes."

"You're really thoughtful, such a good kid. I heard from Yunyun that you came from Haicheng?"

Su Yang nodded.

"Well, thank you for making the effort."

"It's no trouble at all. It wasn't that far."

Lu Huai'an looked up at the ceiling again and spoke slowly, "Ah, truth be told, it’s nothing too serious. Who in this life can escape death? It’s just a matter of sooner or later—birth, aging, sickness, parting, it’s all just the way of life."

"Honestly, I’ve come to terms with it. If it weren’t for this illness reaching its final stages, with pain wracking my body every few hours, I wouldn’t just be lying here waiting to die. If I were even slightly better, I’d take my wife and daughter to see the beautiful landscapes of our country. That way, I could close my eyes in peace."

Hearing this, Lu Yun couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes again.