Civil Engineering in the Mortal World: Ten Years Without Knowing Today's Events

The tender documents were submitted on time.

The day before we were to submit the tender documents, Xiao Liu and I were extremely busy in the office, printing, checking, and binding. The bound documents included the technical bid, commercial bid, qualification documents, and performance certificates, totaling three thick volumes and several hundred pages.

After binding, it was given to Lao Hu for review. Lao Hu glanced through it briefly, then signed, stamped, put it in a kraft paper bag, and sealed it.

Then he arranged for Xiao Liu to deliver the documents to the client's office. After Xiao Liu left, Lao Hu sat down, lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and then put it out.

"Chen Mu, come with me."

I followed him out of the office and to the edge of the foundation pit. The sun was blazing, shining on the foundation slab; the grayish-white concrete reflected the light, dazzling my eyes. Old Hu squinted, looking at the main building that hadn't yet been topped out.

"I've been working on this project for two years," he said. "From the very beginning of excavating the earth, all the way up to now. Look, the main structure is already eight stories high."

The main building has already reached eight stories. The safety netting on the scaffolding billows in the wind, like a flag. A tower crane is hoisting a bundle of steel bars; the steel cables are taut, and the bars slowly rotate in the air.

"Mr. Hu, do you think we have a chance of winning the bid?"

"It's difficult." Old Hu took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit another one. "But whether it succeeds or not, I've finished what I was supposed to do on this project."

I didn't say anything.

"Chen Mu," he looked at me, "the project in the provincial capital has a set start date, October 8th. You're coming with me. I already mentioned the salary last time, it'll be two thousand more than now. Accommodation will be arranged, you can go alone."

I went alone.

I silently repeated those four words in my mind.

"Have you spoken to Xiaohui yet?"

"not yet."

Old Hu glanced at me but didn't ask any more questions. He finished his cigarette, stubbed it out, and threw it in the trash can.

"You need to tell someone. Don't delay."

he's gone.

I stood at the edge of the foundation pit, looking at the building. Eight stories. From the moment the piles were driven, it was built floor by floor. I watched the concrete being poured on each floor, and I inspected the reinforcing steel on each one. A year and a half later, it went from flat ground to eight stories. Now, I'm leaving.

My phone vibrated. I took it out and saw it was a message from Xiaohui.

"Brother Chen, it's hot today."

I replied, "Drink more water."

"Brother Chen, you should drink too."

"it is good."

I put my phone in my pocket. The sun was so hot my scalp was burning, and I was drenched in sweat under my helmet. I took off my helmet, wiped my forehead, and put it back on.

In the afternoon, Lao Hu called me to his office.

"Chen Mu, go home tonight."

"What's wrong?"

Your dad is in the hospital.

My heart sank. "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday, your mother called me, but she couldn't reach you."

I took out my phone and saw six missed calls, all from my mother. I don't know when I put my phone on silent.

I called, and it rang for half a ring before I answered.

"Mom, what's wrong with Dad?"

"It's nothing, it's just an old ailment. The doctor said I need to stay in the hospital for a few days." Mom's voice was urgent, but she was still trying to appear calm. "You go about your business, you don't need to come back."

I'm going home tonight.

"Need not--"

"Mom, I'm going home tonight."

After hanging up the phone, I asked Lao Hu for leave and rode my electric bike to the county hospital.

It was already dark when we arrived at the hospital. Dad was lying in bed with tubes in his nose, his face ashen. Mom was sitting by the bed, holding an apple, which she had peeled in half.

"Dad." I walked over.

Dad opened his eyes, glanced at me, and then closed them again. "It's nothing," he said softly, "just an old problem."

"What did the doctor say?"

My mother put the apple on the table and pulled me out of the ward. "Your cirrhosis has worsened again, and your liver function indicators are not good. The doctor said you should stay in the hospital for observation and be discharged once your condition stabilizes."

"How long will you be staying?"

"I don't know. Maybe a week, maybe two weeks."

I stood in the hallway, looking at the door to the ward. There was a piece of paper on the door with my father's name, age, and diagnosis written on it.

"Xiao," Mom looked at me, "is your project going to be stopped?"

"Mom, how did you know?" I looked at her in confusion.

"Your uncle said so. He's at that construction site and said your project might need a new manager."

I didn't say anything.

"Xiao," her mother's voice softened, "if you lose your job, Xiao will...

"Mom, I have a job. Lao Hu found a new project in the provincial capital, and I'm going with him."

"The provincial capital?" Mom paused, then asked, "How far is it?"

"It took more than two hours to cycle."

Mom was silent for a moment. "What about Xiaohui?"

"Xiao Hui will be in the county town."

"What are you two going to do? You've gone to the provincial capital; can you only come back once a week?"

"I should be able to come back this weekend."

"Come back on the weekend," Mom repeated, as if chewing on something, "That's fine too. It's better than nothing."

She turned and went into the ward. I stood in the corridor, looking out at the county town. Thousands of lights twinkled, and I couldn't tell which one was mine.

My phone vibrated. It was a voice message from Xiaohui.

I clicked on it.

Goodnight, Brother Chen.

The voice was soft and gentle.

I didn't reply.

He put his phone in his pocket and went into the ward.

Dad was already asleep. Mom sat on the edge of the bed, holding a half-peeled apple in her hand, neither eating it nor putting it down.

"Mom, go back to sleep, I'll stay here."

"No need, you have to go to work tomorrow."

"Mom, go back."

She glanced at me, put the apple on the table, and stood up. "Then you keep an eye on it, call the nurse when the IV drip is almost finished."

"Um."

She left. I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at my father. He had lost a lot of weight; his cheekbones were prominent, and his skin was like crumpled paper. I suddenly realized that I hadn't really looked at him properly in a long time. Every time I came home, he would sit on the sofa, and I would sit beside him, the TV on, and neither of us would speak.

My phone vibrated again. It was a message from Xiaohui.

"Brother Chen, are you asleep?"

I typed a few words: "Not yet. My dad's in the hospital."

After sending it, I regretted it a little. What was the point of telling her? She probably doesn't even understand what being hospitalized means.

But Xiao Hui replied very quickly.

"What's wrong with Uncle?"

"An old problem."

"Uncle will be alright."

I looked at those five words. "Uncle will be alright." She said it so simply, as if being sick was a simple thing, as if getting better was also a simple thing.

I replied with two words: "Thank you."

Then I put my phone on the bedside table and watched the IV drip. One drop, two drops, three drops. Slowly, but continuously.

Outside the window, the lights of the county town gradually dimmed.

The sound of nurses walking could be heard in the corridor, clatter, clatter, clatter.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

My mother's words kept echoing in my mind—"What are you two going to do?"

What?

I do not know.

But I need to come up with a solution.