I asked her again, “Wasn’t my brother’s surgery supposed to cost five or six thousand?”
Ruby said in a low voice, “That was just to fool others. Your brother’s surgery costs a few thousand dollars, plus medical fees, it’s just over ten thousand.”
murmured, “My mom gave you four thousand eight hundred, gave your mom ten thousand, she has five thousand two hundred left.
Ruby said, “Tomorrow Mr. Walker will give her thirty thousand, so that’ll be thirty–five thousand.”
As we were talking, Lachlan burst in and pulled me out, saying the car had arrived.
Ruby asked what car had come.
16
4.03 AM &
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16
Lachlan said it was his uncle’s car.
Ruby asked if it was coming to deliver money.
Lachlan nodded.
I was pulled out of the room by Lachlan, with Ruby following behind.
The three of us saw a black car parked at the gate of the Walker’s compound.
The most common thing in the village was a two–wheeled cart. Even a pedal tricycle was only owned by Lachlan’s family. We had never seen a car that ran on gas before.
Lachlan pulled me to meet his uncle. I was nervous, as it was the first time I was meeting anyone from the Walker family other than Lachlan’s
parents.
Lachlan said his uncle was a fortune teller, and it was his uncle’s divination that had brought their family to the village in the first place.
Uncle Walker pointed at my forehead and said I was destined for great wealth and status in this life, but only if I forgot about my past life.
Then he gave me a coin purse, which was bulging.
Uncle Walker knew I had been reborn.
I was about to speak when my mom arrived.
Ruby was running behind her, apparently having gone to inform her.
My mom ran up to us: “Mr. Walker is kind–hearted. You said early tomorrow morning, but it’s not much difference from tonight, right? Since you’ve gathered the money, why don’t you give it to me now!”
Mr. Walker nodded, gesturing for Lachlan and me to get in the car first. He said to my mom, “The money is all prepared. I’ve left it on the table in the main room. I need to attend to my guests now, so you can go get it yourself!”
Lachlan and I got in the car, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Walker and Uncle Walker.
Uncle Walker said this was the first time he had done something so exciting, more interesting than fortune–telling. He said to call him again if there was anything like this in the future.
Mr. Walker scolded him to drive quickly, saying if we didn’t leave soon, there would be even more excitement.
Uncle Walker stepped on the gas, and within a few minutes, we were out of the village.
I could no longer hear my mom’s curses.
Uncle Walker told me that all things in the world have causes and effects. My karma with my family had been settled in the previous life. In this life, I should live for myself.
Lachlan listened in confusion, asking me what it meant.
I said it meant I should take good care of you.
Lachlan grinned happily.
17
After returning to his hometown, Lachlan had a persistent high fever.
Mr. Walker took him to the hospital and he took fever medication, but nothing worked. Lachlan just kept running a fever.
1 watched over Lachlan day and night, afraid he would meet the same fate as in my previous life.
Mr. Walker comforted me, saying Lachlan was just sick and would be fine. He told me to rest and not tire myself out.
17
After returning to his hometown, Lachlan had a persistent high fever.
Mr. Walker took him to the hospital and he took fever medication, but nothing worked. Lachlan just kept running a fever.
I watched over Lachlan day and night, afraid he would meet the same fate as in my previous life.
Mr. Walker comforted me, saying Lachlan was just sick and would be fine. He told me to rest and not tire myself out.
But I just wanted to watch over Lachlan.
On the fifth day of Lachlan’s fever, he finally stopped being groggy and called out for water.
I brought the water to his lips, and he drank while looking at me.
I felt Lachlan’s gaze had changed.
He seemed to be looking at me seriously.
I had never had this feeling before.
“Lachlan, how are you feeling?” I asked.
Lachlan frowned, which was unprecedented.
I quickly felt his forehead, wanting to see if he was still feverish.
My understanding was that frowning meant pain.
When people are sick, they must be in pain.
But Lachlan grasped my hand, “Brynn, my name is Lachlan Walker. Lachlan‘ is the name my uncle gave me. He said this name would help ward off disasters.”
I knew this. Mr. Walker had told me before.
It was the first time I had heard Lachlan talk about his own name.
“Brynn, I’m better now.”
I nodded. It was good that he was better.
I could finally get a good night’s sleep.
“Brynn, I’ll take good care of you from now on. No one will bully you.”
I told Lachlan that those who had bullied me had already met their due fate.
My mom took the two hundred dollars Mr. Walker had left for her and angrily went to find the mayor, asking where I and the Walker family had gone. She shouted that she was coming to find me, threatening to beat me to death.
The mayor didn’t know, so my mom went to make a scene at the mayor’s house every day, even delaying my brother’s surgery. In the end, my brother’s life was saved, but one of his legs was left lame.
My brother still couldn’t find a wife.
For the sake of my brother, my mom took back the ten thousand dollars from Ruby, causing a big fight between the two families.
Ruby left to work in the city with the four thousand eight hundred my mom had given her.
My mom wandered around the Walker’s compound every day with a kitchen knife, waiting for me to come back.
As for me, I had come to the big city and started a brand new life.
14.04
