It was expected to snow at any moment. Bahu spent half a day trying to track down the whereabouts of the five mountain visitors, which was already considered a luxury. It was not feasible to make another trip to the mountains to confirm their safety, so he could only speculate whether they had left or stayed based on the condition of Big Spot and Little Spot.
In the afternoon, Bahu and the male servants moved the alkaline blocks into the sheep pen and hung them on the rack. He walked around the newly built pen and said to Chaobao, “Leave this pen empty for now. When the ewes give birth after the new year, we’ll move them over here. Since it hasn’t snowed yet and the grass is still dry, bring some people to lay down straw on the ground.”
“Alright, I’ll go call some people.”
The straw used for bedding wasn’t cut grass but freshly gathered from the outside fields. While Bahu was in the doghouse, Chaobao and five male servants picked some grass, still tinged with green and yellow, and carried it to the sheep pen. Bahu glanced at the straw nests prepared for the five mountain visitors, rolled them up, and carried them to the next door for the dogs to sleep on.
…
The next morning after breakfast, ten uncovered horse-drawn carriages headed west, with Pandi and Ying Niang bringing up the rear. They rode on the backs of calves, each driving seven or eight sheep. This was their first time going to the capital to pay the annual tribute.
Mi Niang handed Habul over to Ajima and the others. The little one was easily amused. Just placing him on the bed and watching others play would make him happy, as long as he didn’t see or hear his mother, otherwise, he would reach out to be held.
The clothes changed over the past few days hadn’t been washed yet. Mi Niang boiled two pots of water and poured them into the bath bucket, soaking the clothes of the family of five, not including Habul’s diapers.
She crushed soap nuts and put them in, covering the bath bucket with a wooden board. Then she went into the house to tidy up the fabrics and robes bought the day before yesterday. When she unfolded a piece of fabric, she found a wrapped package underneath. After opening it and seeing what was inside, she tied it back up as it was and put it back under the fabric.
Her smile hadn’t faded from her face when she went out to wash clothes. Seeing Jiya come out to drink water while she was scrubbing clothes, she motioned for him to come over and asked softly, “Did your father buy anything else behind my back the other day?”
Jiya frowned and thought for a moment before shaking his head. He had already forgotten about the watermelon-colored robe.
Seeing the bath bucket filled with clothes, he rolled up his sleeves and squatted down. “Mom, let me help you wash.”
The water was warm, and Mi Niang wasn’t worried he would catch a cold. She picked up his socks and threw them into the wooden basin for him to wash. After a while, Qiqige called out loudly from inside the house, “Brother, did you go to the river to drink water? Why haven’t you come in yet?”
“I’m helping Mom wash clothes,” Jiya spread out his socks. “Mom, do you think this one is clean enough?”
Mi Niang nodded, “You can wash another one.” As she finished speaking, the door to the room creaked open, and Qiqige stood on the threshold, jumped down, and bounced toward the front door. “I’m also here to help Mom wash clothes.”
“Hurry up and roll up your sleeves.” Mi Niang scooped up the remaining four pairs of socks and threw them into the wooden basin, letting the siblings indulge in washing clothes. As the door opened, her voice also echoed into the room. The little one on the bed threw down his toy drum and started babbling towards the outside.
“Auntie, Habul is looking for you.” Ajima also darted out of the door. “I’ll wash the clothes. Let me teach you.” He washed his own clothes, and the thicker ones were taken to his second sister to wash.
Mi Niang sighed, rubbed her hands, and brought out a small wooden bed. She dressed Habul in a thick cotton jacket and put him on the bed. “Alright, you’re the overseer, supervising us working.”
It wasn’t until Bahu returned that the last piece of clothing in the tub was washed. Qiqige and Jiya were also sent back to the warm kang. There were still two pairs of cotton shoes on the kang, and the siblings’ vigorous washing of the socks splashed water and wet the shoes.
“Perfect timing, the tub is out of water,” Mi Niang said with relief when he returned. If he hadn’t come back, she would have to call the servants to fetch water.
“I went to the river to wash, not at home,” Bahu replied. Washing clothes in winter was cold, but Bahu wasn’t particularly afraid of the cold. He could endure it.
While the servants unloaded grain from the granary, Bahu fetched a carrying pole and picked up two baskets of clothes to take to the river.
Mi Niang followed behind with a mallet, stepping in his footprints, asking about this year’s grain prices, whether corn had increased in price, and if beans were available.
Thinking of the water-red robe, she circled around in front of him, smiling coyly. “Did you buy anything else?”
“What?” Bahu blinked, carefully recalling. “Just rice, flour, corn, and beans. Was there something else to buy?”
Mi Niang gave him a deep look. “Here we are, put the baskets down.”
“Did I forget something? We still have enough rapeseed oil at home to last until summer. We can buy more when we reach Lingshan.”
“No, I was just teasing,” Mi Niang said, rinsing the river stones. “I forgot to bring the sheepskin gloves. Wait here, I’ll go back and get them.”
As Bahu watched her disappear in a hurry, he remembered the water-red robe embroidered with azaleas that he had bought the day before yesterday and realized what she meant by her words.
The man chuckled at his reflection in the water, then took the clothes from the basket, tossed them into the water, and lifted them up again. Swinging the mallet, he pounded the clothes, and the dirty water flowed into the river along the stone slab.
“Aren’t you supposed to wait? Aren’t you afraid of getting your hands swollen from the cold? Hurry up and put on your gloves,” Mi Niang scolded him, giving him a smack on the head, a mix of annoyance and affection evident in her actions. Her mind was preoccupied with her mountain ferrets, and she had forgotten about the clothes she had bought.
All her excitement had been ruined by him.
“Why are you still laughing? Laughing for what?” Mi Niang heard his muffled laughter and gave him another knock.
“Yeah,” Bahu wiped the water on the clothes, put on his gloves, and pushed her away with his hand. “Stand back, so you don’t get splashed with water.”
The wind blowing over the river carried moisture, so Mi Niang stood for a while before deciding to squat down instead. But even squatting made her legs feel cold, so she stood up again. “I’ll go back and cook now. What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Roast beef hooves.”
“Beef hooves? Where are you going to get beef hooves? If you want them, wait until we slaughter a cow and then I’ll roast them for you.” Mi Niang turned back and started walking. “How about fried lamb cakes, pan-fried tofu, and a half pot of butter tea?”
“Sounds good! As long as it’s food, anything is fine,” Bahu replied with a grin.
Mi Niang went into the house to knead dough and chop meat. She soaked a handful of mushrooms, then minced the meat and mixed it with the mushrooms and chopped green onions. Finally, she sprinkled some pepper and added two spoons of salt. She divided the mixture into chunks and wrapped them in flattened dough.
“Jiya, fetch me two bowls of tofu pudding,” she called out to the outside.
“Okay,” Jiya’s footsteps thudded as he went to the backyard, while Qiqige entered lightly, standing at the doorway and asking, “Mom, what are you cooking?”
“Fried lamb cakes, your favorite,” Mi Niang replied.
“I’ll help you flip the cakes,” Qiqige said eagerly, sitting beside the stove and eyeing the oil bowl placed nearby. “Mom, can I help you cook?”
Mi Niang glanced at her. “Be careful and don’t touch the hot iron plate, or you’ll get blisters… Pour a spoonful of oil and use the bottom of the spoon to spread it out.” With one hand holding a raw cake, she spread it on the hot oil in the pan. “If I tell you not to touch it, then don’t.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be obedient,” the little girl said, trying to be cute.
Mi Niang snorted and continued rolling out the dough with the filling. When she felt they were ready, she used a spatula to flip the cakes, revealing the golden crispy side.
“It smells so good,” Qiqige sniffed.
“Go and see why your brother hasn’t brought the tofu pudding yet…” Mi Niang’s words were interrupted as Jiya arrived, holding the tofu pudding in his shirt corner. “Mom, is this enough?”
“It’s enough,” but there was more.
He brought the tofu pudding, then sat by the stove and didn’t leave. After a while, Ajima came with Habul.
Mi Niang watched them, feeling like their footsteps were stumbling, and pointed out the drool on Habul’s chin when she was flipping the cakes. “Wipe that off, don’t let it drip into the pot.”
The first three cakes were for them. After rolling out the dough, Mi Niang took over Habul’s seat by the stove, using one hand to flip the cakes.
It wasn’t until dark that the two baskets of lamb cakes were finally done. After washing the iron plate and smearing it with butter, Mi Niang placed the tofu pudding on it. The heat made the pudding bubble up. She moved them to one side of the iron plate to make room for more.
Heavy footsteps entered the room amidst the dripping sound of water. Bahursighed, taking off the shoulder pole from his shoulders. “Is the food ready, shopkeeper?”
“It’s ready. Come and eat first. You can put on your clothes after eating,” Mi Niang said, moving the iron plate aside with a cloth and pouring water into the pot. She directed the children, “Go and bring the small wooden bed for your brother. We’re going to eat.”
Two lumps of dried cow dung were placed in the stove. With sizzling lamb cakes and a full iron plate of tofu pudding, the family sat down and pulled up chairs. Habul sat in the small bed, holding onto the wooden railing and eagerly watching, drool dripping from his mouth.
The lamb cakes were crispy and savory, while the tofu pudding was soft and tender with a crispy bottom soaked in butter. Once the water boiled, a piece of brick tea was broken off and put in. The brownish-yellow tea water was poured into the milk bucket, mixing with the butter to become a creamy yellow.
“Dad, have this one. I made it,” Qiqige handed Bahu the torn lamb cake, “I cooked today and even helped my mom wash clothes.”
“Really? Then my daughter is really capable,” Bahu glanced at the lamb pie in his hand, which looked quite ugly, with most of the filling exposed. He could tell that Qiqige was messing around; she had flipped the pie before the crust had even been properly cooked. However, he pretended not to notice, took a bite, swallowed two or three mouthfuls, and only then looked up to say, “Delicious! It’s the first time I’ve eaten food made by my daughter, it’s worth three days of hunger.”
Mi Niang glanced at him, then looked at Qiqige, who was happily floating with joy. She snorted lightly but didn’t say anything.
There was still a basket of lamb pies left, saved for breakfast the next day. Mi Niang cleaned up the stove, while Bahu washed his hands and went out to hang the clothes.
“Auntie, let me wash the dishes.” Ajima stood by the stove, feeling quite embarrassed. He hadn’t done anything all day, just watched the children, ate, and played. He felt guilty about it.
“No need for you to wash. Your uncle and I have nothing to do, and it’s very cold outside. We’ll wash the dishes ourselves. When we’re busy, we’ll let you wash,” Mi Niang sprinkled some ash on the iron plate, then said, “Bring the buckets from the yard. Later, you and your uncle will go feed the dogs together.”
Feeding the dogs and the mountain ferrets usually involved cooking a big pot of meat mixed with coarse rice, enough for two meals.
…
Just as Bahu took a bucket of food out, the sound of pattering came from the roof. Mi Niang walked out and looked up, saying, “It’s snowing.”
“It’s snowing, it’s snowing!” Qiqige and Jiya also shouted from outside.
Just as the clothes were spread out, they were moved under the eaves. Bahu stood with his hands on his hips at the doorway of the kitchen. “It’s snowing. Tomorrow we’ll slaughter the cow and roast the cow’s hooves.”
“Why suddenly craving for cow hooves?” Mi Niang pulled him towards the bedroom. All four children were playing in the compartment room, where three oil lamps were lit. The light could be seen through the window.
As soon as they entered the bedroom, Bahu remembered the red robe he bought secretly from Mi Niang. He hugged her waist and led her in the darkness to the place in his memory, groping around.
Mi Niang listened to the commotion, her lips curled up, pretending to be ignorant. “What are you looking for?”
“Don’t you know?” Bahu exerted a little force with his hand, his five fingers gripping her waist, and leaned closer as she gasped in pain. “Really don’t know?”
Mi Niang hesitated for a moment, pretending to be ignorant. “Know what? So mysterious.”
Bahu’s laughter resonated like a drum in his chest. He spoke intermittently, “Bought you a robe… I saw you liked it. The shopkeeper was right, you look good in bright-colored clothes.” He untied the bundle and pressed the thick robe into her arms. “Try it on first. I’ll go get the oil lamp.”
He couldn’t hold back anymore and before leaving, he pressed Mi Niang against his chest and rubbed her for a while.
It was so amusing.
Mi Niang understood everything by now, holding the robe, she stared at the wide-open door, her face blushing in the night.
A ray of light came in, illuminating the quiet bedroom. Bahu, seeing the person with a blushing face staring at him, couldn’t hold back his laughter and said, “Why not try it on? Don’t you like it?”
“I’ll beat you to death!” Mi Niang placed the robe on the chest and hurriedly ran over to beat him, her hands flying, randomly hitting him.
Bahu couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter, blowing out the oil lamp.
