She thought for a while and then said, “And I heard Mia talking. What a night!”

“The old director sincerely wishes you happiness,” her husband said with a smile.

“Look, isn’t it—”

They saw Gray at the same time. He was bending over, weeding the garden.

“Gray! Come inside and take a break,” cried Mrs. Yi.

He straightened up, as shy as he had been on his first visit.

“I must finish this first. Someone is going to take my place, isn’t she?”

“No one has taken your place here. You’re both welcome. The more help, the better. With the village population increasing, we’ll have more work to do,” Mrs. Yi said with a smile.

“Is it true?” Gray blinked his eyes. “You don’t mind my betrayal and you really will take me back? But I’m a different person now.”

“Nonsense. How different can you be?”

“Let me finish this work. It’s only work that can put my mind to rest.”

“Okay, sure . . .” Sobbing emotionally, Mrs. Yi went inside.

“The kid is unpredictable,” Mr. Yi said.

“He’s very thoughtful. He would make a good barefoot doctor.”

Mrs. Yi was thrilled by the succession of changes in her life. In all these years, no one had ever wanted to be her successor. It was as if people thought she was destined to be alone. Fortunately, her husband was at her side.

“I think he has cleared his mind after this interlude. Those who can change for the better are more precious than others. Yun Village’s vitality is reflected in these young women and men . . . What will it be like in another ten years?” Mr. Yi said, looking out the window. Gray was weeding there.

“In another ten years or so, everyone in Yun Village will be able to die with dignity!”

As she said this, Mrs. Yi laughed heartily. What was dying with dignity? As soon as the question came to her mind, she thought of Tauber—one of her patients for many years.

Tauber was the only successful businessman from Yun Village. He was a bachelor, and he was rich—by Yun Village standards. In other words, not really rich. Who would have thought Tauber would suffer from a terminal illness in his old age? After being diagnosed in a big city hospital, Tauber resolutely gave up treatment and returned to the village. He hired some craftsmen to help him build a three-story wooden house in a scenic spot on Niulan Mountain, and then he moved in. The air in this new home was fresh and warm. The water was connected to the mountain spring. Thinking that kerosene was not a pollutant, he lit the kerosene lamp at night. A village youth, who was also his admirer, took charge of his daily needs.

Living in the mountains, with birds, animals, flowers, and trees for company, Tauber spent his days reading. Five years passed in the time it takes to pour a cup of tea, and instead of dying as the doctors had expected, he became more and more vigorous. Only Mrs. Yi knew that his illness was still progressing, though surprisingly slowly. Of course Tauber knew it himself, but he was particularly cheerful about it.