The van wasn’t fast, but it was a direct route, saving them the time of having to transfer.
They arrived at the city’s Third Hospital before nine o’clock.
Han Xiaorui led her two children into the hospital and registered them with the Pediatric Rehabilitation Department.
Fortunately, a specialist who had studied abroad was in today. Accompanied by three of the hospital’s resident doctors, he gave Pingping and An’an a comprehensive examination and a series of tests.
The girls’ vocal cords and hearing were perfectly fine. After ruling out any physical causes, they were diagnosed with autism, accompanied by delayed intellectual development and poor comprehension.
Expert Wang looked at the two girls, then at Han Xiaorui, carefully considering how to break the news without causing the mother too much distress.
"The girls’ condition is confirmed as autism. This includes delayed language development, social impairment, repetitive behaviors, and limited emotional interaction."
"Fortunately, however, the girls are able to focus their eyes and make eye contact. They are not hyperactive and show no violent tendencies."
"Going forward, they will require interventional therapy and specialized learning. The girls’ condition can improve with close cooperation between the medical staff and you, the parent."
"In the most optimistic cases, children can not only learn to speak but can also recover enough to live a normal life."
Han Xiaorui nodded, her expression solemn. "Expert Wang, you’re the doctor. Just tell me directly what kind of treatment the girls need and what you need from me as their parent. We will cooperate fully."
"I didn’t understand before, but then I saw on television that a condition like my daughters’ could be treated with intervention. I came to the hospital today fully prepared to do whatever it takes to help my children."
Hearing this, Expert Wang let out a sigh of relief. ’It’s good that she’s so understanding,’ he thought. He’d had his share of parents who couldn’t accept a diagnosis. "Do you have any financial difficulties? If so, you can apply through the Disabled Persons’ Federation. They can reimburse a portion of the expenses."
Going through the Federation, however, would leave a permanent mark on the children’s records.
With her father-in-law’s support, money wasn’t an issue. Han Xiaorui didn’t want her children’s treatment to be routed through the Federation. "Thank you, Doctor Wang. We’re not facing any financial difficulties at the moment. I’d like to just start their treatment for now and worry about the rest later."
Professor Wang understood her feelings as a parent. "Very well. To begin, the girls will need to attend speech therapy, sensory integration training, one-on-one coaching, and fine motor skills classes."
"I’ll schedule fifteen sessions for you to start, with three sessions each morning. How about we try that for one week?"
Han Xiaorui nodded. "We’ll let the girls get adjusted first. I’ll gradually add more sessions."
Since the girls were non-verbal and didn’t interact with others, they couldn’t even attend kindergarten.
’In that case, we’ll just have them take more classes at the hospital,’ Han Xiaorui thought.
Han Xiaorui asked one of the doctors to watch the girls for a moment while she went to pay the fees.
Each session cost an average of five yuan. Three sessions in a single morning came to fifteen yuan. Attending five days a week would cost seventy-five yuan.
Over a month, calculated at four weeks, the cost would be three hundred yuan.
In 1985, the average monthly salary for an urban worker was only a few dozen yuan.
For an ordinary family, this was truly a fortune.
If it weren’t for her father-in-law, Yang Zhigang, who owned a large fishing vessel and also ran a seafood wholesale business, he wouldn’t be earning hundreds of thousands of yuan a year. And he certainly wouldn’t have been able to give Han Xiaorui so much money for living expenses and her children’s medical bills.
The Pediatric Rehabilitation Department was newly established, so it didn’t have many patients yet.
With no other patients at the moment, Expert Wang came to personally conduct Pingping and An’an’s session, while his three students observed and learned diligently from the side.
Han Xiaorui sat by the door, periodically peeking inside through the small glass window.
Under the teacher’s calming guidance, Pingping and An’an sat quietly and followed his instructions, performing some simple training exercises.
During the sensory integration class, in particular, they used various toys as tools to aid in exercises and games.
After the sessions, Han Xiaorui noticed the girls’ faces were flushed and their eyes were sparkling, looking more vibrant than before.
Han Xiaorui made sure to give the girls a drink of water and take them to the restroom after each session.
During a break between sessions, Han Xiaorui took the initiative to ask, "Doctor Wang, what should I do at home this afternoon to support their lessons here?"
Professor Wang was delighted by Han Xiaorui’s sincere attitude and her willingness to face the diagnosis head-on.
"Pingping and An’an’s mother, it’s wonderful that you’re asking these questions. The girls are very lucky to have a mother like you."
Han Xiaorui smiled. ’This Expert Wang really lives up to his title,’ she thought. ’He certainly has a way with words.’ His encouragement gave her a renewed sense of confidence. "As a parent, you just do everything you can."
Expert Wang nodded with a smile. "When you get home, prepare them a balanced meal with both meat and vegetables. Do your best to ensure they eat well and stay fully nourished."
"If the girls usually go to bed late and don’t get much sleep overall, then don’t let them nap in the afternoon. Adjust their routine so they go to bed earlier and get a full night’s rest."
"Encourage them to play with other children their age. This can help with their social impairment. Oh, and if possible, you could get them a small, harmless pet like a rabbit or a duckling."
...
Han Xiaorui took out a notebook and wrote down everything Expert Wang said.
Seeing how diligent she was, Expert Wang also gave her a book on treating autism.
The girls had behaved very well during the morning’s sessions. They showed no resistance to the classes and actually seemed to enjoy them.
Many taxis were parked at the hospital entrance. They were three-wheelers, and their resemblance to turtles had earned them the name "turtle cars."
They were expensive, but trying to squeeze onto a crowded bus at noon by herself with two non-verbal three-year-olds was just too difficult.
The risk of one of them getting lost or hurt just wasn’t worth it.
Hugging her little treasures, Han Xiaorui felt as though she were holding the whole world.
"GRUMBLE..." Pingping’s stomach rumbled. It was already eleven-thirty, and she was hungry.
Han Xiaorui took some calcium milk biscuits from her bag and gave two to each of the girls to tide them over.
A large truck was parked at the village entrance, blocking the way, so the taxi couldn’t go any further. Han Xiaorui paid the fare and got out.
As she led her children past the Yang Family’s gate, Zhang Lili—who had already made herself right at home—emerged from the house, her large, pregnant belly thrust forward.
Seeing Han Xiaorui with her two idiot daughters, she gloated, showing off her large belly.
Zhang Lili was simmering with resentment, especially after hearing that Han Xiaorui’s father-in-law had taken charge and given her a house, money, land, and even a boat. Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"You’re about to be divorced, yet you still have the gall to make such outrageous demands on the Yang Family. You’re just a shameless piece of trash who married in from out of town. Why don’t you take your idiot daughters and get the hell out of here?"
Han Xiaorui had no desire to waste her energy on someone so insignificant, but then she saw her two frightened children hiding behind her legs.
She decided she wasn’t going to take it anymore.
Han Xiaorui gently stroked her daughters’ heads, then raised her eyes to look at Zhang Lili, a cold, mocking smile playing on her lips.
"Speaking of shameless, I’m no match for you. You seduced a married man. Right now, your official title is ’the other woman.’"
"And just because you’re so arrogant, I’ve decided not to divorce Yang Jianming. You’ll be the other woman forever. In ancient times, you wouldn’t even qualify to be a lowly concubine. You’d be nothing more than an unrecognized mistress kept on the side."
"You should be thankful we live in a modern society. As long as I don’t grant a divorce, you can never marry Yang Jianming. You won’t even get the chance to be a concubine. Half of everything Yang Jianming earns belongs to me. You got pregnant out of wedlock. The child you bear will be illegitimate—a ghost, unable to be registered with the state."