Extra Chapter Thirty
Stellar Calendar 278, February 5th, Snow
Today is New Year’s Eve. Ruge said it’s a day for getting rid of the old and welcoming the new, so our whole family is doing a big cleaning.
The floor-sweeping robot is doing its cleaning job, Baldy flew up to the window to wipe the glass. He suddenly called us halfway through. I lifted my head and saw Baldy’s fingertips on the snow-covered glass, drawing a heart.
“Heart~” He flapped his little wings happily, and the sunlight behind him gave him a golden glow. At that moment, Baldy looked like a little angel.
Bobo stood on the small balcony, holding a spray bottle, also making a heart gesture to Baldy. Encouraged by the hearts, Baldy continued to energetically wipe the glass. Bobo did many things besides Baldy, not only taking care of the flowers but also organizing the study and arranging the books neatly.
Ruge and I were dealing with old clothes. Baldy and Bobo grew up fast; their small clothes were no longer fitting, and although we thought of donating these clothes, Baldy was reluctant.
“Can’t I keep these for my little baby…” I flicked Baldy’s forehead lightly.
“You’re still a little baby.”
Baldy shook his head and said to me, “Nope, once today’s over, I’ll be a big baby!”
“A big silly.”
“Not a big silly! A smart egg!”
“Big silly.”
“Smart egg!”
“Baldy is a big silly.”
“Bad Papa! I don’t like you anymore! Hmph!” Baldy ran off in a huff. After a while, he came running back. “Papa, what are you doing?”
I didn’t lift my head, calmly saying, “Big silly.”
“Hmph. I’m ignoring you.”
Baldy ran off again, this time to seek comfort from Bobo. I watched Baldy’s angry figure and quietly smiled. I knew he would come running back soon, and then I would praise him for being a cute egg.
After finishing cleaning, we started making paper-cut window decorations. We started with red colored paper, but then Baldy tentatively took out a piece of yellow paper. Seeing no objection from us, Baldy began cutting out various colorful window flowers.
We pasted the finished paper-cut flowers on the windows and hung up lanterns at the front door. With these additional decorations, the atmosphere in the house suddenly became different. It was lively and festive, and we were all wearing sweaters knitted by Ruge, preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Ruge said we should stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Bobo asked what staying up late meant.
“Staying up late means staying up with a New Year’s Eve fire, lighting candles to drive away all evils and diseases, so that the coming year will be healthy and auspicious.”
Ruge held a long candle, and its light illuminated half of his face while the other half remained in a dim, gentle darkness.
“Really?”
Bobo stood on a small chair, curiously watching the candle.
“Yeah, I hope it’s true. When I was in the orphanage, children who wanted to stay up late would have a small candle. I always held that candle carefully, standing in a sheltered place, afraid it would be blown out by the wind…”
In the evening, we sat in the candlelit living room and talked about many things. Most of the time, Ruge and I were talking, while Baldy and Bobo were listening. I
rarely talked to them about my past.
“When I was your age, I lived in a very small place, never ate candy, had no friends, no pajamas, no books, no light brain, never had a decent meal like you do…”
I told Baldy and Bobo some stories from my time at the Starry Sea Orphanage.
I was surprisingly able to talk about that past now without reservation. Baldy widened his eyes in shock.
“Papa, you’re so pitiful—I can give my small clothes that don’t fit to the little Papa from before?”
I wanted to laugh a little. He wanted to give me clothes that don’t fit him, why not give me new clothes instead? This stingy little Baldy.
Baldy didn’t know what I was thinking. His face was full of tender expressions, and his blue eyes flashed with struggling emotions. Finally, a determined look appeared on his face. He rushed back to the bedroom and then came running back.
“Papa, I’ll give you lots and lots of candies.”
He grabbed a handful of candies from his pocket and offered them to me as if presenting a treasure.
Baldy had cherished the candies I gave him for Christmas, only eating them when he felt really proud of himself. Now, he was giving me so many candies…
I felt that raising Baldy wasn’t in vain.
“I won’t eat the candies from Baldy’s little socks.” I ruffled Baldy’s head.
“You eat them yourself.”
Bobo, who had been listening to my stories, stood up. I thought Bobo was going to give me candies too.
“Papa, don’t be sad anymore.”
He gave me a little hug and a kiss on my right cheek.
I thought I spoke lightly, but Bobo sensed a hint of vulnerability.
Baldy also came over and kissed my left cheek.
Finally, Ruge came over and kissed my forehead.
I was surrounded by warmth.
Baldy and Bobo rarely stayed up late. By ten o’clock, their little heads were nodding. After tucking Baldy and Bobo into bed, I sat on the balcony and looked at the night view.
Ruge leaned his head on my shoulder and softly said, “Guican, if I could really appear at the Starry Sea Orphanage to take care of you back then, it would have been good.”
I reached out and stroked his hair. His smooth black hair felt like the finest silk, making me reluctant to let go.
“In my heart, you have already appeared.”
We held each other’s hands tightly. The wind blew through our hands, and time passed by like the breeze slipping through our fingers.
I looked at the scenery in the dark night. The snow had lessened a lot, and soon it would be the season of melting snow and the revival of all things.
This winter passed particularly quickly, in a blink of an eye it was coming to an end. Normally, when I was alone, I would feel that winter was endless. Just as I was lost in thought, a familiar gentle voice sounded in my ears.
“It’s midnight.”
Ruge lifted his head, his black eyes smiling at me.
“Happy New Year.”
Stellar Calendar 278, February 5th, Snow
Ruge said today is the Spring Festival, a very important holiday.
“Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, we bid farewell to the old year. With the spring breeze sending warmth, we drink the Tu Su wine.” I asked Ruge what this meant.
Ruge said we should set off firecrackers on New Year’s, and amidst the lively firecracker sounds, the old year has passed, and every household enjoys the Tu Su wine in the warm spring breeze.
We didn’t have Tu Su wine, but we had fruit wine. Baldy and Bobo could only taste the wine residue on the chopsticks, not more. Ruge couldn’t handle alcohol well, he only drank a small cup and was already slightly tipsy, so he stopped drinking. I had a small cup, and the warmth of the wine made me feel warm when I saw Ruge, Baldy, and Bobo.
The warm winter day made me want to sleep. I turned into a beast shape, lazily lying on the blanket, and holding Ruge in my arms…
But Baldy kept clamoring to set off firecrackers, so I had to first settle Baldy down, or he would keep making noise, and then I wouldn’t be able to sleep.
We stood at the door and fiddled with the “firecrackers”.
Ruge said that in the past, fireworks could be ignited directly by bamboo, and the sound of crackling could be heard from the bamboo.
Since there was no bamboo here, I made a “firework” that could make a sound.
Igniting this firework of the interstellar age, the crackling sound shocked the snow on the treetops. After hearing the noise, Baldy’s ears twitched twice and exclaimed, “Wow—sounds like thunder—”
“I command you—thunder—crackle crackle pop pop ha ha ha wooo—” He jumped around like a silly child struck by lightning.
Bobo sat on the ground watching happily and asked why Ruge wanted to set off fireworks. Can setting off fireworks scare away the monster called the ghosts, which eats people?
Ruge said, because there is a legend of a monster called the ghosts that eats people, setting off fireworks can scare away the ghosts.
Baldy, who was still howling, hesitated for a moment, looked at me, and said, “Dad is so powerful, he can crush the ghosts with one toe~”
Bobo laughed on the side.
At noon, we made dumplings. Baldy liked these sweet things very much and could eat a bowl in one go. When Ruge said there were also savory dumplings, Baldy put down his bowl in astonishment, unable to believe it: “Sweet dumplings are so delicious, why make them savory!”
I actually think savory dumplings are good too, Bobo can accept both sweet and savory, but Baldy is firmly in the sweet camp. Ruge told Baldy about many things that could be sweet or savory, such as zongzi and tofu pudding.
We have never eaten them, but listening to Ruge describe them with relish. Baldy pestered Ruge to make sweet tofu pudding and sweet zongzi for him next time, so I deliberately said on the side that I wanted to eat savory tofu pudding and savory zongzi, which almost made Baldy angry.
After eating the dumplings, I took Baldy to the nursing home to deliver the dumplings, and Ruge took Bobo to the orphanage to deliver the dumplings.
This time, Bobo did not go to the nursing home. The old men in that group were a bit disappointed and said they wanted to see little Bobo. I feel that maybe in their hearts, whether I go to the nursing home or not doesn’t matter, as long as Baldy and Bobo go.
Star calendar 278 February 19th, sunny
Today is the Lantern Festival in Ruge’s mouth. Ruge cooked sweet dumplings and savory dumplings. The filling of the sweet dumplings was sesame and white sugar. At Baldy’s bold suggestion, Ruge added strawberry jam, diced mango… various new varieties of dumplings, which Baldy enjoyed quite happily.
The filling of the savory dumplings was pork and dried shrimp, with green onions added. Baldy originally said he didn’t want to eat savory dumplings, but smelling the tempting aroma, he quickly threw away what he had said and happily ate them, eating until his belly was round, making himself look like a big dumpling.
I looked at Bobo elegantly eating dumplings on the side, and then at Baldy who was eating like a hungry ghost. Why was there such a big difference between Bobo and Baldy’s eating habits? Clearly, I have never starved Baldy. This is truly an unsolved mystery.
After eating the dumplings, Baldy lay satisfied on the sofa. I said to Baldy, “Baldy, you pig.”
Baldy looked at me in confusion and said, “I’m not a pig, I’m a little white tiger.”
“Bald fat tiger.”
Baldy snorted and gently kicked Ruge with his little feet, “Dad, rub my tummy~”
I said to Baldy, “Are you a little lazy pig? Can’t you rub your own belly?”
Baldy didn’t want to talk to me, turned over and faced me with his butt. So I went to poke Baldy’s butt, a round butt that made me worry that Baldy would grow into a little fat boy in the future. No, when the snow melts, I’ll take Baldy out for a run and lose all the weight he gained in winter.
Ruge clapped her hands and said, “Okay, let’s guess lantern riddles.”
Baldy asked, “Where are the lanterns? Where are the lanterns?”
Bobo came out with four small lanterns, “The lanterns are here~”
The lanterns were made by us yesterday.
I made a white tiger lantern, Ruge made a koi lantern, Baldy made a little duck lantern, and Bobo made a lotus lantern. The lantern riddles were set by each of us.
Starting with Baldy’s lantern riddle: How many candies does Baldy have?
Little Baldy, who set this topic, was extremely proud and felt that no one could guess it. However, I knew from a long time ago about Baldy’s habit of hiding candies under the bed. Sometimes I would go and take a look at Baldy’s little treasury.
Last night I happened to take a look, there were probably more than thirty. I guessed by intuition, “34 candies.”
Baldy stared blankly at me, “Dad, how did you know?”
“Is it correct?”
“It’s correct.”
“I guessed.”
After hearing my answer, Baldy’s whole face wrinkled. He subconsciously felt that something was wrong but couldn’t figure out what exactly was wrong.
Bobo looked at Baldy with a complicated look, patted Baldy’s little head, and said his lantern riddle: “Baldy’s underwear—guess a children’s song.”
Baldy immediately stopped being puzzled about how I could guess the number of his candies. He hurriedly said, “I know, I know! It’s quack quack quack! It’s the bridge under the door!”
…
In the evening, we went to the riverside to release lanterns. The semi-melted and semi-frozen river slept under the night sky.
There were floating ice chips on the river surface. If there were no floating ice chips, our lanterns could float all the way to the end of the river, carrying light and my wishes to the distance —
May the people I love always be happy.
Star calendar 278 March 6th, rain
This morning’s spring thunder woke us up early. Baldy covered his tiger ears, closed his eyes, and burrowed into my arms, and after three seconds he continued to snore happily.
Bobo stood by the window watching the spring rain. The dripping spring rain tapped on the glass window. Outside the house, the purple trees and the land with emerging greenery exuded a faint coldness of winter.
The dew on the leaves fell on the umbrella and turned into tiny droplets splashing open. The goose-yellow small flowers piled up on the dark green treetops, clusters of plum blossoms were charming and moving.
I looked at the grass and trees in the mist and the distant mountains. Everything within sight was accumulating strength, striving to give birth to a spring with blossoms like brocade.
Bobo sang cheerfully: “Where is spring, where is spring~ Spring is in the verdant mountains and forests~”
“There are red flowers here, green grass here, and the little yellow oriole that sings songs~ Di-li-li-li-li Di-li-li-di-li-li-li~”
Baldy, wearing a small raincoat, ran wildly ahead, shouting, “Look! A bird!”
A plump gray bird flapped its wings and tried to fly away. Baldy directly spread his wings, rushed up excitedly, flew over the treetops, and flew in front of the bird. He reached out his hand and wanted to grab it.
The startled gray bird “chirped” and quickly plunged into the canopy, fleeing from Baldy’s hands like an arrow, and barely escaped.
Now Baldy can fly steadily, but he is not fast enough or agile enough. He didn’t catch the gray bird and picked four small yellow flowers instead, one for himself, one for Bobo, one for Ruge’s ear, and the last one, Baldy looked at me, saw that I did not stop him, and stuck it in my hair.
Our whole family wore small yellow flowers. Ruge saw my appearance and said a sentence, “Laugh not at the white hair crowned with flowers, for time never diminishes the beauty of a person.”
I touched my silver hair and didn’t know whether I should laugh or not.
Star calendar 278 March 12, sunny
Today is the first anniversary of my marriage to Ruge, and also Arbor Day. Ruge thought of a sentence, “In the courtyard there is a loquat tree, which my wife planted in the year of her death, and now it is as graceful as a pavilion.”
So Ruge wanted to plant a tree on this special day. What to plant?
Plum trees, peach trees, apricot trees, and a rose on the fence. After next year’s Awakening of Insects, these flowers will bloom one after another.
Next Valentine’s Day, we can plant roses. Perhaps many years later, our woodland cabin will be surrounded by all kinds of flowers—spring in full bloom, summer shaded by green trees, autumn laden with fruits, winter amid a sea of snow and fragrance. Opening the window each day reveals a different seasonal scene.
When we were planting trees, Baldy and Bobo were digging with small shovels. Baldy dug holes while making a scraping sound, saying, “Dad, if I water it every day, will it grow very tall, taller than any other tree in the forest?”
I replied, “That will take many years.”
Baldy asked me, “How many years is many? Will it be after I die?”
Since Baldy and Bobo were very young, I had taken them to funerals and seen graveyards, so Baldy already had a vague concept of death.
“If I die, bury me by the tree so I can watch it grow taller than the sky,” Baldy said earnestly.
Bobo chimed in with a childish voice, “I know about tree burials, where our ashes are scattered in the soil. Baldy, do you want a tree burial?”
They had their childish innocence, absorbing knowledge from the star network. Their conversation didn’t sound like that of mere children anymore.
I put down the shovel and looked at the silent trees around us. When the wind blew, the leaves rustled softly. Everything was so peaceful and ordinary, even the discussion of life and death from the mouths of these children seemed commonplace.
I heard Bobo say, “If I die, bury me under a flowering tree. In spring, I’ll bloom; in summer, birds will rest on my branches; in autumn, I’ll bear fruit. Even if I become bare in winter under thick snow, who will notice?”
I will notice.
Star Calendar 278, March 19, Rain
Today is Baldy and Bobo’s birthday, their first one here. First, we celebrated in the kindergarten, bringing a large chocolate cake into the classroom for all the children to enjoy.
All the kids sang “Happy Birthday” to Baldy and Bobo, “Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~” The classroom was filled with joy, songs resonating with happiness.
I had Baldy and Bobo make wishes before blowing out the candles.
Baldy loudly declared, “I wish I had a mountain of candy to eat!”
I told Baldy that wishes don’t come true if you say them out loud. Baldy quickly covered his mouth in panic, looking at me tearfully. Bobo then said with a smile, “It’s okay, just make another wish, this time for two mountains of candy.”
Bobo looked around the classroom, then at me, Ruge, and Baldy. Finally, he closed his eyes, folded his hands, and quietly made his wish.
What would Bobo wish for?
Certainly not for mountains of candy.
Baldy and Bobo, the little birthday stars, wore paper crowns and happily played with the other children. They received many gifts.
At noon, we held another birthday party for Baldy and Bobo at the nursing home, this time with a fruit cake. Baldy only ate the cream, smearing it all over his face like a little flower cat, while Bobo enjoyed the fruits on top of the cream. They received many, many gifts again.
In the evening, back at home, we prepared longevity noodles for the two birthday stars. The noodles were very long, just like our wishes—long happiness, long joy, long future.
Yes, a long future.
I will watch Baldy and Bobo grow up slowly, from babbling toddlers to youthful adolescents, through primary school, secondary school, university; I will see them make new friends, fall in love, graduate, work, marry, and have children…
They will experience setbacks, dreams, and love. They will have their own little families and a profoundly happy life. As for me, I will spend my remaining years understanding the saying:
“The bond between parent and child is just watching their back disappear down the road in this life. You stand at one end of the path, watching them gradually vanish around the bend, and with their back, they silently tell you: no need to chase.”
But does it matter?
I will always be with Ruge. From now on, there is only parting through death, no separation in life.
[Extra Complete]
From now on, there is only parting through death, no separation in life. – Qian Zhongshu
