章 1: Chapter 1 - A Snowy Night, Little Taiping Knocks for Charcoal
In the howling cold wind, a thin, shivering little boy knocked on a family's courtyard gate.
It was New Year's Eve, and laughter occasionally rang out from inside the courtyard.
"Bang, bang bang..."
After waiting for a long time with no response, the little boy reached up and grabbed the door ring, gently knocking a few times.
"Phew..."
It was so cold that after knocking, he immediately put his hands to his mouth and breathed on them to warm up.
Not just his hands, but the grass shoes on his feet were almost numb from the cold.
"Who is it?"
Finally, someone inside the courtyard responded.
The little boy's face lit up.
"Second Uncle, it's me," he quickly replied.
"Creak..."
Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and a sturdy middle-aged man poked his head out.
"Oh, it's Taiping. What brings you here so late?" the man asked the little boy.
"Second... Second Uncle... the charcoal at home is all used up. I was wondering if I could borrow some charcoal from you. When spring comes and I can go up the mountain to chop wood, I'll definitely return it," the boy said, averting his eyes shyly.
"A few pounds of charcoal aren't worth much. Wait here, I'll get it for you!" the man waved his hand and agreed readily.
"Taiping, have you eaten?" the man suddenly stopped and turned back to ask.
"I... I... Grandfather... Grandfather hasn't eaten..." the boy's voice trailed off, barely audible as he clutched his clothes.
The middle-aged man sighed, then smiled and said, "Wait here, Taiping. I'll be right back."
"Okay," the boy nodded slightly.
Another cold wind swept by, making the boy shiver, but his heart felt a little warmer.
"Taiping!"
Shortly after, the middle-aged man came out carrying a winnowing basket.
"Take this," his uncle said, breathing white vapor as he quickly walked to the gate and pushed the basket into the boy's arms.
Taiping looked down and saw not just several pounds of charcoal, but four steaming white mantou (bread rolls).
"Second Uncle, I..."
Seeing the white mantou, the boy looked anxious, but having not eaten all day, he couldn't help swallowing involuntarily.
"Take it!" the middle-aged man laughed heartily.
"Er Niu, why are you still dawdling in the courtyard?"
At this moment, a robust woman strode to the courtyard gate.
Both the little boy and the middle-aged man's expressions changed upon seeing her.
"Taiping... Taiping came to borrow some charcoal," the man said with a forced smile, his eyes darting nervously.
"Second... Second Aunt," Taiping greeted her.
The woman first glared at the man, then looked at the boy, her gaze finally settling on the basket with the charcoal and bread.
Seeing the mantou placed on the charcoal, her face immediately darkened.
"These white mantou were meant for Xiaotiger. I wouldn't even eat them myself, and you're being so generous!" she scolded, grabbing two mantou.
"Mom, is the roast goose ready? I want roast goose, not bread!" a chubby boy in a new cotton jacket walked out, looking displeased at the mantou.
"My child, why are you out? It's cold, go back inside quickly," the woman hurried to the boy.
"Mom, I don't want bread, I want roast goose!" the chubby boy stomped his foot, looking like he might cry.
"Okay, okay, the roast goose is almost ready. These mantou are for Ah Huang to eat," the woman cooed, casually throwing the two mantou into the dog's cage near the eaves.
The middle-aged man frowned and sighed helplessly.
Taiping watched the mantou being eaten by the dog, bit his lip, then hugged the basket of charcoal and looked up at the man, smiling, "Thank you, Second Uncle. I'm going now."
"Be careful on the way. When burning charcoal, remember to leave a crack in the window and cover your grandfather with blankets," the man waved.
"Xu Er Niu! If you don't come back inside right now, don't even think about getting on my bed tonight!" the woman's nagging came from inside.
"Coming, coming!" the man quickly responded, giving Taiping an embarrassed smile before closing the gate.
After the gate closed, the last bit of light in the snowy ground disappeared, and the world was again swallowed by night, with only a small lamp flickering in a thatched cottage to the east.
"With these charcoals and two mantou, Grandfather will definitely get better," the boy muttered to himself in the darkness, not feeling afraid. He tucked his head down, laughing softly, and hugged the basket of charcoal and bread, bouncing and skipping towards the small lit earth house.
...
In front of the small earth house.
"Creak..."
The boy pushed open the door.
"Taiping... is that you?" An old, hoarse, and somewhat weak voice called from the lamp-lit room.
"It's me, Grandfather," the boy rubbed his frozen face, trying to squeeze out a smile before stepping through the curtain.
As he entered, a strong medicinal smell hit him. Without a fire, the room's temperature was no different from outside.
At the innermost part of the room, on a bed cobbled together from wooden boards, an old man so thin he was just skin and bones was curled up under a worn-out quilt.
"Grandfather, Second Uncle lent me some charcoal and gave me two mantou. We'll roast them and eat soon," Taiping said cheerfully, pouring the charcoal into the stove.
"Good... good..." the old man smiled and nodded.
Though the old man looked frail, his cloudy eyes suddenly regained their brightness when he saw Taiping.
"Taiping... these past few years... living with grandfather... you've suffered," the old man said with difficulty, his gaze full of love.
"Grandfather, I'm not suffering. Not at all," Taiping turned, grinning and shaking his head.
"Silly child... truly a silly child... If not for you taking care of me these years, grandfather would have been gone long ago..." The old man reached out to pat Taiping's head, sighing with compassion.
"Don't say such unlucky things, Grandfather. You'll definitely live to be a hundred!" Taiping shook his head firmly while roasting the mantou.
"Taiping," the old man suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard of immortals?"
[--------------------------------------------]
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