As he flipped through the newly issued marriage certificate with his wife, Yan Jibao couldn't help but shed tears. When he received the marriage certificate in the ward, the seriously ill Yan Jibao burst into tears. Gao Qun, who had been taking care of him in the ward, gently held him in her arms.
"I will be by your side, my true love will not be moved by life or death, passing through sorrow and joy, crossing heaven and earth..." Yesterday, when Yan Jibao and Gao Qun's hands were tightly clasped together, many people would have thought of this song by Jacky Cheung. Yan Jibao, a resident of the provincial capital city, was in the final stages due to advanced liver cancer. The term "ex-wife" has always been a "knot" in Yan Jibao's heart. Despite being critically ill and unable to speak, he still wanted to give his beloved caregiver the title she deserved - to remarry.
Suddenly: The robust man collapsed
Yesterday morning, I met Yan Jibao at the Organ Transplant Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Due to his severe condition, Yan Jibao was already immobile. Gao Qun stood by the bedside, attentively taking care of Yan Jibao.
"I didn't expect the disease to come so fast," Mr. Shao, Yan Jibao's childhood friend said. Around mid-August, Yan Jibao suddenly felt unwell. After a check-up at the hospital, it was discovered that there was an issue with his liver, and he was immediately hospitalized. "A surgery was performed soon after, but unfortunately, the cancer cells spread after the surgery," Mr. Shao said. Yan Jibao had always been "as strong as a bull." "Even in the dead of winter, he could ride a motorcycle without feeling cold. There were no signs of illness before."
"When he was admitted, he was tall and robust, not resembling a cancer patient at all," Dr. Liu Fubao, deputy chief physician of the Organ Transplant Center of Anhui Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital, explained. Yan Jibao is over 1.8 meters tall and weighed 91 kilograms upon admission. However, the examination results shocked the doctors. "He was diagnosed with a massive liver cancer, accompanied by cirrhosis and systemic metastasis of cancer cells."
On August 16, Yan Jibao underwent a liver cancer resection surgery. By September 19, due to a large amount of ascites, Yan Jibao was readmitted to the hospital. "The patient's current condition is very serious; he must be treated in the hospital and cannot leave. There is absolutely no chance of cure," Dr. Liu Fubao said.
"The doctor said that according to the natural course of advanced liver cancer, the survival time might be about half a year, and with good treatment effects, it could reach around nine months," however, family members have little hope. "From the current situation, it’s probably just a matter of one or two months."
Surprise: Others couldn't tell they had divorced
Gao Qun stood by the bedside, holding Yan Jibao's hand with one hand and gently stroking his forehead with the other. From time to time, she asked if he wanted water and whispered softly in his ear. Yan Jibao, who was now unable to move or speak loudly, could only respond softly or with his eyes.
If you didn't know the backstory, you might not imagine that the woman busy taking care of Yan Jibao was actually his "ex-wife."
Yesterday afternoon, I visited the neighborhood where Yan Jibao lived. Neighbors told me that Yan Jibao used to serve in the military and later transferred to work in Hefei, where he became the manager of a milk station. "We don’t interact much, but it’s clear that their daily life is quite frugal. Their son is currently in high school," an elderly neighbor downstairs said. Yan Jibao's family had lived here for more than ten years. "They seemed fine, I never heard about them getting divorced."
"Often, we see the three of them coming and going, a pretty harmonious family," the owner of a small store at the entrance of the community introduced. "Yan Jibao is straightforward; arguments between the couple are understandable. Divorce? That seems unlikely."
"The first time he had surgery, his wife was busy running back and forth, taking care of him every day at the hospital, even signing the surgical consent form," Dr. Liu said. Judging from their appearance, they didn’t seem like a divorced couple.
Recollection: Divorced over trivial matters but never separated
In the eyes of family, neighbors, and friends, both Yan Jibao and his wife Gao Qun were kind-hearted and modest. With such a good relationship, why did they get divorced?
"It was probably because of some trivial household matters," Gao Qun's sister, Gao Qin, introduced. In 2009, the two often quarreled over some family trifles. One day, while both were angry, they impulsively went to process their divorce.
"Yan Jibao is very straightforward and outgoing," the owner of the neighborhood convenience store recalled. Whenever someone invited Yan Jibao for a drink, he never refused. "Yan Jibao's illness might also be related to drinking." The owner speculated that drinking and arguing might have led to their divorce.
"Although they got divorced, they didn't separate," Yan Jibao's friend Mr. Shao introduced. They only had one house, and neither remarried after the divorce, so they continued living together. "Perhaps after calming down, they realized they still had feelings for each other, so they didn’t separate." Now that Yan Jibao is sick, he wants to restore his wife's status before he passes away.
Accompanying You Through Life's Journey
Wife actively proposed remarrying as planned, and the civil affairs department made a special arrangement to handle the marriage registration in the ward.
Gao Qun: He kept saying he wanted to give me a complete home, so I wanted to help him fulfill his wish as soon as possible. In this life, I want to accompany him through everything.
Friend Mr. Shao of Yan Jibao: I was deeply moved when I heard that at this time, Gao Qun still actively proposed to remarry.
Moved: Wife Actively Wants to Remarry According to Plan
"After all, we've been married for more than a decade with great affection. We originally planned to get our marriage certificate during National Day." Yesterday, in the ward, Gao Qun's eyes reddened as she spoke.
It turned out that not long after they finalized their divorce, both regretted it. Later, they discussed re-obtaining their marriage certificate but were too busy to make it happen. "We originally planned to get the certificate during National Day, but unexpectedly, he suddenly fell ill."
Yan Jibao's relatives introduced that although they went through a divorce, they continued to live together as if nothing had changed, and their relationship remained intact. Therefore, the family always supported their remarriage.
"Unexpectedly, Yan Jibao fell ill severely, possibly not even surviving until National Day. So, a few days ago, Gao Qun proactively suggested quickly obtaining the certificate," Mr. Shao introduced. He was deeply moved when he heard this, not expecting Gao Qun to propose remarriage at this time.
In Gao Qun's heart, remarriage was already part of their plan, but the sudden illness made the situation urgent. "He kept saying he wanted to give me a complete home, so I wanted to help him fulfill his wish as soon as possible. In this life, I want to accompany him through everything." Saying this, Gao Qun couldn't help but choke up.
Twists and Turns: Civil Affairs Department Agrees to Special Handling
However, the process of obtaining the marriage certificate encountered many twists and turns.
"To obtain a marriage certificate, both parties must personally be present," Gao Qun said. The day before yesterday, she consulted with the Marriage Registration Office of Shushan District, Hefei City, but received a disappointing answer. "But he can't move anymore; he can't even sit in a wheelchair, so he definitely can't show up in person."
Gao Qun said she explained Yan Jibao's situation to the staff at the Marriage Registration Office, who understood but were constrained by regulations and could only follow the rules. This made Gao Qun very anxious. According to information from the civil affairs department, according to the "Marriage Law" and the "Marriage Registration Law," when obtaining a marriage certificate, both parties must personally go to the Marriage Registration Office under the principle of voluntariness.
Due to the special circumstances and Yan Jibao's limited remaining time, Gao Qun negotiated multiple times with the Marriage Registration Office, hoping for a turnaround. "Finally, they said to prepare the necessary documents, consult higher authorities, and see if they could handle our case specially."
After much effort, yesterday morning, the Civil Affairs Department finally brought good news: the staff would handle the marriage registration for Yan Jibao in the ward. "This is the first time in Hefei," the staff introduced.
Embrace: The New Certificate Still Has the Old Photo
Yesterday at noon, the family began preparing for the marriage certificate. Around 12:30 PM, two staff members from the Marriage Registration Office of Shushan District arrived at the ward of Anhui Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital.
"All I hope is to bring back the marriage certificate; I deeply love my wife." Seeing his wish about to be fulfilled, Yan Jibao lying in bed became excited and struggled to say "I love you" to Gao Qun. Gao Qun tightly held his hand, softly responding "I love you too," while trying hard to hold back her tears.
After asking relevant questions, the staff filled out the necessary forms. "Come on, just put your fingerprint." Yan Jibao pressed his red fingerprint on the form and then gazed deeply at Gao Qun, as if saying, "We are together again."
Subsequently, the staff handed two bright red marriage certificates to Yan Jibao: "Congratulations on becoming legal spouses."
"Look, this is our photo from when we first got married." Gao Qun opened the marriage certificate and showed it to Yan Jibao, carefully reading every word on it.
At the moment Yan Jibao took the marriage certificate with both hands, the emotions hidden for so long finally burst out, and he cried loudly like a child. Gao Qun hugged Yan Jibao and consoled him softly.
At this moment, time seemed to stop. Just like Yan Jibao and Gao Qun's love, it gradually became eternal.
>> Reporter's Notes: Re-embracing, Love Knows No Distance
On the way to the interview, I kept thinking about what kind of story this would be.
Is it about estranged couples looking back after many years, or is it about two people who once hurt each other reconciling in times of hardship? Actually, neither.
When I walked into the ward, the scenes in front of me moved me deeply. When Yan Jibao looked at Gao Qun with sunken eyes and Gao Qun knew exactly what he wanted to say; when Gao Qun, in her spare time, held Yan Jibao's hand and whispered softly in his ear; when a 40-something-year-old man openly expressed "I love you" to his wife in front of everyone... My eyes welled up.
From marriage to arguments, to divorce, and then back to reconciliation. Just as the story was about to reach a happy ending, an unexpected twist occurred. But lovers do not care how winding the path to reunion may be, nor do they care how short the time together may be. With love, even if they will soon be forever apart, they have already been eternally together.