Though she was referred to as a woman, she could actually be called an old lady now; her hair had turned silver, and her face was full of the marks of time. Even the clothes she wore had been washed to a faded white. Hearing Gong Mingxia's Mandarin, which lacked any local accent, she was at first taken aback. Squinting her eyes, she looked for a long while before seeming to recognize her eldest daughter.
"Mi-, Mingxia? Are you Mingxia?"
The old lady's voice trembled a bit as she reached for the bed edge, trying to stand. Whether it was from sitting too long or something else, her legs didn't seem to cooperate, failing to lift her twice. In the end, it was Gong Mingxia who walked over and gently pushed her back down.
"Mom, don't stand up. It's fine, just sit down, just sit down."
