FMLB Chapter 172

Extra Chapter 27

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 9, Sunny

 

Bobo said that the grandpas at the nursing home grow grains when they have nothing else to do. If we buy vegetables from there, we can get a ten percent discount.

 

Previously, Ruge and I mostly shopped online or grew some vegetables ourselves. Upon hearing Bobo’s suggestion, I decided to support their business in the future.

 

Recently, Bobo and Baldy have been learning about mechas, and they’ve already learned how to control them to fly.

 

Although Baldy’s small wings can’t fly very well, the mecha can fly steadily. Every time Baldy operates his small mecha, he does so ceremoniously, saying, “Little Baldy, launch!”

 

Yes, Baldy’s mecha is called “Little Baldy.” 

 

Originally, Baldy gave himself the name “Little Baldy” for his wings, but since his wings couldn’t fly very well, he shared this name with the mecha, hoping that under the guidance of the mecha, his small wings could also fly well.

 

After hearing the name Baldy gave, Bobo also gave a code name to his mecha, calling it “Little Bo.”

 

Both mechas are pure black, basic models. Last time, I went to the Federal Military Academy and brought back several cans of metallic paint, preparing to paint Baldy and Bobo’s mechas.

 

Baldy was excited when he saw the paint. He happily told me that he could doodle on his own, but he was undecided about what to paint.

 

“I’m called Feixing (‘Flying Star’), so I’ll draw some little stars!” 

 

Baldy suddenly had an idea and decisively made this decision, also suggesting to Bobo, “Brother is called Zhuoyue (‘Bathed Moon’), so Brother can draw little moons.”

 

Baldy drew many small stars on his own mecha. The method of drawing the stars was simple, using silver paint to depict each star in the form of a cross.

 

Bobo followed Baldy’s suggestion, and the two youngsters lowered their heads together, earnestly painting with paint.

 

I suddenly remembered when Baldy asked me before why he needed to learn art if he didn’t want to become an artist in the future. He felt that language and math were enough. 

 

At that time, I didn’t know how to answer him.

 

Now I know the answer. 

 

Sometimes, the things we learn are not necessities of life, but they can embellish our lives.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 18, Cloudy

 

Today, Zhi Zhi came to my house, and Fuxi told me that Zhi Zhi had met his biological parents and the hamster cubs. After meeting them, Zhi Zhi really wanted to see Bobo and Baldy, so Fuxi hurried over with Zhi Zhi.

 

Coincidentally, Baldy had just learned to fly, so he carried Zhi Zhi on his back, flying crookedly here and there with Zhi Zhi.

 

They played outside all day. When they came back, Bobo was fine, but Baldy was dirty. When I went to bathe Baldy, the water flushed out was all gray.

 

I bathed Baldy three times in a row. Baldy enjoyed it. He lay comfortably in the bathtub with a small towel on his forehead, blowing air at the dozen little yellow ducks floating on the water’s surface. I told Baldy to stop blowing, and he obediently raised his posterior for me to clean.

 

After washing Baldy, I bathed Bobo. Bobo arranged the small yellow ducks floating on the water’s surface into a row and sang in his cute voice, “Under the big bridge in front of the door, swims a group of ducks. Come quickly, come quickly, count one, two, four, six, seven, eight~”

 

“Quack, quack, so many, so many~ Can’t count how many ducks there are~ Can’t count how many ducks there are~”

 

While Baldy was drying, he heard the singing coming from the bathroom and happily quacked along with Bobo. 

 

His voice was so loud that I could hear him say to Ruge, “Papa, I want to wear little yellow duck underwear!”

 

“And wear a little yellow hat too!”

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 19, Sunny

 

The weather is getting colder. I’m fine with how much I’m wearing, but Baldy and Bobo should wear a bit more.

 

I wrapped the youngsters up tightly. Baldy told me that only the path to school was cold; once inside the classroom, it wasn’t cold, so there was no need to wear so thickly. I touched his little hand and found that Baldy’s hands were indeed warm.

 

I also pinched Bobo’s hand, which was somewhat cold. Since I was wearing a pocketed jacket, I let Bobo put both of his little hands into my pockets.

 

After seeing this, Baldy quickly stuffed his hands into the same pocket, and four small hands filled my pockets to the brim. 

 

I suggested that Baldy use the other pocket, but he refused, saying, “I want to hold hands with my brother!”

 

“But you said you weren’t cold,” I said to Baldy.

 

Baldy stuck to me and Bobo, sticky as he said, “But Brother is cold, so I’ll help Brother warm his hands.”

 

I hugged the two youngsters, spread my wings, and flew to the kindergarten. Baldy lay in my arms and said to Bobo, “Brother, when I grow up and my wings grow bigger, I’ll take you flying.”

 

Ruge didn’t like to adjust the temperature, preferring fresh air. So when we slept at night, I turned into my beast form to keep them warm. Ruge and Bobo lay on my belly, while Baldy lay on Ruge’s body.

 

This way, they were all on my belly, and this realization made me feel very reassured.

 

In the past, when Ruge told fairy tales, he said that dragons liked gold coins and even had to sleep on them. At this moment, I suddenly empathized with the dragon. Only by placing the most important and precious things next to me, in direct contact with my belly, could I feel their presence with every breath and sleep soundly until dawn.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 20, Sunny

 

Today, Bobo filled his large fish tank with water and soaked inside, contemplating life. I walked over and touched the tank wall with my hand, feeling that the water temperature was not very high, so I thought about adding some hot water for Bobo.

 

But adding hot water made me feel like I was cooking fish in water…

 

In the end, I decided to take Bobo, Baldy, and Ruge to soak in a hot spring.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 23, Sunny

 

The temperature has been getting lower recently, so tonight we turned on the temperature regulator. I saw the weather forecast saying that it would snow in a few days.

 

Baldy was excited when he heard this and checked every day to see if the snow had come. He said he wanted to make snowmen, snow houses, and have snowball fights…

 

If it really snows, Baldy is probably going to go crazy playing in it.

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 24, Cloudy

 

Ruge and I bought hats, scarves, and gloves online.

 

Today, I put on a tiger-head hat for Baldy. This hat was yellow and black, and the matching gloves were shaped like tiger paws. Baldy was initially very happy after putting on this outfit. However, after wearing it for a while, he said he wanted to wear the little yellow duck outfit.

 

I said to Baldy, “You’re a tiger. Why do you want to wear a little yellow duck outfit?”

 

Baldy argued confidently, “I’m already a little tiger. I’ve seen enough of it. Won’t you get tired of seeing Little Tiger Baldy every day?”

 

I said, “You wear little yellow duck underwear every day. Aren’t you tired of seeing that?”

 

Baldy blushed and shyly covered his little butt, saying, “Underwear is not worn outside of pants, so you can’t see it. If you can’t see it, how can you get tired of it?”

 

He’s quite good at arguing, but I’m too lazy to argue with him.

 

As Ruge helped Bobo tie his little bunny scarf on the side, he laughed, “Wearing underwear outside makes you Superman.”

 

When Ruge gave Baldy a little cape, he mentioned that Superman wears a cape and explained to Baldy what Superman means – a hero who saves the world.

 

Baldy hesitated with his hand on his butt, “Then… then should I wear my little yellow duck underpants outside?”

 

Stellar Calendar 278, October 27, Clear

 

“Dad, it’s snowing!” The first thing I heard when I woke up in the morning was Bobo’s joyful announcement of snow. Bobo was always the earliest riser in the family. He pulled open the curtains, excitedly pointing to the snowy white world outside the window.

 

It’s snowing. This is the first snow of the winter this year.

 

The mountains hundreds of miles away were white, and a thin layer of snow covered the purple forest outside the window. 

 

Ruge said, “Suddenly, like a spring breeze overnight, thousands of trees and pear blossoms bloom,” and the continuous purple forest seemed to burst into white flowers.

 

Baldy, who used to be the biggest bed-lover, jumped up with the speediest effort in his life, shouting loudly, “Ah ah ah—snow?! Where?! Let me see!!!”

 

Bobo pushed open the window, and the cold wind rushed into the room, cold and wintry. Bobo breathed on his hand and happily made a viewing spot for Baldy.

 

Baldy eagerly looked out the window, silent snowflakes falling from high above, the world outside the window was silent, I once saw snow outside the window when I was seriously ill, feeling too desolate, at that time I felt that people and snow are actually the same, snow originally in the sky, high up, away from the world, troubles of humanity, but fall into the world, fall into the dust.

 

And people, they’re like that too.

 

In past winters, I would draw the curtains, not go out, stay in the room alone, just like that for a winter, at that time I always felt that winter was very long, boring and long, life was also long, uninteresting and long. Later on I discovered I might not live long, pain became long.

 

Outside the window is a world of snow and ice, my heart is also the same ice and snow.

 

But Bobo and Baldy obviously don’t think so. They’re extremely happy, hand in hand saying they want to go downstairs to build snowmen, have a snowball fight. When I was dressing Baldy, he thought I was moving too slowly, and he said he wanted to dress himself, let me put on his socks, divide the labor and improve efficiency.

 

But the little fool was too flustered and fumbled all the buttons, so I made him button them again. He was too impatient and ran out with Bobo.

 

I reminded Baldy to slow down and not to pull Bobo’s hand when he ran, so that if Baldy really fell down, he would fall down alone, and not drag Bobo down to fall down.

 

They had a good time outside, Baldy rolled a little snowball, and left it for me to come down and hit me with that little snowball.

 

There is a word called “pitting the father,” and there is a saying “children come to ask for debts,” and when I go downstairs, I am inadvertently hit by a little snowball from Baldy, and my trousers are a little wet. The culprit Baldy happily jumped in place, and stepped on the snow-covered footprint.

 

In order to reciprocate, I made a snowball bigger than Baldy’s head. When Baldy saw my snowball, he was shocked, and he shouted loudly, “Ah ah ah, this isn’t fair! It’s so big!!! I’ll be squashed!!!”

 

I said, “I allow you to run for three seconds first, three——”

 

Baldy immediately spread out his feet and ran wildly. The snow limited his running speed. Baldy couldn’t run far in three seconds.

 

“Two——” 

 

I raised the snowball and aimed at Baldy’s back. I saw his little tail wagging frantically, and the idea that popped into my mind was, “I can buy Baldy a tail cover.”

 

“Big brother, help me!” 

 

Baldy was preparing to meet up with Bobo, but I didn’t give them that chance.

 

“One.” 

 

The large snowball was thrown accurately and with a bang, it hit Baldy who was running around chaotically. Snow bits scattered all over Baldy.

 

Baldy fell to the ground with a thud, then quickly got up with a wail.

 

Originally, Baldy wanted to change positions and fight with me, but then he discovered his “mark” on the snowy ground—a “Baldy mark” stamped on the pristine snow.

 

“Ah ah ah~ I’m on the snow~” 

 

Baldy exclaimed joyfully. Bobo leaned over to take a look, finding it very interesting. So, Bobo also flopped down on the ground, creating a fresh “Bobo stamp” in the snow.

 

Ruge made breakfast for us and invited us inside to eat. Baldy wasn’t satisfied and said he wanted to play a bit longer. I took Baldy and Bobo inside, insisted they finish breakfast first, and then let them out again.

 

Baldy was as happy as a bird out of its cage, flapping his little wings vigorously. He climbed agilely up a tree, onto branches covered in a layer of fine snow, then daringly jumped down from a high tree.

 

This time, I wasn’t there to catch him below, but Baldy wasn’t afraid at all, because he believed the snow would protect him.

 

In this tree-jumping process, Baldy’s flying skills improved a bit.

 

Ruge, Bobo, and I ignored Baldy, and we were focused on building snowmen together. Just before we finished, Ruge said we needed a carrot for the snowman’s nose.

 

Baldy quickly ran to get the carrot, which was his running task. He ran very actively, and now that he could “fly,” he ran even faster.

 

Ruge gave his hat and scarf to the snowman, used a carrot for the nose, and two tree leaves for eyes; the purple forest had many dead branches, and we picked two to put on the snowman.

 

Because the snowman had Ruge’s hat and scarf, Baldy firmly believed it belonged to Ruge. He wanted a snowman of his own, insisting on making another one, and in the end, each of us had our own snowman.

 

After finishing the snowmen, Baldy wanted a snow house for them. He said the snowman needed a home. I couldn’t understand why Baldy was so worried about this, but I didn’t have anything else to do. I gave Baldy the snow house he wanted.

 

The snow house wasn’t very big, just enough for Baldy and Bobo to fit inside, but I was afraid they would freeze if they stayed inside too long, so I only allowed them to stay for a while.

 

After playing all morning, we were getting ready to go to the hot springs as a family. Bobo was afraid of the cold, so I held one of Bobo’s hands, and with the other, Bobo went to catch snowflakes, not having the time to hold my hand.

 

“Now, what’s your favorite season?” I asked Bobo.

 

“Winter.” 

 

Bobo looked up at the sky, his little hand still reaching out to catch snowflakes.

 

I asked why, was it because winter is the quietest? 

 

I remember Bobo likes quiet.

 

“Because in winter, the whole world is full of flowers—snowflakes, and the whole world is full of songs—the sound of falling snow.” Bobo smiled.

 

I closed my eyes, as if I could really hear the song of snow, the thick snow falling from the treetops was a ringing roar, the fine snow falling from the sky was a soothing rhythm.

 

The ice and snow in my heart fell, a beautiful rhythm, only the sound of rhythm, without the cold snow. 

 

There are only endless flowers of winter, without the desolate winter scene.