289: Numb mother and daughter

Time slowly passed.

The stall received no attention whatsoever.

Occasionally, glances would sweep over the food truck, mostly filled with confusion, numbness, or outright disregard.

In a place like this, who would genuinely have the presence of mind to stop and buy breakfast?

Ding Xinyang watched the completely deserted stall, and although he knew this was normal, he still felt a sense of urgency.

He longed to shout to the passersby that there was the finest delicacy in the world here, yet he dared not speak out, fearing to disturb their sorrow, and could only communicate with Lu Chuan through his eyes.

Lu Chuan gently shook his head at him, signaling to wait patiently.

He believed that those who truly needed this warmth would appear sooner or later.

Finally, at nearly seven o'clock, a middle-aged woman, dressed in a black coat, thin, and with a haggard face, stumbled from the direction of the funeral home, supported by a young girl.

The middle-aged woman's eyes were swollen and red, and tear stains still streaked her face; she seemed to have aged ten years overnight, her entire being enveloped in immense grief.

The girl supported her while softly sobbing.

Lu Chuan watched the mother and daughter's unsteady steps, as if they might collapse at any moment, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.

Generally speaking, intense grief only causes slight physical incoordination, but for them to be so unsteady on their feet could only mean they hadn't eaten regularly for some time, leading to insufficient nutritional intake and affecting their bodily functions.

Just as the mother and daughter were about to pass the food truck, Lu Chuan suddenly asked softly,

"Would you like a bowl of porridge?"

The middle-aged woman paid no attention, merely continuing forward with a numb expression.

The girl, however, heard him; she subconsciously glanced at Lu Chuan, then turned her gaze to the food truck.

Upon seeing the words "Warmth" and "Comfort" on the food truck, and then the porridge bucket emitting faint wisps of steam, a subtle, sweet aroma of porridge seemed to waft around her nose, and her steps involuntarily paused as she instinctively touched her stomach.

But seeing her mother walking further and further away, and then that numb, forward-moving figure, as if all soul had been drained, leaving only an empty shell, she shook her head and lifted her leg to follow.

The girl's name was Chen Yue, and she could no longer remember when she and her mother last sat down to enjoy a meal with laughter.

Three months? Half a year? Perhaps even longer.

These past few months, the entire focus of her life had been a three-point line: hospital, home, company, revolving around her critically ill father.

Eating had become the most mechanical task to sustain life, often consisting of cold takeout or hastily eaten convenience food that tasted like chewing wax.

Sometimes, when busy, she wouldn't even remember to eat, and once free, if it was past mealtime, she wouldn't eat at all.

Passing the food truck, a gentle breeze wafted, and the aroma of porridge once again enveloped her nose, like a tender hand, gently plucking the strings of her already numb heart; a strong, inexplicable desire to sit down and have a hot bowl of porridge emerged.

Perhaps, just perhaps, she could draw a little strength from it to keep going?

However, as this faint thought just began to sprout, the staggering figure of her mother ahead and the image of her father's eyes forever closed in her mind, like a splash of ice water, instantly suppressed the nascent craving for food.

Grief surged again like a tide, overwhelming everything.

A flash of sorrow and numbness crossed her eyes as she swayed and followed her mother.

Just then, a scene that made her face change drastically occurred.

"Mom!"

Chen Yue watched in horror as her mother, walking ahead, suddenly swayed violently, then softly collapsed forward, falling heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.

"Mom! What's wrong with you?!"

Chen Yue's heart nearly leaped out of her chest; she wanted to rush over, but days of fatigue, grief, and malnutrition made her body unresponsive, her legs turned to jelly, and her vision went black, nearly causing her to fall herself.

Just as she was frantic and at a loss, a steady figure, like an iron tower, appeared beside her mother in the blink of an eye.

Was it the young vendor's companion?

He moved swiftly but without panic, kneeling on one knee and carefully checking her mother's condition.

Immediately after, the young vendor also hurried over; he squatted down, skillfully placed his fingers on her mother's wrist, then gently lifted her eyelids to look, his brow slightly furrowed, and spoke in a deep voice.

"It's hypoglycemia, combined with emotional agitation and physical exhaustion; she's fainted."

Lu Chuan looked up at Chen Yue, who was pale and trembling, his tone calm but with a reassuring strength.

"Don't be afraid, call an ambulance first. By the way, how long has it been since you two had a proper meal?"

"Half... half a year..."

Chen Yue's voice was tearful and trembling; the immense panic made her almost unable to think.

Lu Chuan, hearing this, a flash of understanding and pity crossed his eyes; he didn't ask further, turning and quickly returning to the food truck.

Chen Yue, meanwhile, fumbled with trembling hands for her phone and dialed the emergency number.

Soon, Lu Chuan returned with a cup of warm sugar water and handed it to Chen Yue.

"Give your mother some sugar water first; she'll feel a bit better."

"Thank you... Thank you!"

Chen Yue choked out her thanks, carefully taking the cup, and with the help of Lu Chuan and He Jingrui, slowly fed the sugar water into her mother's mouth.

The ambulance siren grew from distant to near.

After the paramedics arrived, Lu Chuan and He Jingrui helped them lift the unconscious middle-aged woman onto the stretcher and into the ambulance.

Chen Yue watched the ambulance door about to close, then suddenly remembered something; she turned and ran to the food truck, pulled all the cash from her somewhat old wallet, and excitedly handed it to Lu Chuan, saying,

"Boss, thank you! I... I'll buy a portion of your porridge..."

Lu Chuan looked at the crumpled change in the girl's hand, took out the smallest bill, then handed her a "Morning Dew Comfort Meal" packaged in an elegant insulated bag.

"My condolences," his voice was soft, yet it felt like a warm current gliding over ice, "Take good care of your mother, and cherish those around you."

Chen Yue nodded heavily, tears welling in her eyes, tightly clutching the heavy insulated bag, and turned to board the ambulance.