The van’s speed wasn’t particularly fast, but it was a direct route, saving the time typically lost on transfers. By the time they arrived at the Third Hospital in the city, it was not yet nine o’clock.
Han Xiaorui led the two children into the hospital to register at the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation. Fortunately, an expert who had specifically trained abroad was available that day. Accompanied by three doctors from the hospital, they conducted a comprehensive examination and series of tests on Pingping and An’an.
The children’s vocal cords and hearing were perfectly fine. Having ruled out physiological causes, the doctors diagnosed them with autism, accompanied by developmental delays and poor comprehension skills.
Professor Wang looked at the two children, then at Han Xiaorui, carefully considering how to phrase things so as not to overly distress the mother. “The children’s condition has been confirmed as autism. Symptoms include delayed language development, social impairment, repetitive behaviors, and limited emotional exchange.”
“However, fortunately, the children maintain eye focus, have eye contact with others, are not hyperactive, and show no signs of violent tendencies.”
“Future intervention and therapeutic learning, combined with the cooperation of both doctors and parents, can improve their condition.”
“In some optimistic cases, they can not only learn to speak but also recover fully and live like normal people.”
Han Xiaorui nodded, her expression serious. “Professor, you are the expert. Just tell me directly what kind of treatment the children need and what I, as a parent, need to do to cooperate.”
“I didn’t understand before, but after watching television, I learned that my two daughters’ condition can be intervened with and treated. Since I’ve come to the hospital, I’m mentally prepared to do my utmost to treat them.”
Hearing this, Professor Wang breathed a sigh of relief. Understanding the situation was half the battle; he often feared parents who couldn’t accept a diagnosis. “Are there any economic difficulties? If so, we can work through the Disabled Persons’ Federation to reimburse a portion of the costs.”
Going through the Federation would leave a permanent record in the children’s files. With her father-in-law’s support, she wasn’t short on money, and Han Xiaorui didn’t want to use that route yet. “Thank you, Doctor. There are no financial difficulties for now. I want to start the children’s treatment first and we can talk about the rest later.”
Professor Wang understood a parent’s feelings. “Fine. Moving forward, the children will need language therapy, sensory integration training, individual instruction, and fine motor skills courses.”
“I’ll start by prescribing fifteen sessions—three sessions a morning. How about we start with one week?”
Han Xiaorui nodded. “Let them adapt first; I will gradually increase the number of sessions.”
Because the children didn’t speak and had no social interaction, they couldn’t even attend kindergarten. Since that was the case, they would just spend more time taking classes at the hospital.
Han Xiaorui asked the doctors to help look after the children while she went to pay. The average cost was five yuan per session; three sessions in the morning cost fifteen yuan. Five days a week meant seventy-five yuan. For a full month—calculated as four weeks—that came to three hundred yuan.
In 1985, the average urban monthly wage was only a few dozen yuan. For an ordinary family, this was a massive sum. If it weren’t for her father-in-law, Yang Zhigang, owning a large sea-going vessel and doing wholesale seafood, earning hundreds of thousands a year, it would be impossible for him to provide Han Xiaorui with such substantial living and treatment expenses.
The pediatric rehabilitation department was a newly opened ward, so there weren’t many patients seeking treatment. With no other patients at the moment, Professor Wang came over to personally teach Pingping and An’an, while his three students followed along, learning diligently.
Han Xiaorui sat in the hallway, occasionally peeking through the small glass window on the door. Under the teacher’s soothing guidance, Pingping and An’an sat down in an orderly and disciplined manner, performing simple training exercises based on the teacher’s prompts. During the sensory integration class, in particular, they used various toys as tools,配合 (coordinating) with movements and games.
After the classes, Han Xiaorui noticed the children’s faces were flushed, their eyes bright and full of spirit. After each session, Han Xiaorui would make sure to hydrate the children or take them to the restroom.
Taking advantage of a break, Han Xiaorui proactively asked Professor Wang, “Professor Wang, after I go back this afternoon, what should I do to complement your curriculum?”
Seeing Han Xiaorui’s sincere attitude—not avoiding the reality of the illness—Professor Wang was very pleased. “Pingping and An’an’s mother, you are truly wonderful for asking. It is the children’s good fortune to have a mother like you.”
Han Xiaorui smiled. This Professor Wang was truly an expert—not just in medicine, but in speech, too. Hearing the encouragement gave Han Xiaorui even more confidence. “As a parent, I must do my best.”
Professor Wang nodded with a smile. “When you go back at noon, pair meat with vegetables and try to make sure the children eat and drink well to maintain adequate nutrition.”
“If the children usually go to bed very late and their total sleep time is short, then don’t let them take an afternoon nap. Adjust their schedule so they go to bed early at night and maintain adequate sleep.”
“If there are children of the same age around, encourage them to play together; it can improve their social barriers. By the way, if conditions permit, you could keep a small rabbit, a duck, or some other harmless animal.”
…
Han Xiaorui took out a notebook and wrote down everything Professor Wang said. Seeing how diligent she was, the Professor even gifted her a book on treating autism.
The children had performed very well during the morning sessions; they showed no resistance to the lessons and, in fact, seemed to enjoy them.
There were many taxis parked at the hospital entrance. The three-wheeled versions, because they resembled turtles, were called “turtle cars.” Although they were expensive, squeezing onto a bus at noon with two non-verbal, three-year-old children was just too difficult. If she lost a child or someone got hurt, the regret would be immeasurable.
Holding one little treasure in each arm, Han Xiaorui felt as if she were holding the whole world.
“Gurgle…” Pingping’s stomach growled; it was already 11:30 AM, and she was hungry. Han Xiaorui took calcium-milk biscuits out of her bag and gave two to each child to tide them over.
A large truck was parked at the entrance of the village, blocking the taxi, so Han Xiaorui paid the fare and got off. As she led the children past the Yang family home, Zhang Lili, who had already settled herself into the house, came out with her large, pregnant belly.
Seeing Han Xiaorui leading her two “foolish” daughters, she proudly flaunted her belly. Zhang Lili spoke with biting sarcasm, especially fueled by the pent-up anger she felt over the father-in-law’s decision to give Han Xiaorui the house, money, land, and the boat.
“You’re nearly divorced, yet you still greedily demand money from the Yang family. You cheap goods from out of town—how can you be so shameless? Why don’t you hurry up and get lost with your idiot daughters?”
Han Xiaorui didn’t want to waste a shred of energy on an irrelevant person, but seeing her two children cower in fear behind her, she decided she would not endure it any longer!
Han Xiaorui gently stroked her daughters’ heads and lifted her gaze, looking at Zhang Lili with a mocking smile. “If we’re talking about being shameless, I can’t compare to you. Seducing a married man—your current status is that of a mistress.”
“Because you are so arrogant, I’ve decided: I won’t divorce Yang Jianming. That means you will remain the third party forever. In ancient times, you wouldn’t even count as a lowly concubine; you would just be an unofficial mistress with no name.”
“Thank the new society—as long as I don’t divorce, you can never marry Yang Jianming. You don’t even have the chance to be a concubine. Half of whatever money Yang Jianming earns belongs to me. Since you’re pregnant out of wedlock, the child you give birth to will have no legitimacy—it will be a ‘black household’ (unregistered) with no legal status.”