Chapter 6: The Little Sprayer
Mi Zehai returned at noon, this time with two books in hand. It seemed he was already planning to start preparing for the exam.
Cheng Qing was about to go cook. Mi Zehai habitually went to help but was pushed by Cheng Qing to the desk in the inner room. She stuffed the books back into his hands and said, “You, don’t worry about a thing. Just sit here and read. When you have a moment, just keep an eye on the children for me.”
The desk happened to face the small wooden bed where Mi Yang and the other baby were sleeping. Mi Zehai agreed with a sigh, then picked up a book with a wry smile and began to read.
While Cheng Qing was making hand-pulled noodles, the orderly, Little Zhao, had already dashed out and brought back three dishes from the canteen. Not only did he get some for himself, but he also got some for Company Commander Mi and his wife.
Cheng Qing made a portion of hand-pulled noodles for the orderly as well. Little Zhao initially refused, but then Mi Zehai gave him an order, “You must finish it. This is a mission!”
Only then did Little Zhao salute and say with a grin, “Yes, sir! Mission guaranteed to be completed!”
While the adults ate outside, Mi Yang had already woken up from his nap. Next to him was a white bundle that smelled of milk, just like him. The two were close together. Even in his sleep, little Bai Luochuan hadn’t forgotten his big tangerines. He had rolled both of them to the space between himself and Mi Yang. With one hand hugging a tangerine, he slept head-to-head and foot-to-foot with Mi Yang, curled up like a little shrimp, sound asleep.
Truly, he can eat and sleep well.
Mi Yang commented internally. No wonder he’s growing faster than me.
Little Bai Luochuan was sleeping soundly, his diamond-shaped little mouth slightly parted. His long, thick eyelashes drooped like little fans, casting small shadows. A tuft of his soft hair stuck up, making him look much more well-behaved than the little demon he was when awake. Mi Yang watched for a while, then reached out and poked his cheek. It was very soft. The poke made him smack his lips. Mi Yang poked him again, but this time he didn’t control his strength well and poked him right in the mouth. In his sleep, little Bai Luochuan frowned slightly, then instinctively began to suck on the finger, his two little baby teeth even trying to bite.
Mi Yang had to use considerable effort to pull his finger out and didn’t dare to provoke him again.
Cheng Qing was worried about the children in the room. After eating half a bowl of noodles, she immediately went in. She walked in to see one sleeping soundly, his face like a little angel’s, while the other had his eyes wide open, rolling them around to look at the ceiling and then playing with his own fingers. When he saw her come in, he immediately grinned, but didn’t make a sound as he reached out for her to hold him, like a little angel who had just opened his eyes.
Cheng Qing picked up her son, gave him a kiss, and smiled too.
Both little ones were relatively quiet, but this midday break didn’t allow Mi Zehai to take a nap. He still had to study.
He had led his men up the mountain for training at five in the morning, and now at noon, he had to read and take notes. Although he didn’t say anything, his eyes were already bloodshot. Cheng Qing’s heart ached for him. She poured him a cup of strong tea, but there was nothing else she could do to help him, so she could only sit beside him and offer encouragement.
Mi Yang wasn’t worried at all. His father had not only passed the exam back then, but he had also ranked quite high, earning a name for himself throughout the entire division. He was one of the few who were specially commended by the old Division Commander at a general assembly. His father had bragged about this for a lifetime, basking in the glory.
But even though he knew this, Mi Yang didn’t make any noise to cause trouble, quietly playing with his own fingers.
After a while, little Bai Luochuan, who was beside him, frowned and slowly woke up. But this little young master didn’t wake up as quietly as Mi Yang had. He started crying with his eyes closed. Cheng Qing quickly picked him up and cooed softly, but it wasn’t very effective. It was as if he was throwing a tantrum, all thunder and no rain, determined to cry for a while.
The military bugle sounded outside. Mi Zehai closed his book, rubbed his face hard to wipe away the fatigue, and grinned. “Hey, this kid is probably soldier material too. He wakes up right on time. It’s time for afternoon drills.”
Cheng Qing also smiled. “Take it easy later. It’s cold in the afternoon, remember to put on an extra layer. Don’t come back after dark again.”
Mi Zehai agreed. Seeing that there were only the two little ones and no one else in the room, he leaned over and gave his wife a kiss, saying happily, “Don’t worry, I know.”
Even so, Cheng Qing’s cheeks flushed red, and she urged him to leave quickly.
In the room, Cheng Qing was alone with two children. One was worry-free, the other was anything but.
Mi Yang could lie there and play by himself all day without crying or making a fuss. Only when he needed to pee would he scrunch up his little face until it was red and whimper like a kitten to express his needs. He was very easy to take care of. But the little young master Bai had a much bigger temper. When Cheng Qing patted him and cooed softly, he would close his eyes and pretend to sleep for a while, but the moment she put him down, he would start crying—he was deliberately seeking attention, demanding someone to watch him, a clingy little rascal who couldn’t be left alone for a moment.
Mi Yang was furious. How can this person be so malicious from such a young age! This is my own mother, how can you order her around like that!
Today, I’m going to teach this little brat a lesson.
The next time Cheng Qing put little Bai Luochuan down, Mi Yang lifted his little hands, moved, and with great effort, performed the first roll-over of his life, getting closer to little Bai Luochuan. Before Cheng Qing could exclaim in surprise, Mi Yang launched an attack on the little young master, spitting, “Pfft!”
Little Bai Luochuan blinked his eyes, not reacting. “Yi ya!”
Mi Yang took the opportunity to spit at him again. “Pfft, pfft pfft—”
Cheng Qing picked Mi Yang up. “What are you doing? Are you trying to talk to your big brother? Why did you spit all over his face?”
In Cheng Qing’s arms, Mi Yang relentlessly continued to spit at him, like a little sprayer going “pfft pfft.” Finally, Cheng Qing couldn’t take it anymore. Exasperated, she took a small handkerchief and wiped his mouth and face. “Where did you learn this from?”
Little Bai Luochuan sat there, tilting his head to look at Mi Yang, his beautiful little face serious. After a moment, he began to imitate Mi Yang. “Ba-pfft!”
Mi Yang immediately counterattacked. “Pfft!”
It was little Bai Luochuan’s first time learning this. He watched and tried to imitate. “Ba-pfft… pfft…” His success rate wasn’t very high, but with practice, he gradually got the hang of it. Soon, he was sitting there proudly, letting out a very standard and proper “pfft.”
Cheng Qing: “…”
There’s no doubt about it, the little young master Bai learned this spitting skill from her son.
In the afternoon, when Bai Jingrong and his wife came to pick up their child, little Bai Luochuan had already mastered the skill of spitting. When Bai Jingrong was dressing him, he was reluctant to leave. As soon as he was fully dressed and picked up, he unhappily spat at his own father. “Ba-pfft!!”
Mrs. Bai, standing nearby, burst out laughing. “Oh, learned a new trick today?”
Cheng Qing said, embarrassed, “The two of them were napping together. When they woke up, I don’t know how, but they started playing like this.”
Mrs. Bai waved her hand and smiled. “It’s fine, it’s normal for kids. They’re practicing how to talk.”
Bai Jingrong was a serious and old-fashioned person. His response to his son’s attack was simple and crude: he put a mask on him. He paid no mind to his son’s angry glare, nodded his thanks to Cheng Qing, and then left with his wife and child.
After they left, Cheng Qing began to lecture her son. Mi Yang hummed and hawed, feigning innocence, or simply closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, completely unteachable.
Cheng Qing only nagged for a bit. Let alone a baby this small, even a three or four-year-old couldn’t be reasoned with.
There were no other military families in the camp, so Cheng Qing and Mrs. Bai were the only two military wives. Sometimes Mrs. Bai would bring her child over, and gradually, Cheng Qing would also take her son to the Bai’s place to play.
Bai Jingrong hadn’t requested any special treatment, and his living quarters were quite simple. But Mrs. Bai had tidied and organized it very well. The tea set placed casually on the side was polished until it shone, not to mention the many little gadgets she had brought, all the latest and most fashionable items and small appliances from the city. If nothing else, that small travel thermos made Cheng Qing look at it more than once.
It had a slender, red, hard-shell body. The screw-on lid doubled as a small drinking cup, and there was a foldable handle on the side, making it very convenient to carry. Cheng Qing estimated its capacity was just enough for three bottles of formula, perfect for a child for one night!
She was here visiting family and would be heading back after the New Year. The green-skinned train ride alone would take three days and two nights. The weather was so cold, and the hot water on the train was always snatched up immediately. She could endure it herself, but how could a child?
Cheng Qing secretly memorized the appearance of the travel thermos, planning to buy one before she left.
Mi Yang blinked his eyes, also looking at the thermos. Coincidentally, his family had an identical one. His mom often mentioned that this thermos was as old as he was, and they were still using it at home until he was in the seventh grade.
But he didn’t look for long. He was soon picked up with a smile by Mrs. Bai and told to “go play with big brother.” Perhaps because there were more familiar objects here, little Bai Luochuan seemed much more relaxed than when he was out and wasn’t as fussy. He sat among a pile of stuffed toys like a little emperor. When he saw Mi Yang approach, he didn’t show any rejection.
The little young master played with his stuffed panda, then played with Mi Yang. He was very satisfied!
Mi Yang: “…”
Mi Yang felt that the reason the little young master Bai didn’t reject him was because he was treating him as a toy too!
Author’s Note:
Today, the little young master Bai is here to ask for comments. If you don’t leave a comment, he’ll “pfft pfft” spit at you~
Little Bai Luochuan: Ba-pfft!!
…
T/N: 😂
