What should have been a thirty-minute ride took Deng Yuyuan a mere fifteen minutes as she fiercely pedaled the rest of the way to their destination.
"Usually, big hospitals like this have payphones," the older man said. "You go register first, ask the nurse where the phone booth is, and then call your family to come over and help."
"It's fine. I can manage with the child alone; my family isn't in Beijing," Deng Yuyuan replied. She pulled a one-yuan bill from her pocket and placed it on the tricycle, then turned and stepped down, holding Tuantuan and her woven basket.
"No, no, absolutely not. We were just helping out on the way. Why give us so much?" The older couple hurriedly tried to shove the money back to her. But afraid that pushing back and forth would make Tuantuan uncomfortable, the woman simply held the money flat in her palm, urging Deng Yuyuan to take it back.
