As the Lele cart pulled into the middle of the village, it was surrounded by a group of dogs wagging their tails wildly, barking incessantly. The snow around was marked with their paw prints.
“Move along, move along, go back,” Bahu pushed aside the big yellow dog clinging to the Lele cart shafts with his whip. After braving the chilly winds all the way, speaking even caused his skin to sting.
“Woof—!” Da Huang stubbornly stared at the reins, its front paws on the Lele cart shafts, hind legs kicking in the snow. When the door opened revealing a familiar face, its ears perked back, its furry face filled with joy.
Mi Niang leaned out and patted its head, then grabbed Da Huang’s neck and called to Bahu, “Quick, help me pull Da Huang up.”
“We’re almost home.” Bahu couldn’t bear to treat this dog differently, but he had his own ideas. He hugged the dog’s belly and lifted it up. Sitting side by side with the dog on the Lele cart shafts, they were followed by a group of people both in front and behind the Lele cart.
People on the road greeted them enviously, “You’ve got a good bunch of dogs. They’ve been hanging around here since noon, probably waiting for you.”
“That’s probably it. When we left this morning, they wanted to come along, and they followed us all the way to the relief station before I chased them back.” Bahu was pleased with himself, reaching out to push Da Huang inward to prevent it from slipping down.
“Where are you coming back from? Did you go to pay New Year’s respects to your mother?”
The man’s smile tightened for a moment, then he nodded. “Yes, when the children were younger, we didn’t dare to go far in such cold weather. Now that they’re a bit older, we took them to pay New Year’s respects to my mother and younger uncle.”
His answer was calm, shutting down the nosy expressions of onlookers.
As the carriage passed through lively areas and approached home, Big Spot, Little Spot, Da Hu, and Xiao Mo heard the commotion and ran from the east side of the courtyard. They leaped in the snow, reaching half the height of a person in one jump, and within a few steps, they rushed to the front of the Lele cart, emitting a tender bark, seeking attention.
“Big Spot!” Jiya opened the window and leaned out, reaching out to pat its head. “Grandpa must have made something delicious for you guys at noon, right? Is it pure lamb? No added rice, right?”
With dogs blocking the front and mountain weasels clinging to the Lele cart, Bahu looked around and muttered, “It’s only been a day since we left not ten or eight years.”
No one paid attention to his sour complaint. As he got down from the Lele cart, Little Spot jumped onto the shafts, followed closely by Da Hu and Xiao Mo, squatting on the shafts alongside Da Huang.
Pandi came out with a bucket of water and saw Bahu leading the horse through the snow, with dogs and mountain weasels crowded on the Lele cart shafts, squinting and looking up. The south window of the Lale cart was open, and Qiqige and Jiya leaned out to watch Big Spot leaping in the snow.
“Have you become a horseman now?” she teased with a smile.
Bahu shook his head with a sigh, glancing back with nothing to say. He wasn’t even as good as a horseman; at least a horseman had a seat.
At the doorstep, without waiting for anyone to speak, Little Spot jumped down with Da Hu and Xiao Mo, followed closely by Da Huang, standing in the snow, waiting for the mistress and young master to get off the carriage.
“Auntie Pandi, Happy New Year,” Jiya got off the carriage and greeted, offering auspicious words, wishing good health and happiness.
Qiqige also jumped down, scattering a handful of snow lazily. “Auntie, my brother’s wishes are also mine, double the blessings.”
Pandi chuckled at her teasing and waved the children into her house. “Children came to pay New Year’s respects in the morning, and since you didn’t come, I saved some food for you.”
Bahu carried Habul into the house, and when Mi Niang got off the carriage, he hurried the carriage to the sheep pen, untied the reins of the horse, and parked the Lele cart in the empty pen.
“Master, you’re back?” The servant working in the sheep pen straightened up to speak. “Several waves of children came to your house to pay New Year’s respects this morning. Your house was left open, and they said they would come back in the afternoon.”
Bahu had already heard the children’s voices from the wind, and he hurried back. He met two children coming out from Pandi’s house, but they didn’t stop, heading straight towards the children coming this way.
“Some children came to pay New Year’s respects. Where are the household items? Bring them out.” He shouted to Mi Niang as soon as he entered the house. “I’ll scoop the yogurt, you bring out the pine nuts, peanuts, and candies.”
Children go door-to-door on cold days, hoping for tasty treats, while adults enjoy the festive atmosphere.
As soon as the table was set, Qiqige and Jiya led a group of children in. Big Spot and Little Spot also squeezed in, their eyes fixed on the table as people exchanged auspicious words.
“My mother made pine nut candy. Come and have some.” Qiqige generously invited, feeding one to Habul before serving the rest to others. She boasted, “My mother already made us a jar before the New Year. Help yourselves. After we finish, my mother will make us more.”
“Your mother is so nice. My mother can’t make these. She only knows how to brew milk wine, which isn’t tasty.”
“My mother can also make stirred sugar.” Jiya also admired her mother and proudly explained, “Replace pine nuts with peanuts, and it becomes peanut candy. Replace them with sunflower seeds, and it’s sunflower seed candy. Replace them with hazelnuts, and it’s hazelnut candy. Which one do you like? Next year, I want to eat sunflower seed candy.”
Mi Niang also gave a face to the children. Seeing the sugar cubes on the plate were gone, she grabbed two handfuls more. The malt candy she made was unique to Wan’er, and the children came through the snow mainly for this treat.
Bahu also brought over yogurt, thickly drizzled with flower honey and sprinkled with pear slices. “If you get tired of sweets, have some yogurt to balance it out. If you’re thirsty, just let me know, and I’ll pour you some water.”
“Your parents are really nice,” a child whispered to Jiya. “Your house is the most hospitable and generous in the whole village. We always have the best food when we come to your house.”
Ji Ya glanced at her father, her chest swelling with pride. She became even more warm and attentive, handing out fruit trays to her friends, curiously asking, “How many houses did you visit this morning? Whose house had the best food?”
Mi Niang and Bahu walked out, making room for the children to chat, but they didn’t go far, standing outside the gate, treading on the snow, flattening the paw prints left by cats and dogs.
Bahu glanced inside the house and sure enough, as soon as they left, the children inside were sneakily feeding Big Spot and Little Spot yogurt mixed with honey.
“Full of mischief,” he muttered to himself. “No wonder Big Spot and Little Spot have gained more weight. They’re always thinking about food.”
Mi Niang saw more children coming from the east, and as they approached, she recognized White Plum and Magnolia’s son, his little face red from the cold wind.
“Come play at my house. I have many children at home,” she invited.
“Auntie, we came specifically to your house,” White Plum’s son, following his father’s boldness, was a brave child and spoke with confidence. He led Zhong Xuwen to the threshold and shouted before even entering, “Jiya, Qiqige, Zhong Xuwen and I are here. Is there still pine nut candy?”
“You’re making a pot of malt candy, and your son and daughter are probably bragging about it all over the village,” Bahu scoffed.
“That’s because my skills are good, and my son and daughter have something to brag about,” Mi Niang snorted.
“I didn’t say anything. Look at you, getting all defensive,” Bahu retorted.
Mi Niang gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re just jealous.”
“Jealous of what? What do I have to be jealous of?” This hit a nerve with the man. He stiffened his neck, refusing to admit defeat. “I don’t even like that stuff. I’m definitely not jealous.”
Mi Niang clicked her tongue a few times. Seeing him desperately trying to save face, she became flustered and unable to articulate properly.
Bahu inexplicably felt his face heat up. He kicked away a pile of snow at his feet, turned his face aside with a smile, and then quickly suppressed it. “Why are you clicking your tongue? Cut it out. If you have something to say, just say it, instead of acting all mysterious.”
“Acting mysterious?” Mi Niang nudged him with her elbow. “I should really bring out a bronze mirror and let you see how sour you look. Da Huang ignores you, and when you try to pull it, you grumble a few words, putting on an unwilling expression. When you don’t get special treatment from Da Huang, you get off the Lele cart and want to walk with Big Spot and Little Spot, only to find out you’ve given up your seat to others…”
“Hey hey hey!” Bahu reached out and covered her mouth, loudly interrupting her words. In his eyes, filled with playful teasing, his ears turned red. Despite this, he remained defiant. “Nonsense. Do you Bahu hesitated for a moment, then let go of her hand and turned to go inside. “I’m not going to argue with you.”
“Don’t go, let’s talk a bit more,” Mi Niang hugged his waist, not letting him leave, and continued speaking at an extremely fast pace. “Big Spot and Little Spot didn’t give you face. They went inside and coaxed yogurt from the children to eat, and you couldn’t stand it, so you had to say something. Our son and daughter are everywhere bragging about how delicious the pine nut candy I made is, and how I can make many more candies, without mentioning your help. You couldn’t help but feel jealous again.”
“Am I that petty?” Bahu broke free from her grasp, turning back to explain, but seeing her expression that clearly said ‘I know what you’re thinking’, he suddenly stopped talking, covering his face and laughing. “That’s all nonsense. I don’t have such thoughts.”
“Yes, you are,” Mi Niang also laughed, the more she thought about it, the more she laughed. “Bahu, you really are… petty, narrow-minded, even though you’re a father, you still love to be jealous, not only jealous of the children but also caring about every little thing, even the cats and dogs.” She laughed so hard that her voice trembled.
Bahu wanted to cover her mouth again, but his hands were too busy covering his own face. He squatted against the wall, burying his head and laughing quietly, muttering to himself, “Stop talking nonsense.”
Mi Niang didn’t argue with him either. Leaning against him, she squatted down together, grabbed a handful of snow, and threw it at him, making a ‘tsk’ sound each time she threw it.
“Let me see if I can melt the snow with your ears.”
Bahu refused, unable to win with words, he could only resort to action, grabbing her hand and pressing it against his leg. “Why are you just like our son, always biting people?” With one hand holding Mi Niang’s head against his chest, now she could only move her feet, while he sat in the snow. I care about them? Ridiculous.”
“Then stop covering my mouth,” Mi Niang mumbled indistinctly, gesturing with raised eyebrows for him to let go.
“Uncle, Auntie, what are you…” The child who came out of the house and saw the two of them huddled in the corner froze. “You’re both grown-ups and still sitting in the snow fighting?”
“This isn’t fighting, it’s just playing around,” Bahu released Mi Niang, but he didn’t get up. He remained sitting in the snow with his legs stretched out. It wasn’t like they were doing something shameful and got caught by the children, so he remained calm. “Are you guys heading back?”
“Yeah, we’ve been out for a while.”
“If my mother scolds me for playing in the snow again, I’ll just say that Jiya’s dad and mom were playing around in the snow too.” The implication was that if adults can play, why can’t kids?
Because of this remark, Bahu received another not-so-light punch. He didn’t mind, extending his hand to let Qiqige and Jiya pull him up. “Your dad is being jealous…”
“Alright, alright, I misspoke.” Bahu hastily interrupted her, not even having time to brush off the snow on his pants. Surrendering and changing his tune, he said, “It’s me who bullied your mom! I bullied her!”
Qiqige helped him brush off the snow from behind, speaking with seriousness and wisdom, “Dad, you said you were just playing around, we’re not two-year-old fools, we won’t be fooled by you.”
Two-year-old fools?
One little fool was inside the house holding a bowl of yogurt, using his fingers to scoop up the yogurt from the bottom of the bowl and feed it to Big Spot and Little Spot to lick. When he saw someone coming in, he giggled.
“You’re going to get a beating.” Bahu raised his hand to scare him, and Big Spot and Little Spot, feeling guilty, slinked along the wall and slipped outside.
Due to the jealousy and vinegar incident, Bahu didn’t even give them a glance. He glared at his youngest son, picked up the bowl, and took it to the kitchen to wash.
Mi Niang took Habul to wash his hands. “Don’t touch the mouths of Big Spot and Little Spot. If I catch you doing it again, I’ll spank you.”
“My brother and sister did it.”
“I touched Big Spot’s head, not its mouth,” Jiya said loudly.
“Touching their mouths will get your fingers bitten off.” Mi Niang threatened the youngest, wiping him dry and letting him follow Qiqige and Jiya back to the house. It didn’t matter if he touched Big Spot and Little Spot or Da Hu and Xiao Mo’s mouths, she was just worried that he would get used to it and touch the ones from the mountains.
“Are you full at noon?” Bahu brought in frozen dumplings. “What should we cook for dinner? There’s still leftover chicken soup from last night. Should we add noodles to the chicken soup? Or boil the dumplings together with a couple of spoonfuls of meatballs? Or make dumplings?”
“I don’t mind, anything is fine. Go ask your three kids.” Mi Niang saw that there was still hot water in the copper pot and brought in a basin to pour water. “I want to change my clothes and wash my feet first.”
“Feeling cold?”
“A bit, my boots got wet.”
Bahu went out to ask the three kids whether they wanted noodles or dumplings, and hearing them all say they wanted dumplings, he brought frozen dumplings back into the house.
“Qiqige, Jiya, I’m going to soak my feet and change my shoes, do you want to join me?” As for Habul, Mi Niang directly called him over to wash.
“Yes, yes.” The siblings carried their cotton shoes and went to the adjacent room. After washing their feet and taking off their woolen coats and felt skirts, they put on lightweight camel wool jackets and pants and climbed onto the parents’ bed, burying their heads in the quilt and taking a deep breath. “It smells so good.”
“What smells good?”
“It’s the fragrance on you, mom.” Qiqige pulled the quilt over himself, rolling around in the bed, and asked in a muffled voice, “Mom, when will Ajima come back?”
“Probably in the next few days.” Last year, Ajima returned as soon as the ewes gave birth.
The dumplings cooked quickly, and after the mom soaked her feet and changed clothes, Bahu brought in a table. “We’ll eat in this room tonight. Everyone stays seated and doesn’t come out. I’ll bring the food in.”
“Oh, thank you so much, East Master.”
“There’s no need to thank me so much, I should do what I should do.” He brought in two bowls of boiled dumplings first. “Eat first, don’t wait.”
Mi Niang didn’t move until he brought the children’s meals. Only when the whole family was seated did they start eating?
“Oh, there are meatballs too.” Qiqige poked a beef meatball and blew on it.
Mi Niang glanced at Bahu. This father was indeed thoughtful. Since the children wanted dumplings, he also cooked some meatballs.
She stirred her bowl, mixing in two fish meatballs as well.
