With Jiya leading the way and accompanied by their parents, Qiqige’s movements when mounting the horse were very agile. Sitting on the tall horse, she smiled at her brother, who had a red face and sweaty nose, and clenched her fists to encourage herself, “Brother, I will definitely learn faster than you.”
Jiya snorted without anger and instructed, “Don’t mess around, listen to Dad.”
Both children were four years old, and Qiqige was taller than Jiya. She wasn’t afraid. Following Bahu’s instructions, she closely observed the front as the horse moved. Bahu accompanied them for a while, gradually letting go of the reins but still riding alongside them to protect them.
Learning to ride a horse for the first time, and taking a break after a cup of tea was considered quite long. When Qiqige dismounted, her legs went weak, and she sat on the ground. Her first reaction was to look at her father.
“Come.” Bahu reached out his hand. “Dad will help you up.”
Father and daughter walked slowly hand in hand. Bahu, tired from taming two horses, felt soreness in his legs and knees, and his gait lacked its usual vigor.
Jiya ran over and grabbed Bahu’s other hand, comforting her sister with a tilt of his head. “Rest for a while, I also felt my legs trembling when I dismounted.”
“I’m feeling much better now.” Qiqige insisted.
Although she said so, when the siblings came together, she suddenly leaned on Jiya’s shoulder, causing him to stagger forward. They both fell to the ground. Blades of grass tilted over their faces, and startled insects flew aimlessly before being swept away by the wind.
“Brother, is your hand hurting?” Qiqige placed both hands on her face, palms red and swollen from the friction of the reins.
Jiya also extended both hands, looking through the gaps at the clouds moving in the sky, shaped by the wind like water in a river. A tuft of wool blew onto his face, causing him to close his eyes and mouth. When he dismounted, he felt his thighs trembling, wanting to kneel down and rub them, but thinking of Qiqige, he gritted his teeth and endured it.
After packing up, Mi Niang tied the leather pants and reins to the back of the big black horse. Seeing the man sitting by the river, rolling up his pants to wash his feet while holding the little youngest, she sat down and asked, “Master, are you tired?”
stared at her meaningfully for a moment, smoothed his disheveled hair with wet hands, and leaned back to look at the cattle and sheep grazing nearby. He chuckled, “Master? Others can call me that, but you? No way. In front of you, I’m just a waiter, a servant. Isn’t that right?”
“It’s your fortune to be my servant. You, a lackey, even dare to laugh when the boss is asleep.”
Bahu laughed at that comment, thinking there was no need to laugh secretly. Just as he chuckled, he suddenly felt a pain in his leg. “Ouch!” he exclaimed, surprising Habul, who looked up at him, still holding a strand of leg hair in his hand.
“Are you asking for trouble again?” Bahu pointed a finger at him but ultimately didn’t scold him, patting his bottom and shooing him away. “You’re restless when you’re quiet, a real troublemaker.”
Habul ignored him, turning around and sitting in his mother’s lap, then started pulling out grass and tossing it into the water. Lacking strength, he was blown away by the wind and scattered. The two people next to him couldn’t escape either.
Mi Niang pushed her youngest son away and stood up, brushing off the grass from her head and reaching out to pull Bahu up. “Let’s go, today I’ll let you enjoy the treatment of a master.”
“What treatment?”
Mi Niang didn’t answer, instead whistling. Not far away, the big black horse lowered its head to nibble on grass, then trotted over.
“You taught my son and daughter how to ride horses, so today I’ll lead the horse for you.”
“Wow, truly a family affair.” Bahu lifted the little youngest and stepped onto the horse, showing no signs of fatigue in his movements.
Habul’s high-pitched call attracted both Qiqige and Jiya. The two of them ran over, stretching out their hands and asking their dad to pull them up. “I also want to ride back on the horse. I can’t walk anymore.”
Qiqige sat behind Bahu, hugging him, while Jiyah sat behind Qiqige, hugging her. The four of them rode on one horse, with the reins held by the woman walking through the grass. The black horse chewed on grass as it leisurely made its way back. Meanwhile, the two newly tamed horses huffed and clacked their teeth, swishing their tails as they followed behind.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” Baoyin’s Dad came out carrying a bag, puzzled as he looked at the women leading the horse while the men leisurely rode. His eyes scanned them up and down with hesitation, guessing, “Is Bahu not feeling well somewhere on his body?”
“No, I lost a bet to him, so I’m leading the horse for him,” Mi Niang casually gave a reason. “What are you going to do?”
“I need to shear the sheep again. I’ll go brand the newly born cattle and sheep first. Is your family done with their tasks?” Bahu asked.
“Not yet. We’re planning to start in a few days,” Mi Niang replied as they reached the door, and Bahu dismounted, then helped each child down.
After some greetings, Baoyin’s Dad continued on his way, but hearing a rough call, he turned back. It was the badger sleeping in the sun on the hillside who had woken up and was now scrambling back home like a dog.
Qiqige and Jiya also heard the commotion and hurriedly stuffed chunks of honey-soaked bread into the horse’s mouth. “Eat quickly, eat quickly, the bandits are coming.”
They also shouted into the house, “Mom, Big Spot and Little Spot are back.”
“I know.” Mi Niang reopened the honey jar she had just closed, scooped two spoonfuls of honey into a bowl, added some water, and carried it out. The badgers went hunting at night and didn’t lack food or drink. The grassland was vast, so they slept in a different place every day, never repeating a spot throughout the year. But these nine badgers had their eyes set on the hillside two miles across the river. They lay there sunbathing and sleeping every day, their ears perked up, listening for any activity in the house. Once they heard horses and camels returning, they eagerly ran back, craving that taste of honey.
As the people went out, the badgers arrived, stretching lazily and sniffing the familiar scent, wagging their tails as they came.
“No, I lost a bet to him, so I’m leading the horse for him,” Mi Niang casually gave a reason. “What are you going to do?”
“I need to shear the sheep again. I’ll go brand the newly born cattle and sheep first. Is your family done with their tasks?” Bahu asked.
“Not yet. We’re planning to start in a few days,” Mi Niang replied as they reached the door, and Bahu dismounted, then helped each child down.
After some greetings, Baoyin’s Dad continued on his way, but hearing a rough call, he turned back. It was the badger sleeping in the sun on the hillside who had woken up and was now scrambling back home like a dog.
Qiqige and Jiya also heard the commotion and hurriedly stuffed chunks of honey-soaked bread into the horse’s mouth. “Eat quickly, eat quickly, the bandits are coming.”
They also shouted into the house, “Mom, Big Spot and Little Spot are back.”
“I know.” Mi Niang reopened the honey jar she had just closed, scooped two spoonfuls of honey into a bowl, added some water, and carried it out. The badgers went hunting at night and didn’t lack food or drink. The grassland was vast, so they slept in a different place every day, never repeating a spot throughout the year. But these nine badgers had their eyes set on the hillside two miles across the river. They lay there sunbathing and sleeping every day, their ears perked up, listening for any activity in the house. Once they heard horses and camels returning, they eagerly ran back, craving that taste of honey.
As the people went out, the badgers arrived, stretching lazily and sniffing the familiar scent, wagging their tails as they came.
“Lick it a bit, eating too much will make you sick.” Mi Niang pushed away Big Spot’s head and brought Little Spot over. The others who hadn’t had their turn yet stared eagerly, their small minds only allowing for a quick lick. If their tongues lingered too long or dripped onto the ground, they would be scolded.
After licking the coarse black pottery bowl clean, leaving no trace of sweetness, Big Spot and Little Spot turned to each other and busied themselves licking the fur around their mouths. They looked pitiful, and Mi Niang couldn’t bear to watch, as if they hadn’t eaten for ten days or half a month.
When Qiqige and Jiya gave the horses water and groomed their coats again, the three horses left one after another. Only then did Big Spot and Little Spot relax and leave, fearing that their owner would give the horses special treatment while they were away.
Bahu chopped the bones and put them in the pot to boil. Hearing footsteps approaching, he looked up and asked, “Are they all gone?”
“They’re gone.” Mi Niang placed the coarse black pottery bowl on the wooden box. “These two days, we’ll shear the sheep and cattle. The camels ran away in fright. If they were still here, they would need a bowl of honey each.”
Bahu chuckled softly. “You watch the fire. I’ll go out to wash the vegetables and bring in two buckets of water.”
With both stoves burning, one simmering bones and the other boiling water, they took the opportunity to wash the children’s hair before the meat was fully cooked.
“Are we still hiring someone to shear the sheep this year?” Mi Niang asked, gesturing for Qiqige to sit on the nearby stool. “Let your hair dry before going out to play. It’s a headache to have wet hair in the wind.” Because the courtyard was sheltered by felt, there was hardly any wind, and it was warm and cozy sitting next to the felt.
“No, we won’t. We have quite a few new servants this year. After castrating the cattle and sheep, there’s only butter-making left, which isn’t too strenuous. We’ll let them shear the sheep after they finish making butter.” Bahu hooked his arm around Mi Niang’s shoulder inside the house, glanced outside, and fed her a piece of beef. “Are you hungry? How’s the seasoning?”
“The seasoning is just right, but it needs a bit more cooking time. Cattle are raised on the grasslands, after the meat is fully cooked, the fat is a light yellow color, and the oil is thin with a chewy texture. Beef stew needs to simmer for a long time.”
“I’ll tend to the fire, you go wash your hair.”
The man sat still, glanced at the remaining water in the pot lazily, and furrowed his brow, “It’s hot out. I’ll go wash my hair and take a bath in the river. The leftover water can be used later to bathe the children, saving some firewood, right?”
“Can you afford to stew the beef but not burn the cow dung? Do you lack that bit of fire?” Mi Niang gave him a cold glance. “Just wash at home.”
It was too troublesome to fetch water to wash his hair. Bahu didn’t want to move. With his long and thick hair, it would take a while just to soak it properly. If there was too little water, it wouldn’t wet the hair, and if there was too much, it would spill over.
In order not to wash his hair in the house, he came up with excuses: “My back hurts, I can’t bend over. I strained it while training the horses earlier.”
Knowing he was making excuses, Mi Niang still couldn’t help but scrutinize him repeatedly. “Does it really hurt?”
“It really does.”
“Qiqige, Jiya.” She shouted outside, “Your father hurt his back while riding, he can’t bend over to wash his hair. Both of you help him.”
“Hurt his back? Coming!” Qiqige came in with a wooden basin. The children didn’t understand what it meant to hurt one’s back and asked how to wash their hair while standing.
“Bring out a stool and have him lie down.” Mi Niang pinched the man and scolded him. “Enjoy being served by your children. Understand?”
Bahu couldn’t help but laugh. At this moment, he felt like the true head of the family.
“Well… boss, I’m sorry. Am I taking advantage of your children’s service?” He pretended to be coy as if trying to sell himself after gaining an advantage.
Mi Niang gave him a sideways glance without saying a word, then scooped up a lump of dry cow dung into the stove. Being kind-hearted, she helped the two children carry a basin of water outside.
Qiqige and Jiya were excited, with towels draped over the back of the chair and a comb made of cow horn beside them. They grabbed some tea bran powder and mixed it with water. Using tea bran powder to wash their hair was something Mi Niang introduced after she arrived. Many people from the Central Plains who came from Lingshan were used to washing their hair with tea bran powder, and the traders brought tea bran powder to the grasslands of the Mobei.
Jiya washed the bowl licked by the mountain ferrets and brought it over. She scooped water and poured it over her father’s head, then pretended to use her fingers to scratch and massage, saying, “Dad, if it hurts, you have to tell me.”
“Okay, okay.” Three “okays” in response showed his satisfaction.
Passing by, Bao Yin’s father saw Bahu sleeping on the stool, with the two children squatting on the ground, massaging his head. At just one glance, he felt envious. As neighbors for nearly ten years, he knew Bahu’s changes the best. The man who used to shout and fight had not raised his voice after marrying and having children. The couple had never quarreled or fought.
Smelling the aroma of meat wafting in the wind, he shook his head and continued walking back. “Are the children out of school?”
Bao Yin’s mother looked at the sky. “Are you silly? The sun hasn’t set yet. It’s still a while before the children are dismissed.”
“Let the children wash my hair tonight.”
“Didn’t you just wash it in the river yesterday?”
“Can’t I have another wash? If not, you can wash it for me.”
Bao Yin’s mother didn’t say a word and turned away. She was dizzy, acting like a master when she came home.
Next door, Mi Niang lifted the lid of the pot and tasted another piece of meat. She kneaded a lump of dough, flattened it, and stuck it to the edge of the pot. She covered the flame and slowly simmered it over low heat, just in time for Ajima to come back from school.
The sound of horse hooves returned. The most leisurely Habul greeted them first. The person lying inside washing his hair also sat up. “I really have the fate of a runner, being served and still feeling tired.” He put down the towel used to dry his hair, and the white cotton cloth was stained with dirty water. His scalp was even wrinkled from the washing. How come he still wasn’t clean?
Looking at the excited children, all his doubts vanished in an instant. Bahu carried the basin into the house and scooped water, pretending to thank the two children, “Just lying down like that, my back doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Qiqige and Jiya have become miracle doctors?” Mi Niang chuckled, crossing her arms.
“Miracle doctors who owe money.” He muttered.
He washed his hair quickly, and Mi Niang lifted the lid of the pot and scooped out the cakes. Then she scooped out the beef bones into a basin. “Wash your hands, it’s time to eat.”
During dinner, Qiqige and Jiya chatted to Ajima about learning to ride horses today. Now they were honest, “My legs were weak when dismounting, and they still hurt a bit now, throbbing.”
“After dinner, I’ll scoop some hot water for you two to soak in the tub for a while, then I’ll massage you, and you’ll feel better tomorrow.” Bahu scraped out the marrow oil from the beef bones with a spoon and gave it to the children to eat.
Ajima looked at Jiya and Qiqige with some sympathy. When he came back from bathing in the river and was drying his clothes, he indeed heard screams and cries of pain coming from the felt.
“Ouch, ouch, Dad, stop rubbing.” Jiya grimaced and tried to crawl towards the bed, but her leg was pulled back.
“Just endure it a little longer. It hurts now, but it won’t hurt tomorrow morning. Otherwise, it’ll hurt for days.”
Habul stood there blankly, suddenly rushing forward to grab his father’s leg and pull it, his chubby cheeks wrinkling into a ball, but even with all his strength, he couldn’t budge Bahu an inch.
“What are you doing?” Bahu let go of Jiya, and picked up his eldest daughter who was being held by Mi Niang, “Stop dawdling, your brother needs to sleep.”
“Dad, I’m afraid of pain, don’t rub it anymore, waah!” Qiqige was on the verge of tears from the pain.
“N-no hitting!” Habul yelled loudly, thinking Bahu was hitting Qiqige, patting Bahu’s leg and shouting, “Dad is bad, so bad!”
Huh?
Everyone froze this time. Qiqige stopped crying, Bahu let go, bent down to pick up his younger son, and despite his struggles, slapped his bottom, “Did I raise a little ingrate?”
He was itching with anger, but Qiqige loved it. She hugged her chubby brother and kissed him, “He’s not an ingrate, he’s a sweetie.”
