At noon, Qin Tian cooked two bowls of tomato and egg noodles and had lunch with his mother who had just returned from grocery shopping.
Afterwards, his mother took a nap. Around two o'clock, she got up and began preparing for the big dinner that evening.
Some of the ingredients bought needed to be processed in advance so as not to be rushed later.
Qin Tian carried the green beans in a basket and sat on a stool by the door, shelling them. Several heads of garlic were also in the basket, and the task of peeling garlic was also assigned to him.
"Xiao Tian, are you just starting to cook?"
A familiar voice came from nearby.
Qin Tian looked in the direction of the sound and saw Grandpa Sun from the neighboring house smiling at him.
Grandpa Sun was holding various fishing tools, looking like he was about to head out again.
Wild fishing resources were getting scarcer year by year, and there were not many good fishing spots nearby. Yet, Grandpa Sun still enjoyed it every day.
If he couldn't catch big fish, he would catch small fish. If there were no small fish, he would dig up some river mussels or snails. Even without aquatic plants, he would still bring some back.
Grandpa Sun always lived by the saying that a fisherman never returns empty-handed.
"No, we already had noodles. We're just preparing for dinner!"
Qin Tian replied with a smile.
"So early? Are you having guests tonight?"
Grandpa Sun asked with a smile.
Qin Tian didn't hide anything and said frankly, "My girlfriend."
"What?"
Grandpa Sun's eyes widened in disbelief. "You have a girlfriend already?"
Qin Tian nodded with a smile.
"Amazing, truly amazing!"
Grandpa Sun gave him a thumbs up, praising him with a smile, "You've got the style of my youth."
Qin Tian smiled humbly.
"Alright then, you go ahead and prepare. I'm off to fish!"
"Grandpa Sun, wait a moment!"
Qin Tian suddenly called out.
Grandpa Sun stopped and looked at him with a puzzled gaze.
Qin Tian stood up, placed the basket of beans on the chair, and walked over to Grandpa Sun.
"Let me walk with you for a bit. I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Let's talk as we walk. Let me help you carry this."
Qin Tian took the bucket of fish caught by the elder and started walking.
Grandpa Sun followed, full of confusion, and asked, "Xiao Tian, what's going on?"
Qin Tian organized his thoughts and gently shared his suggestions for preventing Alzheimer's disease for Grandma Liu.
After hearing this, Grandpa Sun looked even more perplexed, wondering why Qin Tian was suddenly saying all this.
"Grandpa Sun, I know you might find this strange, but please believe me, I'm only doing this for Grandma Liu's well-being. If an elderly person stays alone and isolated like this, lacking interaction with the outside world, it can lead to mental issues, such as memory impairment." Qin Tian said cautiously.
"You mean... Alzheimer's?"
Grandpa Sun's expression turned serious.
This disease was not uncommon among the elderly. Among his fishing buddies, one had contracted it last year.
When they visited him last time, their old friend could barely remember them.
Qin Tian nodded, his face earnest. "Don't think I'm just talking nonsense. If you have time, you can take Grandma Liu to the hospital for a check-up. If I'm free, I'll also chat with Grandma Liu more."
Grandpa Sun frowned, deep in thought.
He certainly didn't believe Qin Tian was speaking without reason.
Qin Tian had practically grown up under their watchful eyes, and this wasn't his usual behavior.
Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. The two families had always been on good terms. Qin Tian, raised by his mother alone, had always treated these two elders as almost like family.
On holidays, the two families would occasionally gather for meals.
"Xiao Tian, I'll listen to you. We'll take the old woman to the hospital for a check-up right now."
The more Grandpa Sun thought about it, the more uneasy he became. He lost the inclination to go fishing.
His wife hadn't shown any unusual signs recently, but in matters like this, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Yes, that would be great."
Qin Tian's face broke into a hearty smile. He helped carry the fishing gear back to Grandpa Sun's house.
Grandma Liu, who was watching television in the room, heard the commotion and came out.
"Xiao Tian? Old man, what's wrong? Did you forget something?"
Grandma Liu asked with a surprised expression.
"No!"
Grandpa Sun shook his head and said to his wife, "Get ready, we're going to the hospital."
"Huh? To the hospital? Why? Are you feeling unwell?"
Grandma Liu asked anxiously.
"My leg hurts a bit. When you get old, you get more ailments. We'll go for a check-up now, and you should get one too."
The old man told a well-intentioned lie.
Grandma Liu seemed to only hear the first part and nodded anxiously, "Then I'll turn off the TV and accompany you to the hospital for your check-up."
After speaking, Grandma Liu turned and went into the room.
"Grandpa Sun, why don't I go with you?"
Qin Tian suddenly suggested.
"No, why would you go!"
Grandpa Sun immediately refused, patting his shoulder with a smile. "Do you think my leg really hurts? I'm perfectly healthy. I'll go by myself. You stay home and entertain your girlfriend!"
Qin Tian thought it made sense and didn't insist further. He smiled and nodded, "Alright then. If you need anything, give me a call. Oh, here's my phone number."
"Oh, you bought a phone too?"
Seeing him take out his phone from his pocket, Grandpa Sun teased him with a smile.
Qin Tian smiled and extended his right hand, "Give me your phone."
Grandpa Sun nodded, took out his old flip phone, and handed it to him.
Qin Tian first used the old phone to call his own number, and then he edited his contact information for Grandpa Sun.
"There, the number is saved."
"Mhmm, good!"
Qin Tian returned to his stool and continued with his work. He watched the elderly couple head towards the hospital, a sense of relief washing over him.
There were still a few years before Grandma Liu's illness appeared in his previous life. As long as the problem could be detected now, and preventative measures were taken according to the doctor's advice, it would surely have some effect.
...
...
At four in the afternoon, under his mother's command, Qin Tian went to the residential area where Xia Nuannuan lived to pick her up.
After waiting at the community entrance for only a few minutes, Xia Nuannuan came out in a hurry, carrying a bag.
"You look great today!"
Qin Tian complimented her with a smile after looking her up and down.
"Really?"
Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly, a little shy, and felt indescribably joyful inside.
"Let me take that!"
Qin Tian helped her by taking the bag from her hand.
Inside was a set of summer clothes that Xia Nuannuan had chosen for his mother when they went shopping together the night before.
"Let's stop by the supermarket on the way. I need to buy some fruit or something."
Xia Nuannuan said with a smile.
"Don't buy anything. My mom just asked me to buy some this morning. Fruits, snacks, and drinks are all prepared. If you buy more, no one will eat them, and it'll be a waste."
Qin Tian firmly advised against it.
"Ah? Then it's not good to go empty-handed. We should still buy something!"
"This is enough. If you buy more, my mom will scold me to death. Really, be good and listen to me!"
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you then."
"Let's go, I'll take you to meet your future mother-in-law!"
Qin Tian teased her with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan's cheeks instantly flushed red. She playfully punched him, complaining, "Don't joke like that. I'm already very nervous."
"Okay, okay, I was wrong."