Chapter 17: Trough Cake
Bai Luochuan stopped in his tracks, clutching the small wooden pistol in his arms, and turned to look at him. “What happened?”
The child was panting from running. “Just now, someone came over and said a few words to Mi Yang, and Mi Yang took her hand and left!”
Bai Luochuan became anxious. “Which way did they go!”
The child pointed to the rockery behind them. “That way, towards the pavilion!”
There was a pavilion in their compound near the back mountain. It was quite remote. Usually, adults wouldn’t let the children run around there and would make up stories about child snatchers to keep them away. The moment Bai Luochuan heard that Mi Yang had gone there with someone, he abandoned the battle. With a wave of his hand, he led his men to find his adjutant. Bai Luochuan was a quick thinker. After running a few steps, he called out to the child who had brought the news, “You run back and tell the adults at home… no, if you see the guard at the gate, tell him that Mi Yang is missing!”
The child was smart. He agreed and immediately ran towards the gate guard.
The “enemy” hidden behind the mound of dirt on the other side waited for a long time. Seeing Commander Bai lead his men back, they were also bewildered. A child with his hat on crooked asked, “Chief, are we still defending?”
The enemy chief was only five years old. After a moment of contemplation, he waved his hand. “No, we charge! Reclaim our territory!”
Then, another seven or eight little rascals jumped out from behind the mound of dirt, all looking like little mud monkeys. Wearing grass hats made of branches and clutching wooden guns, they let out a battle cry and started chasing after Bai Luochuan and his group. With a group of followers with him and another group chasing behind, Bai Luochuan charged towards the back mountain pavilion with great momentum, each and every one of them looking ready for a fight.
And at this moment, Mi Yang was sitting obediently in the pavilion, washing his hands with a small water bottle brought by an old lady. After he was clean, the old lady opposite him smiled and gave him a piece of pastry to eat, saying repeatedly, “Go on, eat more if you like it.”
Mi Yang smiled happily at her, biting into the trough cake in his hand and eating with relish. He hadn’t even finished half of it when he saw a group of little kids charging over, shouting and yelling. He was so startled that he choked. The old lady beside him quickly gave him some water. “Yangyang, are you alright? Quick, drink some water.”
Mi Yang took the old lady’s water bottle and took two big gulps. Bai Luochuan had already charged into the pavilion first. Seeing him drinking water from a stranger, he strode forward and slapped the water bottle out of his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. He then pulled Mi Yang to stand behind him. Mi Yang was pulled so suddenly that the trough cake in his hand fell to the ground. “Hey, my cake…”
Bai Luochuan held onto him, not letting him go pick it up, his face full of vigilance as he looked at the old lady before them.
The old lady, however, sat there with a smile, looking at them with kind eyes. She held the small water bottle she had picked up, and next to her was a large black leather satchel. She looked like she was visiting relatives.
Bai Luochuan said, “Who are you!”
Mi Yang lightly patted him from behind. “This is my grandma.”
Bai Luochuan stuck his neck out. “I’ve never seen her. Who told you to go with her!”
Mi Yang pried his hand open. “This is my grandma. Of course you’ve never seen her.” He walked over and first picked up the half-piece of cake that had fallen on the ground. He patted it twice, but the trough cake had been stepped on and was no longer edible.
The old Mrs. Cheng quickly said, “Yangyang, let’s not have that one. Grandma brought a lot. You can take another piece.”
Mi Yang agreed and stood there, looking up at Bai Luochuan.
Bai Luochuan’s little face was still flushed from the intense running, and the hair on his forehead was damp with sweat. He stood there for a moment, then finally lowered his head and conceded, “I’m sorry.”
The little kids outside the pavilion all looked up at them in unison, completely silent. Not a single one dared to make a sound at this moment.
Mi Yang went over and took the small water bottle from the old Mrs. Cheng’s hand, shook it, and said, “There’s still enough water. Everyone line up, come wash your hands and have some pastries!”
These words were more effective than Commander Bai’s order to charge. Instantly, friend and foe alike began to form a long line. A dozen or so children were all eagerly waiting to sit in a row and share the treats.
Bai Luochuan was the first to wash his hands. Mi Yang held the water bottle and rinsed them for him, then wiped them with a tissue and gave him a piece of trough cake. “Here, this is yours.”
Bai Luochuan took it and immediately broke it in half, holding up half a piece for Mi Yang.
The old Mrs. Cheng saw this and said with a smile, “Yangyang, you go eat too. Grandma will help the little friends wash their hands.”
Mi Yang took the half-piece of pastry and sat down next to Bai Luochuan to eat together. Trough cake wasn’t a particularly delicious snack, but in that era, it was a must-have when visiting relatives and friends. Mi Yang ate with relish. Bai Luochuan had been running around all afternoon, conquering territories, and was tired. The sweet pastry was delicious, and he finished it in a few bites. Mi Yang then took out a palm-sized piece of handmade peanut brittle, made with freshly roasted peanuts and brown sugar. With a firm grip, Mi Yang broke the brittle with a “snap” and shared it with Bai Luochuan.
As Bai Luochuan ate, he whispered, “Why did you run off with someone without saying anything?”
Mi Yang nibbled on the brittle and said, “She’s not just ‘someone.’ That’s my own grandma.”
Bai Luochuan was still grumbling. Mi Yang stuffed the piece of brittle in his hand into his mouth and said with a grin, “Eat up. This piece has the most peanuts.”
If it had been anyone else, the little young master Bai would have raised his eyebrows in anger long ago. No one had ever dared to feed him like that. But with Mi Yang, even sharing half a piece of peanut brittle felt like a reward. Mi Yang rarely made such intimate gestures, which made them all the more precious. Bai Luochuan’s brow immediately smoothed out, and he took a big bite of the brittle.
Mi Yang glanced at him discreetly. The stone benches around the pavilion were high, and Bai Luochuan’s feet couldn’t reach the ground as he sat there. He swung his little feet as he ate the brittle, looking like he was thoroughly enjoying it.
Mi Yang couldn’t help but smile. This was a little habit he had observed over the past few years. When the young master Bai was happy, he would prop up his feet and swing them. It had to be said, it was quite straightforward and cute.
By the time the adults from home came looking for them, they saw an old lady sitting in the center of the pavilion, surrounded by a circle of children, all sharing candy and pastries.
Cheng Qing was very surprised and happy. “Mom, why are you here? You didn’t even send a telegram. I would have gone to the station to pick you up.”
The old Mrs. Cheng smiled. “No need. I’m in good health. I didn’t want to interrupt your work. I just missed Yangyang and came to see my grandson.”
Just then, the circle of children had almost finished eating. Seeing Cheng Qing, they all called out “Auntie” and then ran off to continue playing.
Bai Luochuan didn’t leave. He tugged on Mi Yang’s sleeve, still wanting him to play. In his eyes, the arrival of a grandmother was not as important as their agreed-upon “battle plan.” He had already conquered more than half of the “bunkers” and was on the verge of victory.
Mi Yang pried his fingers open. “I can’t. I have to go home.”
Bai Luochuan furrowed his brow, about to speak again. Mi Yang patted his shoulder and said, “Tomorrow. I’ll come find you tomorrow, and we’ll play all day.”
With this promise, Commander Bai reluctantly nodded in agreement. “Alright then.”
Cheng Qing carried the old Mrs. Cheng’s luggage, while Mi Yang held the small water bottle in one hand and his grandmother’s hand in the other. The family walked and talked, and from a distance, Mi Yang’s laughing voice could still be heard.
“Of course I recognized you. The moment she called my name, I knew. This is my own grandma who has come to see me!”
“Oh, my precious Yangyang, you truly are Grandma’s dear grandson!”
