Back to 1988 4

Chapter 4: Little Young Master Bai

After seeing the guests off, Mi Zehai and Cheng Qing tidied up outside for a while before coming back in.

Mi Zehai had already washed up. He smiled as he picked up his son and kissed him several times. “Son, did you miss Daddy?”

Cheng Qing, standing to the side, asked him, “What were you and Political Commissar Bai talking about for so long?”

Mi Zehai said, “Oh, Political Commissar Bai is here on a mission, so we discussed some official business. He also mentioned that a group of people from our unit will be selected to take the military academy entrance exam. He said that the sign-ups here have been slow, but since this is an old unit led by the Division Commander, the Commander has a soft spot for us. He specially sent Political Commissar Bai over to motivate everyone!”

Cheng Qing said, “That’s a good thing. Why isn’t anyone signing up?”

Mi Zehai said, “It’s not that they don’t want to, but you need at least a high school education to apply. I can count the number of high school graduates here on one hand. Plus, they have training every day, and there’s a major drill scheduled for next year. Even if they sign up, there’s no guarantee they’ll pass. Not many are willing to put in the extra effort.”

Cheng Qing looked at him and suddenly said, “Why don’t you take the exam?”

Mi Zehai was taken aback. “Me? I’ve been a soldier for so many years, I’ve forgotten everything from high school. Let Little Zhao and the others go, they’re younger.”

Cheng Qing chided, “Listen to you. You’re only a few years older than them. If you ask me, you should lead by example and take the lead in studying.”

Mi Zehai was hesitant. He was already exhausted from overseeing training, and with the major drill next year, their field army was always expected to rank among the top. Those results were earned through grueling physical training. The old Division Commander had high hopes for them. It was one thing for the few new culturally-educated soldiers to study, but if he also had to carve out time for academics, juggling both would likely be very taxing.

Cheng Qing persuaded him, “Just give it a try. Political Commissar Bai came all this way, shouldn’t you support his work?” Seeing the troubled look on his face, she immediately changed her tone. “Anyway, I don’t care. I don’t know about other things, but going to military academy is a good thing. If you don’t take the exam, I’ll take Yangyang and go home. I won’t stay here in these mountains with you. I’ll enroll Yangyang in school early and have my son go to military academy!”

Mi Zehai said, “Alright, alright, I’ll sign up. Is that good enough?”

Cheng Qing’s expression brightened again, and she smiled. “That’s more like it.”

Mi Zehai sighed, but he came around to the idea. He and Cheng Qing had grown up together as childhood sweethearts; he knew what she was thinking with just a glance. It was clear she wanted him to better himself. As he thought this, the weight of his son in his arms felt heavier. He cooed at his son, then smiled at his wife. “Whether I pass or not, I’ll at least scout the path. It’ll be helpful when our son takes the exam in the future, hehe!”

Cheng Qing immediately voiced her support. “I’ll give you my full support. From now on, don’t worry about anything at home. Leave it all to me!”

Mi Zehai grumbled, “I also want home-cooked meals, not the big pot rice from the canteen.”

Cheng Qing smiled. “Fine, fine. You study hard for the exam, and I’ll cook whatever you want to eat.”

Mi Yang vaguely remembered this. His father had done quite well on the military academy exam, getting promoted several times. He served in the army for over twenty years before retiring and transferring to a leisurely leadership position in a local government office. Their family had always been comfortably well-off, never fabulously wealthy, but their life was decent. After his mother retired, she took up gardening, knitting, and her greatest passion was plaza dancing.

Even then, his father was worried and would go with her. He was a terrible dancer but insisted on being her partner, refusing to let go for anything.

The two of them had been this in love their entire lives. Mi Yang couldn’t remember them ever raising their voices at home. Compared to his peers, having such a harmonious and loving family meant he had practically grown up in a honey pot.

Mi Yang had always thought he would live his life the same way—find a simple, cheerful partner like his parents, never argue, and just live a quiet, ordinary life for a few decades. He didn’t seek great wealth, only a happy and harmonious family. But he had never imagined he would wake up one day and have to start all over again.

Mi Yang had pondered how he had returned to his childhood, but apart from a final, dizzy impression, he couldn’t remember anything else. It was as if there was a barrier; some things from his past he remembered, others were hazy. Thinking too much made him drowsy, and sometimes he would fall asleep mid-yawn.

Just thinking about it now, he couldn’t help but yawn again, his eyelids growing heavy.

Mi Yang thought for a moment longer, then couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. He wouldn’t force it. Since he was already back, he would just have to live his life steadily.

He had a gentle temperament and had always been good at adapting to circumstances.

Just as Mi Yang was about to drift off, he heard his parents talking. “…Hey, that’s the one. Is it still cold?”

Mi Yang thought, What’s cold?

Soon, a juicy tomato was brought to his lips. The skin had warmed to room temperature, and the thin peel was like a delicate membrane. A gentle bite would release the juice inside. Mi Yang knew just from the smell that this ripe tomato would be sweet and sour. But he had no teeth yet. He tried his best, but only managed to leave a few slobbery marks, his craving unsatisfied.

Cheng Qing wanted to try scooping out some purée for Mi Yang as Mrs. Bai had taught her, but Mi Zehai clearly had a better idea. He suggested, “No need. Bananas need to be puréed, but tomatoes are naturally juicy. Just cut a hole and let Yangyang gnaw on it himself.”

Cheng Qing hesitated. “Will that work? How do you cut it?”

It was Mi Zehai’s first time being a father, but he was full of creativity and the passion of a new parent. He quickly used a spoon to scoop out a large, round hole at the top of the tomato. The ripe tomato looked thick-fleshed, with a sandy-sweet flavor, plenty of refreshing juice, and a hint of tartness. Taking a big bite of it on a snowy winter night would be pure bliss.

Mi Zehai fed the piece he had scooped out to his wife, then delightedly held his son over the tomato. “Come on, son, eat up!”

Mi Yang, lying on his stomach, couldn’t support himself and nearly face-planted right into the tomato!

He took a couple of bites, then lifted his head, crying ” ya ya,” desperately wanting his parents to pick him up. But the young couple didn’t notice, thinking their son was enjoying his food so much he was shaking his head in delight!

Mi Zehai said proudly, “See? He can eat by himself. Look how well he’s eating!”

Seeing no signs of Mi Yang choking, Cheng Qing also relaxed and nodded. “He’s doing great.”

Mi Yang just couldn’t speak. If he could, he would have shouted at the top of his lungs: Do something, you two! Aren’t you afraid I’ll choke? This is the era of the one-child policy! If you lose me, you won’t be able to have another kid for twenty years, you know? Especially you, Comrade Mi Zehai, how dare you be so bold as to free-range your only child!

Mi Yang struggled to hold up his little head, but whenever he lowered it, gravity would pull him down, smearing his face with tomato juice. He was so aggrieved he was about to cry.

He couldn’t count on his parents. What could he do?

Mi Yang could only take extra, extra care of himself, trying his best to manage on his own.

He couldn’t eat more than half of it. Fortunately, Cheng Qing knew not to let a baby eat too much at once and soon put it away. She wiped Mi Yang’s hands and face clean, gave him some water, and began to lull him to sleep.

Mi Yang had had a very tiring evening. He fell asleep before Cheng Qing could even finish her lullaby.

In his dream, he saw his previous life again. It was that day he had a cold. He rode his bicycle to give Bai Luochuan a cash gift. He had rummaged through his drawers, prepared a red envelope with money inside, and was about to give it to him when the young master Bai met him with a barrage of merciless scorn.

Perhaps because it was a dream, Mi Yang felt detached, as if watching from the outside. He didn’t feel the same frustration and anger he had at the time. He looked at Bai Luochuan’s supposed fiancée and still felt no strong reaction, certainly nothing compared to the emotional turmoil caused by Bai Luochuan’s two humiliating remarks.

On the stage, Bai Luochuan was far from polite, not showing her a sliver of kindness. The woman didn’t dare to utter a word of protest. When someone approached, she had to force a smile and put on a welcoming facade, struggling to maintain a semblance of decency.

Mi Yang was watching too. He had known for a long time that Bai Luochuan looked down on everyone. The man was always self-centered, acting on his whims, used to getting his own way. But he had the capital to do so. Bai Luochuan himself was a beacon that drew people in, born to be admired and looked up to.

Mi Yang was also watching from a distance. To be honest, he didn’t dislike Bai Luochuan. When the young master wanted to be nice to someone, his attitude was like a gentle spring breeze, and it was hard for anyone to be cold to him.

Mi Yang was just lazy. The thought of having to maintain a fake smile around Bai Luochuan made him… want to run home and help his mom with her flowers.

He had grown up in a small family like this and preferred this simple atmosphere. So many people flattered Bai Luochuan; he certainly wasn’t short of one more. With that in mind, he was only willing to maintain a superficial relationship, and gradually, the two of them drifted apart.

The scene shattered and shook, and Mi Yang felt a little dizzy.

In his dream, he couldn’t hold onto the wall. It was as if he was so drunk that even the wall was swaying, offering no support. He heard Bai Luochuan speaking to him.

“I really wish I could go back to when we were kids. To start over, to meet you all over again.” Bai Luochuan was extremely close, his hot breath almost searing his ear. One hand pressed firmly against his chest as he ground out the words he hadn’t finished, “To dig out your heart and see what kind of stone it’s made of, that it couldn’t be warmed after all these years… such a cruel heart!”

He said it with such earnestness that Mi Yang broke out in a cold sweat.

He opened his eyes and blinked. The room was pitch black. He could hear the wind whipping snow against the doors and windows. In the dark night, the snow outside seemed to cast a faint glow.

Beside him were the sounds of his parents’ breathing. His mother, who was holding him, lay on her side in a protective posture, while his father, exhausted from a day of training, snored loudly.

Mi Yang carefully moved his arms and legs without making a sound, but it took a long time before he fell asleep again.

Perhaps because he had been thinking about Bai Luochuan for too long, he dreamed of him again. This time, however, it was the little young master Bai who had just learned to roll over and eat fruit purée, his belly sticking out, his little face tilted up, both arrogant and adorable.

In the dream, the little young master reached out to him. Mi Yang hesitated slightly, and he immediately looked as if he was about to change his expression and start crying. Mi Yang had no choice but to lean down and hug him, patting his back. He then heard a series of giggles in his ear.

The laughter was so real that when Mi Yang woke up, he felt as if it were still echoing in his ears.

“Giggle… hahaha!”

Mi Yang turned his head to look. It wasn’t a dream at all. Why was the little young master Bai here again?