The candle tears flowed down the edge of the table, merging with the dust on the ground, as the red candle, barely as long as a finger, burned fiercely. It cast a halo of light in the dim room, illuminating the two people sitting at the mirror, grooming themselves.
“Mom, mom? Dad?” a child banged loudly on the door from outside.
“Coming, stop banging,” Bahu finished tying the last strand of hair before going to open the door. Just as he stepped into the courtyard, he turned back, emptied the basin of water into the corner of the wall, and then went to open the door.
“Dad, why did you lock the door?” Qiqige rushed into the courtyard, loudly calling for his mother, then asked, “Where’s my mom?”
“She’s inside, safe.”
Jiya and Ajima stomped their feet inside the gate, puzzled. Qiqige persistently asked, “Dad, why did you lock the door? Why didn’t you go to work this afternoon?”
Faced with the questioning, Bahu remained calm, “She fell asleep. Got up early in the morning, felt sleepy in the afternoon.” He asked them if they wanted water, “I’ll go get money to pay you for your work.”
Qiqige heard it inside the house. When Bahu came in, she followed behind him, probing, “How much is today’s wage?”
Bahu was in a good mood today, feeling content both physically and mentally. Feeling generous, he handed each of the three children a copper coin, “Go wash your hands. Once you’re clean, we’ll go eat.”
The three children happily carried their copper coins outside, counting them next door before heading to the kitchen to wash their hands.
Mi Niang lazily got up. The room was too warm, and she felt like lying down on the brick bed for a nap. With that thought in mind, she lay down on her stomach, closing her eyes and speaking in a hoarse voice, “Bring me back some food. I want to sleep for a while.”
The man glanced outside and walked over to knead her calf, “Don’t feel like walking?”
After the satisfying nap, Mi Niang, feeling too tense, experienced a leg cramp, making it difficult for her to walk at first.
Opening her eyes and looking at the man leaning over, she lifted her neck and pecked him on the corner of his mouth. After their playacting ceremony, she wanted to hug him whenever she saw him, and her eyes showed her desire to kiss and touch him, her heart and eyes full of him.
Seeing her relying on him like this, Bahu couldn’t bring himself to leave. He didn’t even want to go eat some casual meal. Lying in bed together, they embraced each other, stroking her back, fingers running through her slightly cool hair. As long as they were together, everything was fine.
As they lay together, their lips brushed against each other, murmuring words that were not quite clear. Heavy footsteps approached, and Bahu lightly nibbled before sitting up and looking at the two children stepping over the threshold. “Don’t want to go?”
“Yeah, I’m staying home with Habul.” The youngest was truly tired, having slept since returning from the Hu family. Bahu had gotten up before dawn this morning and hadn’t gone back to sleep after waking him up. It was fortunate he could sleep, avoiding disturbing his parents.
“Are you still going to the theater tonight?”
“Why wouldn’t we go to the theater? Who wouldn’t go to the theater?” Qiqige was puzzled. She walked to the edge of the brick bed and hugged Mi Niang’s leg, pushing and nudging her. “Mom, why are you lying on the bed again? Aren’t we supposed to go to the Hu’s Family for dinner?”
“Your mother needs to stay home to take care of your brother. Since she’s not going, I’ll take you two over there for dinner, and then you can stay there to watch the show.” Bahu changed his shoes and waved for the two kids to come out.
“What’s wrong with my brother? Can’t we bring him along… Oh, he’s going to cry again? Let’s hurry up and go.”
“Ajima, you go too. There are fewer guests at the Hufu’s tonight, so you should also go for dinner. After eating, you can all go watch the show together.”
With the creak of the door, the man’s voice grew more distant. Mimi sat up and removed her outer robe, waking up the youngest to help him urinate before putting him back on the bed. She took off her shoes and sat in the bed, joining her son under the covers, chatting quietly. Slowly, Mi Niang fell silent, lying down and sleeping with her body bent. Habul quietly chewed on his feet, rolling around on the kang, playing by himself.
When Bahu returned with the meal, only a little bit of the red candle remained on the table. He set down the bowls and fetched an oil lamp to light up the room.
“Is Mommy asleep? Which child in whose family is so well-behaved? Come, let Daddy hold you.” He re-tied Habul’s socks and lifted him up, patting his belly softly and asking him if he was hungry.
Mi Niang was awakened by the movements in front of her chest. She opened her eyes to see the man sitting on a stool beside the Kang, supporting the child lying on his side, while Habul was nursing in his arms. She shifted over a bit, holding the child as she sat up.
“Is it already dark outside?”
“Yeah, do you want some water?”
Mi Niang nodded, listening to the faint sound of drums and gongs, knowing that the opera troupe had already begun their performance.
Bahu placed the dishes and rice he brought back on the bamboo tray to heat them up, poured some boiling water and added a spoonful of honey. When he handed it to her, he smirked, “Feeling refreshed after a nap, huh? Feeling better now?”
Feeling much better indeed, Mi Niang smiled sweetly at him and took the water bowl, extending one arm coquettishly. “Let me hold you for a moment.”
So clingy, truly so clingy. Bahu loved her in this way, walking over to embrace the mother and son, holding them tight until the child finished nursing. Only then did he get up to serve the food.
During dinner, Bahu spun around with the youngest in the house, tickling him under the armpits and lifting him up high, making him giggle gleefully. The laughter floated out of the door and windows, escaping the small courtyard.
Hearing the sound of utensils being laid down, Bahu turned around and asked, “Are we still going to watch the opera?”
“Isn’t it time to go pick up Qiqige and Jiya? Since we have to make the trip anyway, I’ll go too.” After tonight, the opera troupe would be leaving, and Mi Niang wanted to take another look.
The two of them, along with the child in their arms, stepped out of the door. Da Huang, hearing the commotion, followed them, trotting around in the soft snow, but stopped near the Hu family’s house, pricking up his ears and tucking his tail. He barked twice and then quickly ran back.
“Hey, isn’t your dog from the Central Plains? Why is he scared of the opera?” Bahu exclaimed in surprise.
“Have you fed our dogs and the wild animals?” Mi Niang asked.
“They should have been fed. I asked Uncle Muren to take care of them. The food is ready-made, just heat it up in the pot.”
Once they entered the sheep pen where the opera was being performed, they fell silent. They stood by the fire pit where water was being heated. Because of the firelight illuminating the people coming and going to fetch water, they wouldn’t witness scenes as unsightly as the previous night. They quietly listened to the final act of the play.
After the play ended, the crowd didn’t immediately disperse. Seizing the opportunity, Bahu went to call the children who were looking for their parents everywhere, leading them out first, and stood at the spot where they had waited for the others the night before.
“Has Mommy not come out yet?” Jiya tiptoed, trying to look inside. The people on the stage were still in their colorful costumes adorned with gold, silver, and jade ornaments, and hadn’t left yet. She looked up and asked, “Has the play not ended yet?”
Bahu glanced sideways and saw the people on stage walking down, while those below picked up the warm benches they had been sitting on. “It’s over, they’re coming out.”
Mi Niang also came out, handing Habul to Bahu. She held one child in each hand and followed the crowd eastward. The snow had stopped tonight, and the moon emerged from the clouds, illuminating the vast snowfield. The crowd dispersed, and as they opened the doors to their homes, the creaking sound of the wooden doors no longer instilled fear. The dark blue brick houses lit up with lights, and the sound of people chatting no longer seemed eerie.
“Mom, what are we having for breakfast? Are we having braised pork noodles again?” Qiqige leaned against the door frame, wearing a distressed expression, saying she didn’t want noodles anymore.
“Go pull some spring onions for me,” Mi Niang grabbed a lump of dough and rolled it out with a rolling pin. “We’re not having noodles. I’m making pancakes, and I’ve made some brown sugar cakes that you love.”
The iron plate was placed on the stove, and melted butter was brushed onto it. The pancakes were placed on top and covered with a lid. Meanwhile, Mi Niang continued her actions, rolling out thin dough skins. She scooped two spoonfuls of brown sugar, then crushed some bean curd and mixed it together, wrapping it in the dough skin. All three of the children at home loved sweet things, so she made about ten of them before stopping.
Qiqige pulled some spring onions, cleaned them, and handed them over to the table. “Mom, when will the food be ready?”
“Go call your dad and your brother. They can eat once they’ve washed their hands.”
With Mi Niang cooking, Bahu had been tanning hides since the morning. A piece of cowhide lay in a large wooden basin, and he used a polished sheep horn and a scraper to remove the fat and minced meat from the skin.
Jiya brought a small stool and sat by the wooden bed, playing with the youngest. However, her eyes were fixed on his actions as she asked, “Once you’ve scraped off the fat and minced meat, can you make boots?”
“It’s not that simple. If you want to know, wake up earlier tomorrow and see how I proceed,” Bahu replied.
“I want to know too,” Qiqige bounced in, not minding the dirt, and squatted directly by the wooden basin to watch. “Mom said it’s time to eat.”
Bahu lifted the scraper, covered in black oil and rotten meat, up to Qiqige’s face. Seeing that she didn’t even flinch, he put his hand back down. “Girl, aren’t you disgusted by this? Your mom finds this stuff disgusting.”
Qiqige also found it disgusting, and the smell was unpleasant, stinky, and bitter. But cowhide could be sold for money, a lot of money. She quietly expressed her desire to learn, leaning on Bahu’s back and acting coquettishly: “Dad, if I learn it, will you pay me for tanning hides? One cowhide, one hundred taels.”
Bahu, always thinking about money, was hesitant to ask for a higher price due to his limited knowledge. Scraping a piece of cowhide took a long time, yet he only asked for one hundred Taels.
“Okay, when you learn it, I won’t do it anymore. I’ll leave it all to you and Jiya.” He couldn’t bear to refuse and raised the price, “Two hundred taels for one cowhide.”
“Dad, you’re so kind.”
“It’s not like I’m kind to everyone. After all, you’re my daughter.” Bahu stood up, bent over, carrying the little girl to wash her hands. “Hold on tight, don’t fall.”
After washing his hands, he went back to carry the bed with the little one to the kitchen, with Jiya walking behind, closing the door.
The pancakes were sliced and filled with braised beef, and a bit of leek sauce was added. The side dish was tofu mixed with spring onions. Each person had a bowl of butter tea. That was breakfast for the morning.
“Mum, Mum, Mum, hurry up and open the door!”
Hearing the voice, Mi Niang quickly pushed open the door, seeing Bahu bent over, carrying the little one on his back. He was panting heavily from exhaustion, while the chubby child hanging in the air found it amusing, giggling as she patted the wooden bed.
As they entered the house, Bahu squatted down, and Qiqige slipped off his back. After steadying herself, she immediately assigned tasks to her dad: “Today you carry me, tomorrow you carry my brother, the day after tomorrow carry me again, and the day after the day after tomorrow carry my brother again.”
“Are you going to pay?” Bahu interrupted the little girl and picked up the bowl of butter tea, taking a sip.
Qiqige choked, silent for a while. She sat down and started eating before asking, “Do I still need to pay?”
Without waiting for Bahu’s answer, Jiya shook her head and refused, “I’m grown up now, I don’t need to be carried.”
Bahu glanced at Mi Niang and chuckled, “Your son is really money-minded, a little miser. He only knows how to take, not give.”
Mi Niang glanced at Jiya and then asked Qiqige if she still wanted Bahu to carry her.
Qiqige looked at Jiya. She had twenty-seven fewer coins than him. She shook her head decisively, “I’ve grown legs, I won’t let Dad suffer.”
Her words were well-spoken. Even though it was because of being miserly, Bahu was pleased. After dinner, he took the children to the sheep pen to work. He carried one on his neck, held one in his arms, and carried one on his back, never mentioning money.
Mi Niang walked behind. Passing by the dog house, she peeked inside. Big Spot and Little Spot had moved into the house on the west with Da Hu and Xiao Mo. Nine mountain ferrets slept together. The ones from the mountains had grown a bit fatter. The three little ones had scabbed over their wounds.
They looked up when they heard movement, and when Big Spot and Little Spot stood up and wagged their tails, the short tails behind them also moved.
Mi Niang was surprised. She fetched a bucket of warm water to pour into their trough while boiling snow water. “Why do I feel like you guys are smarter than Big Spot and Little Spot?”
Naturally, they ignored her, lazily lying on the hay. They rested their heads on the trough, slowly licking the water, looking like they were waiting for death.
“Mi Niang, where did you go?” Bahu came out and called, seeing her coming out of the dog house. He complained with his arms crossed, “Didn’t I ask you to accompany me? When did you sneak away to play with the dogs?”
“I’m giving the ferrets some water.” Mi Niang carried a bucket of snow inside. Qiqige and Jiya were sitting by the stove, focused on burning fire and boiling water, their faces covered in soot.
“Leave them alone.” Bahu pulled her away. They had only been married for five days after the wedding, and during those days, his eyes were only on her. He wanted to hug her whenever he saw her, and he couldn’t wait to be intimate when they slept together.
“Do you think we should skip another round of marriage?” he muttered.
“Why? Are you addicted to marrying wives?” Mi Niang patted him and urged him to get back to work. “Stop thinking about unnecessary things all day.”
They were an old married couple now, being overly sticky was too cloying.
