Chapter 5: Egg Pancake

Chapter 5: Egg Pancakes

The first light of dawn was faint.

Gu Muan, being young, didn't need much sleep and always woke early.

On usual days, after waking, Gu Wen would carry him to the outhouse, and then Gu Wen would go about his business while the little boy would waddle off bow-legged to find Gu Chaoning.

But today, Gu Chaoning had clearly fallen out of favor. The moment Gu Wen set him down, Gu Muan turned right back around and clung to Gu Wen's leg, refusing to let go, demanding to be carried back to the room.

Then, the pleased little boy trotted over to the side of the still-sleeping older brother who'd just arrived.

"Day!"

"Hey, you little rascal," Gu Wen caught on to his little scheme, reaching out to give Gu Muan's bottom a swat. "No wonder you made me carry you back."

Gu Muan was just leaning over Yin Hongxue to get a look at him when Gu Wen's unexpected swat sent his face landing flat on the bed.

The little boy instinctively pouted in displeasure, his chubby cheeks puffing out like a pufferfish.

"Bad!"

Gu Muan pointed at Gu Wen with his finger, then turned to see Chen Youyan watching him. He immediately threw himself at Chen Youyan in grievance, babbling that Daddy was mean.

Still half-asleep, Chen Youyan heard the little one's complaint and instinctively poked Gu Wen's belly with his foot.

He soothed, "Daddy's bad. Baba gave him a kick for you."

Gu Wen hid the smile tugging at his lips and played along, clutching his stomach. "Ow, that hurt!"

"Such a fake," Chen Youyan muttered with a smile. The father-son antics chased away his drowsiness completely.

Gu Muan stared wide-eyed at Gu Wen. Seeing that Daddy was back to his usual self and hadn't actually been kicked hard, his pout turned back into a smile.

He covered his own little belly with his tiny hands, mimicking: "Hurties!"

Gu Wen copied him: "Hurties!"

Somehow, this hit Gu Muan's funny bone. The little boy beamed with joy, giggling as he flopped back onto the bed.

It was in the middle of all this laughter that Yin Hongxue slowly opened his eyes.

The window was open, and a cool morning breeze drifted in, bringing a comfortable chill and the faint, lingering scent of mugwort from the mosquito-repelling incense lit the night before.

It wasn't unpleasant—in fact, it felt almost... familiar.

In his daze, a long-blurred figure suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The figure smiled, waving a grass fan to send him a gentle breeze, along with a faint... scent of mugwort.

"Day-day!"

Gu Muan, who'd been keeping an eye on the new older brother even while playing, was the first to notice Yin Hongxue was awake.

"Xue Geer, you're awake?" Chen Youyan also leaned in.

The sudden two voices—especially the adult one—jolted the still-groggy Yin Hongxue wide awake. He scrambled up almost instinctively.

At this hour, he'd normally be up boiling water.

If anyone caught him awake but still in bed, he'd get a beating.

So Yin Hongxue, half-awake and half-panicked, looked uneasy.

He kept his head down, trying to climb off the heated brick bed, hoping to slip away and dodge the beating.

As he moved, a warm, soft little hand caught his rough, calloused one.

Yin Hongxue followed the hand with his eyes—

"Day-ah?" Gu Muan couldn't quite figure out what Yin Hongxue was up to, but his little brain worked for a moment before he had a lightbulb moment. He patted Gu Wen. "Pee-pee!"

Chen Youyan, equally puzzled, caught on from Gu Muan's hint and had a flash of understanding. He asked, "Does Xue Geer need to go potty?"

The big one and the little one leaned in together—similar faces, bright eyes, both full of gentle kindness and soft questions.

The figure in his mind wavered, briefly overlapping with the ones in front of him, then split into a big one and a little one.

Ah, he was now the Gu family's Chaoning's child husband, no longer at the Yin house.

He wouldn't be scolded or beaten for waking up late and not boiling water anymore.

Realizing this, Yin Hongxue's stiff back slowly relaxed.

He thought for a moment, then said softly, "Baba, little brother."

"Mm-hm!"

Chen Youyan's eyes lit up. His already-soft heart melted even more at the sound of "Baba," nearly caving in at the edges. Gu Wen also leaned in, curious.

Seeing this, Yin Hongxue felt more at ease. "Daddy."

"Mm-hm!"

Gu Muan looked from one to the other. Not understanding but joining in anyway: "Mm!"

Sounds came from the yard—a "crack" as firewood caught fire.

*

Gu Wen, who'd been sent out to boil water, had a smile on his face.

He stood at the kitchen's open window, peering inside. He'd expected to see his mother or father, but instead found a young, already sturdy figure.

"Chaoning? You're up this early?" Gu Wen looked him over, practically wearing an "Is this really my son?" expression on his face.

After all, this kid had been sleeping in a lot lately.

Gu Chaoning, under his father's suspicious gaze, wasn't annoyed at all—he just smiled shyly.

"Daddy, you're up? I boiled hot water in the pot. Daddy can..." wash his face and brush his teeth.

"Hold on!"

Gu Wen was startled. He first turned to look at the east wing, checking that the roof hadn't caved in, then took two long strides into the kitchen. Like a sharp-eyed schoolmaster, he scanned every surface in the kitchen.

The kitchen was just as it always was—nothing out of place...

Gu Wen's heart sank even more. He scanned again, still found nothing, and could only stare at the feigning-innocent Gu Chaoning with a baffled, exasperated look.

"Spit it out, son. What trouble did you get into this time?"

"If it's something small, your dad's got you covered. If it's something big, you're on your own—go see your grandpa."

Gu Chaoning almost cracked a smile, finally getting why his dad had been putting on such a show.

He decided to drop the act and just said it outright: "Dad, can we go into town today?"

"What? Son, you—" Gu Wen's face went blank, "Oh, you want to go to town..."

Gu Wen's mind had been racing, from picturing Gu Chaoning tearing off the roof tiles to knocking over the oil jar.

The longer he thought, the more he figured he was screwed. Now that he heard it was just a trip to town, he completely relaxed.

"Want to go to town? Well, that's—"

"Gu Chaoning, what did you just say?" Chen Youyan's voice came from behind Gu Wen, icy enough to shut down everything. "Yesterday was your day off. What are you taking off for today, huh?"

"Don't even think about making excuses to skip the village school."

Gu Wen's face went cold too, and he added, "That's—absolutely out of the question!"

Gu Chaoning: "..."

Gu Chaoning looked at his dad, then at his other dad, and for once was completely speechless.

Gu Wen felt a little awkward under his son's stare. He wanted to pat his shoulder but didn't dare with Chen Youyan right there.

He could only look away and scoop out water for the two boys who'd lagged behind to wash up.

Gu Muan walked over holding Yin Hongxue's hand, then suddenly spotted Gu Chaoning up ahead. He froze, especially since his brother didn't look too happy.

He glanced at Yin Hongxue but couldn't bring himself to let go. He just looked up and flashed Gu Chaoning a sheepish smile.

"Hey there!"

More noise came from outside—it was Gu Daniu and Wang Xiuxiu, now up and about.

Last night, while Chen Youyan was bathing the kids, Gu Wen had filled the two elders in on Yin Hongxue's situation. They'd tossed and turned half the night before finally dozing off, which is why they were late getting up this morning.

"Why are you all crowding the kitchen?" Wang Xiuxiu asked in confusion.

Chen Youyan shot Gu Chaoning a look, gave a quick rundown, then shooed everyone out to start breakfast.

So it was just about wanting to play hooky. Wang Xiuxiu smiled.

She suddenly remembered Gu Wen had been just the same at that age.

Like father, like son, Wang Xiuxiu thought to herself.

Gu Daniu didn't overthink it like Wang Xiuxiu. He splashed water on his face, rinsed his mouth over the basin, then started pushing Gu Wen to go check on yesterday's lower-grade field.

They were already running late, and if they stalled any longer, it'd get hot.

Meanwhile, Yin Hongxue and Gu Muan had washed up too. With damp bangs plastered to their foreheads and cheeks, they looked even cuter and sharper.

Since Gu Chaoning's earlier ask about town had ticked off Chen Youyan, Yin Hongxue was keeping his head down, trying to stay invisible.

He couldn't figure out why Gu Chaoning didn't want to go to school.

Yin Hongxue had a four-year-old half-brother named Yin Guangzong, from his stepmother and dad. Yin Hongxue often heard his stepmother say she wanted to send Guangzong to school to learn his letters, so he wouldn't end up a dirt-poor farmer.

For as long as Yin Hongxue could remember, he'd known that anything his stepmother gave or wanted to give Guangzong was good.

So in Yin Hongxue's mind, going to school to learn to read and write was a good thing.

So why didn't Chaoning Ge want to go to school?

Chaoning Ge, the one who didn't want to go to school, walked over, took the wooden basin the two little boys had used, and dumped out the water.

Even during the meal, Yin Hongxue kept mulling it over.

But when the food hit the table, Yin Hongxue's—the little boy's—thoughts came to a screeching halt.

A basin of white, sticky rice porridge landed on the table, and the air filled with its sweet, nutty scent. With so much rice in it, even the broth was thick and milky.

Next came egg pancakes, also in a basin—golden, shiny, and flecked with bright green scallions. The second they hit the table, they stole all of Yin Hongxue's attention.

Pickled veggie chunks were sliced into strips, tossed with minced garlic, and drizzled with sizzling hot oil. Pickled cowpeas were chopped into bite-size pieces, and there was a plate of cold squash salad on the side.

As all three dishes came out together, Yin Hongxue sat down to his first meal with the Gu family.

Before eating, with Chen Youyan guiding him, Yin Hongxue solemnly called Wang Xiuxiu and Gu Daniu "Grandma" and "Grandpa."

After both elders nodded back with big smiles, Yin Hongxue relaxed and broke into a grin.

"Dad, Mom, I'm gonna take the kids into town for a bit later."

Chen Youyan picked up an egg pancake and set it in Yin Hongxue's bowl. He'd noticed the kid eyeing those pancakes the whole time.

Besides, today's pancakes were made just for Xue Geer.

Even with the Gu family doing okay for themselves, they wouldn't normally splurge on egg-and-oil pancakes for breakfast.

Wang Xiuxiu looked up, surprised, about to ask what they needed in town, when she caught Yin Hongxue across the table taking a tiny bite of the pancake and squinting his eyes in pure bliss.