My Mister Ostrich

Chapter 3

Gu Guoxiang didn’t say anything at the start, until Li Han helped their son to peel some shrimp. Gu Guoxiang finally said, “There are some things you should tell Mingxi to do by himself.”

Li Han stared blankly, and Gu Mingxi also lifted his head to look over at his father.

“I know that getting rice and soup, and carrying a washbasin are harder to do. But things like peeling shrimp, adding more food to his bowl… He can’t rely on someone for the rest of his life. He should learn to do things on his own.” Gu Guoxiang ate as he spoke. “Mingxi is still young, but he’ll grow up. He has to go to college, has to find a job, to find a partner. When we’re no longer there, will he no longer have food to eat? Ah Han, are you planning to take care of him for the rest of his life?”

Gu Mingxi shrugged, and then lowered his head to continue eating. His long and thick eyelashes were downcast, his gaze fixed on the bowl of rice in front of him.

Li Han was silent for a moment. “Slowly. We’re not in a rush. Mingxi’s making very good progress now. On hot days, he learned to put on his own clothes. He’s only 11 years old, don’t ask too much of him.”

Gu Guoxiang looked at her and then turned to Gu Mingxi. “Mingxi, it’s not me who is asking a lot of you, it’s this society. The world outside is a very fair place, but it is also a cruel one. You don’t have arms. Whether it’s studying or finding a job, your starting line is different from others’. If you want to reach the same place that other people can, you’ll have to put out many times more effort. If you want to be lazy and live with ease, you’ll end up pushed behind everyone else. Forget success, but you might not even have a job. Do you understand?”

Gu Mingxi pressed his lips together tightly, his face was a bit pale. He nodded. Li Han felt her heart breaking. Angrily, she said, “Guoxiang, just eat! Why are you saying these things to him? Our Mingxi is already very hardworking. He’s always top 3 in his class, and he draws so well. What is there that you’re unsatisfied with?”

Hearing this, Gu Guoxiang suddenly let out a laugh. He shook his head, saying, “Ah… I’m very satisfied with Mingxi, extremely satisfied. Alright? Okay, that’s enough. Let’s eat.”

He didn’t say anything else. Li Han also became silent. Gu Mingxi quietly ate his food. Li Han didn’t add any more food to his bowl for him, but he couldn’t do it on his own. So he mostly just swallowed a lot of white rice.

After dinner, Gu Guoxiang recalled that Gu Mingxi had gotten wet with ice water before, so he had Li Han bathe him. Gu Mingxi blushed, and said anxiously, “I don’t need Mom to help me, I can wash on my own.”

In the summer, Gu Mingxi always washed by himself. But in the winter, because he needed to be wiped down, he could only let his parents help. But when his mom helped him, he would still wear shorts. That day, because of Gu Guoxiang’s words at dinner, Gu Mingxi made up his mind to wash himself.

Gu Guoxiang understood his son’s intentions, and said with a sigh, “You won’t be clean if you do it on your own. How about this then. Dad will help you wash today.”

He took his son to the washroom, and helped him take off all his clothes. Gu Mingxi’s lean body was completely bared. A little boy, his body was still not developed, white skin and narrow shoulders. And below his shoulders, well, there was nothing there.

That accident left him without his arms, not even a stump left behind. There were only his round shoulders, and the sinister looking pink scars around his shoulder and armpit area.

Gu Mingxi lowered his head, his legs pulling off his pants. Gu Guoxiang reached out to touch what remained of his right shoulder. This gave the kid a fright and he shivered. He turned to look at his father, his eyes dark and bright, carrying a hint of vigilance.