“We need to pull together,” Mr. Yi said.

Looking at her husband, Mrs. Yi felt her heart tremble with love.

She didn’t expect to be as lucky as Tauber when she died. That day was still far off, and she was determined to wait calmly. Right now, she had a lot of work to do. She had no time to grieve.

12
Mia Is Taking Off

Mia diligently taught herself medicine and herbs, and she went with Mrs. Yi twice to deliver babies. Her performance was remarkable. She was neither nauseated at the sight of blood nor frantic. Mrs. Yi was secretly surprised by this young assistant’s inner strength and capability. She felt that Mia was much better than she had been at the same age. She asked, “What did you feel, Mia?”

Mia thought for a moment, then said, “I felt myself being born.”

“A perfect metaphor!”

On the way back, Mia had so much to say to Mrs. Yi, but she didn’t know how. Mrs. Yi’s determined face while delivering babies was freeze-framed in her mind. She couldn’t help being excited as she recalled the moment. She murmured, “Yun Village . . .”

When Mrs. Yi heard her, she laughed and said, “Yun Village is not the only place with barefoot doctors. The old director told me that barefoot doctors were once practicing in every corner of the vast countryside. Although many places are better off now, and villagers can go to the cities for treatment, the old occupation hasn’t disappeared.”

At the intersection, they separated. Mia was reluctant to part with her mentor.

“Mrs. Yi, do you think my plan to cultivate the barren hill is feasible?”

“Yes. But this kind of work requires unshakable determination.”

Mia walked very fast. She was so overcome with emotion today. Her heart had beat like a drum when she saw a baby born. It had been so exciting, so intense that she was speechless when she entered her cousin Chunli’s house. That’s where she was staying. Chunli gave her a cup of tea; she drank it silently.

“I saw a lot of things today,” Mia said at last. “I saw the history of Yun Village from the mother in labor. I never cared about that before. We were nervous, but we knew exactly what to do. I was surprised by my own performance. This was probably because of Mrs. Yi. She’s closer than my own mother, and I could follow her to the ends of the earth . . . The woman in labor was so beautiful.”

“You and Mrs. Yi are very much alike,” Chunli said with a smile.

“No, not at all. She is unique. Now if I close my eyes and think of her, I don’t know how to describe her. I lag far behind her.” Mia closed her eyes.

“I love Mrs. Yi, too—love her from a distance.”

“I really feel happy now.”

They went outside for a walk around the pond. The frogs in the pond began singing in unison, and the smell of procreation was everywhere.