After stewing in embarrassment for a while, Tian Yao finally succumbed to sleepiness and drifted off, nestled against Yu Nian.
When he woke up, he felt an explosive amount of energy in every fiber of his being, demanding release. So, first thing in the morning, he started sweeping the yard.
When they first got the chickens, they let them roam the yard. They quickly realized this wasn’t ideal because the chickens left droppings everywhere, making the yard smell terrible and causing Yu Nian to frown constantly.
Eventually, Tian Yao couldn’t stand it anymore. He fenced off a small area in the bamboo grove behind the house and moved the chickens there, restoring the yard to its previous clean state.
Little Gray grew even larger. His favorite activity now was squatting by the chicken coop and watching the chicks tremble in fear. Tian Yao had smacked his dog head a few times for this, but it didn’t work. Then he noticed Little Gray was just watching, so he stopped bothering.
Tian Yao had made up his mind to go up the mountain today. After sweeping the yard and making breakfast, Yu Nian got up. The two of them washed up together by the water basin. After gurgling and spitting out the water, Tian Yao bent down and stole a kiss from Yu Nian’s lips.
“I’m taking Little Gray up the mountain. Breakfast is ready and warming in the pot. If I’m not back by noon, just heat it up for yourself.”
Yu Nian had now mastered some kitchen duties, so Tian Yao felt reassured leaving him at home.
“Be careful on the mountain path.” Yu Nian watched him pack a few cornbread buns, then filled his water pouch and put it into his bamboo basket.
“I know.” Tian Yao tied his leggings and called out, “Little Gray.”
“Remember to eat lunch. If you’re bored, go talk to the Grand Elder, or take a walk around the village.”
Yu Nian saw him to the gate. Tian Yao kissed his cheek again. “I’m off.”
Yu Nian waved.
Little Gray seemed a bit put out. After following Tian Yao a few steps, he ran back to Yu Nian, circled him, and licked his hand before trotting after Tian Yao again.
Tian Yao gave the dog’s head a pat. Even from far away, Yu Nian could hear his voice: “I haven’t even gotten to lick him. Lucky dog.”
Little Gray, as if understanding the teasing tone in his voice, put a paw on Tian Yao in an ingratiating manner. Tian Yao snorted and ignored him.
A moment later, the man and dog were running around together like lunatics, startling a flock of birds from the woods.
Only after their voices had completely faded did Yu Nian turn his wheelchair and go back inside.
Spring had arrived, making the greenery on the mountain even more pronounced. The pines and cypresses were evergreen. At the spot where they’d trapped the wild geese, the stream was now thawed, its burbling water flowing through the silent forest. Even though the water was icy cold, it felt like a warm current in Tian Yao’s heart.
Little Gray wagged his tail and went to drink from the stream. Tian Yao waited nearby, scanning the area for signs of wildlife.
It was still pretty cold, and many mountain animals might still be hibernating. There was nothing to be found.
This was Little Gray’s first time on the mountain as an adult, and he found everything novel, marking trees everywhere he went. Tian Yao thought for a moment and decided to take him to the spot where he’d first found him with the large dog.
Back then, he’d hastily dug a grave and buried the big dog. He thought now that Little Gray was so grown, he should let him visit, let the big dog see him too.
Tian Yao knew every path on the mountain by heart, so it didn’t take long to reach the spot. Following his memory, he found the small mound of earth where he’d hastily buried the big dog.
It was a small mound. After the heavy winter snows, some migrating bird must have dropped a seed there, because a cluster of fresh sprouts had emerged.
Little Gray, still oblivious, just circled the mound. Tian Yao crouched down and wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck to stop him. “I raised him well. You can rest assured.”
Little Gray sniffed the mound, then nuzzled Tian Yao. Tian Yao stood and led him deeper into the mountain.
They didn’t have much luck along the way, only picking a few newly sprouted medicinal plants. He wrapped them carefully in his handkerchief and placed them in his basket, being especially careful with the roots.
As they went further, the forest grew cooler. Sunlight failed to penetrate the dense canopy. Little Gray’s footsteps became lighter too. They then turned around to head back down the mountain.
On the way back, Tian Yao spotted a tree, thick enough that it would take several people to wrap their arms around it. Its top vanished into the sky, and it bore some fruit. He stared for a long moment, a smile touching his lips. This tree… His father used to leave him here when he was little. While his father ventured deep into the mountain, Tian Yao would use this tree as the center of his world and play within its radius.
His father was a man of few words, but his gaze, whenever it rested on him and Little Dad, was always gentle. Tian Yao glanced back at the tree. He thought that if his father were still around, he’d be just like this tree.
Descending the mountain, their haul was still only those few herbs and a couple of wild fruits Tian Yao had picked up on the path. Little Gray was happy, though, looking a bit reluctant to leave when they went down.
Tian Yao scolded him lightly, “You’re so clingy. When it gets a bit warmer, I’ll take you up the mountain every day.”
Little Gray whined. When they got home, he went straight to the chicken coop and flopped down beside it.
“What’s wrong with Little Gray?” Yu Nian noticed that the dog wasn’t bouncing with his usual excitement, which was a bit puzzling.
“He doesn’t want to be home. Wants to live on the mountain forever.” Tian Yao set down his basket. “Look at this herb. I think it looks like wild ginseng, so I brought it back.”
Yu Nian reached out to take it. It was indeed wild ginseng, though not very large. Still, it was a good medicinal ingredient. Seeing the few wilted fruits, Yu Nian smiled. “What are those?”
Tian Yao’s attention wasn’t on the fruit. “Should I give this ginseng to the Old Physician? In consideration of this, ask him to think of a way to treat your legs?”
Yu Nian nodded. “Sure. It can be a token of our appreciation.”
Only then did Tian Yao smile and pick up the fruits from the basket. “These are wild fruits from the mountain. When Father went up the mountain and couldn’t take me, he’d bring me these. They always cheered me up.”
“It’s only early spring. Will there be fruit?”
Tian Yao thought for a moment. “It seems this tree bears fruit year-round, no matter the season.”
Yu Nian took a bite. It was a bit sour, but very juicy. A good thirst-quencher if you ran out of water in the mountains.
Tian Yao ate one too, wiping juice from the corner of his mouth. “I ate these a lot when I was young. I wanted you to try them too.”
Yu Nian crooked his finger at him. Tian Yao bent down slightly, and Yu Nian kissed the corner of his lips. The former tartness now tasted sweet.
Tian Yao kissed him back. Just then, Little Gray ran over to them.
Tian Yao immediately straightened up and pulled back. Seeing how red his face was, Yu Nian glanced at Little Gray. “He must have some wolf in his bloodline. That’s why he’s so drawn to the mountain. You can bring him with you on future trips. He can protect you.”
Tian Yao nodded.
Spring had arrived, and the villagers with land had begun spring plowing. The Tian-Yu household had no farmland, just the vegetable patch next to their house.
After discussing it with Yu Nian, Tian Yao found the pouch where Little Dad had stored his seeds. Grabbing a random handful, he was about to plant them. “I don’t even know if this is the right season for these. If not, I’ll be wasting what’s left of Little Dad’s seeds.”
“We indeed don’t know what those seeds are or what they’ll grow.” Yu Nian looked at his hand. “How about this: we sort the seeds that look alike into groups and plant each group separately. That way, we can figure out which ones grow in this season and which don’t.”
So the two of them sat in the yard and began to sort the seeds. Aunt Shun arrived just as Tian Yao was stretching his back.
“What are you two up to?”
“Aunt Shun, we’re sorting seeds. There were some leftover seeds at home, but we can’t tell what they are. We want to try planting them and see what comes up.”
Tian Yao pulled a stool over for her. Knowing she was a master of farm work, he asked, “Do you recognize any of these seeds?”
Aunt Shun looked them over and shook her head. “I’ve never seen seeds like these. These were left by your Little Dad, weren’t they?”
Tian Yao nodded. Aunt Shun said, “He always had all sorts of strange things, things we’d never seen before.”
After she spoke, she remembered the reason she’d come, which happened to be related to what they were doing. “It’s the season for spring planting. I had some vegetable seeds left at home after planting my own patch, so I brought them for you.”
In previous years, Aunt Shun had always been the one to share her vegetable seeds with Tian Yao.
He took the seeds and thanked her. “You’ve given me seeds every year. Where would I get vegetables otherwise?”
Aunt Shun laughed. “It’s just a few seeds. Your Little Dad helped me out many times in the past. It’s only right that I look after you.”
Tian Yao loved hearing stories about Little Dad from the villagers. He never got tired of them, even if they were repeated over and over.
“I don’t know where such a small person got so many clever ideas. He helped my old man get his wages back, and he did it perfectly, without any trouble.” Every time she spoke of it, Aunt Shun was amazed by Tian Yao’s Little Dad. “And that name, Ling Qi—was that even his real name? He said he had over a hundred brothers and he was the seventh. [T/N: Ling Qi translates to Zero Seven] What nonsense! Who has a hundred brothers?”
Tian Yao remembered. Little Dad had never mentioned any other friends or family in the village, aside from the villagers and that Ame Ye he’d met. If he really had so many brothers, how could he have let a “ger” like him wander to this place?
“Alright, you two stay busy. I should get back and feed my chickens.” Aunt Shun was getting older and needed a cane to walk. Tian Yao saw her to the gate, watching her frail, tottering figure. He went back to Yu Nian. “Yu Nian, if Little Dad and Father were still here, would they look this old too?”
Yu Nian held his hand. “Everyone ages. You, me… we’ll all grow old someday. It’s the natural cycle of life. You don’t need to feel sad about it.”
Tian Yao gave him a smile. “It’s fine. Let’s just plant a few of each type of seed. Whatever sprouts is meant for this season.”
Yu Nian didn’t know much about farming; Tian Yao would have to figure it out on his own. Though if there were books to support the learning, Yu Nian felt he could understand them. For now, the hard work had to fall on Tian Yao.
The vegetable patch beside their house had already been prepared by Tian Yao—soil turned, fertilized with their chicken manure, just waiting for the seeds. He divided the land into several sections and planted each group of sorted seeds. The remaining half of the plot was for the vegetable seeds Aunt Shun had given him. She’d said they were mostly things like napa cabbage, suitable for this season.
After planting, he fetched water and gave the newly sown seeds a thorough watering, then waited quietly for them to germinate.
There was one last small corner of the plot left. Tian Yao found the chili peppers they had used up during the New Year and pressed the tiny, yellow seeds into the soil.
When he was done, he brushed the dirt from his clothes. “I hope they all sprout.”
“They will.”
Yu Nian looked at the patch of land. Those seeds were like his former self. When no light could reach them, there was no hope. But with nourishment, they could grow strong.
If he could do it, those seeds could too.
