Fang Chi yanked his hand back like he’d been bitten, glaring at Sun Wenqu, too shocked to get a word out.
“You… you two know each other?” The leader looked surprised.
“My son.” Sun Wenqu leaned back in his seat, smiling.
“What…” The leader seemed not to understand, turned to Fang Chi.
Fang Chi whipped his head to stare out the window. Even taking a guiding job, he couldn’t escape this lunatic Sun Wenqu!
Lunatic!
“Jok– joking.” The driver was laughing uncontrollably.
Fang Chi turned his head at the voice, sure enough, it was Ma Liang. Ma Liang happened to look back, and when their eyes met, he laughed even harder, even gave a little nod: “Nephew, th-thanks for the hard work.”
Fang Chi was speechless. He pushed the door open, jumped out, and said to the leader: “Brother Liu, get out and go over the route with me.”
The leader climbed out, glanced back at the car. “Um…”
“Route check!” Fang Chi said.
“Alright, alright, route check.” The leader nodded with a grin.
This group of Sun Wenqu’s friends wasn’t troublesome, none of them were beginners. Sun Wenqu was the exception, of course.
They didn’t have many special requests, just that before entering the mountain the route should allow cars through. Some previous groups had left cars at the foot of the mountain, hiked up, then after eating in the village, wanted a riverside hike with photos, requiring boats.
“There’s a road cars can take, right?” the leader confirmed with Fang Chi again.
“Mm. It hasn’t rained recently, so cars can pass,” Fang Chi said. “Just a bit of a detour.”
“That’s fine,” the leader nodded. “Except for those few women, most of the men have experience. Luo Peng and his guys are old hands.”
“Mm.” Fang Chi responded.
When they set off, Leader Liu pulled Fang Chi into the same car, still the first one. Sun Wenqu drove, Ma Liang and the leader sat in the back. Since Fang Chi had to guide, he had no choice but to sit shotgun.
No sooner had he sat down than Sun Wenqu glanced at him, grinning again.
“Really necessary?” Fang Chi sighed. “One prank and you’re this happy?”
“That’s right, I’m easily satisfied.” Sun Wenqu laughed, started the car.
Just as they were about to go, Luo Peng ran over and climbed into their car.
“Wha… what’s up?” Ma Liang asked.
“I’m not squeezing in with those girls,” Luo Peng waved. “They’re all discussing sunscreen back there.”
“Then you missed out,” Sun Wenqu teased. “You could’ve helped rub some on.”
“They’re all taken. Besides, I’m a serious guy.” Luo Peng clicked his tongue.
Once out of the city, Sun Wenqu drove fast. Fang Chi estimated they’d reach the village in about three hours. They could eat a farmhouse meal, then go up the mountain.
During lunch he could slip away to visit his grandpa. The next day, instead of returning with them, he could stay the night at his grandpa’s and catch the bus back to the city the following morning.
He hadn’t told Old Li this plan. Taking the bus, he’d definitely miss the first two classes.
Old Li would probably haul him into the office again. But whatever.
Thinking of seeing his grandparents, Fang Chi leaned back with his eyes closed, grinning to himself, and accidentally let a laugh slip out.
He quickly straightened his face and glanced at Sun Wenqu. Sun Wenqu kept his eyes on the road, but the smile tugging at his mouth was obvious.
By noon, the car reached the village entrance. Tourism had been developing the past year or two, but things weren’t standardized yet. The parking area was just a leveled patch with gravel; pulling up kicked a cloud of white dust.
But this undeveloped state was exactly what people liked.
“This village has great scenery and many old buildings, worth exploring,” the leader briefed everyone. “Behind the village is a river and bamboo forest. We’ll head there first. Boats are rented, two kilometers downstream there’s a small waterfall to play at. Then you can walk or boat back. In the afternoon we go into the mountains, dinner in the hills.”
Everyone was excited. They lingered at the ancient tree and well at the entrance before following the leader into the village.
Fang Chi walked at the front, head down. At some point Sun Wenqu strolled up beside him, asking: “You grew up here?”
Fang Chi glanced at him. “Mm.”
“Still got relatives here?” Sun Wenqu looked around. The main road had been repaired, houses newly built. But the crisscrossing side paths were older, and plenty of old houses remained, full of atmosphere.
“My grandparents and aunt are here,” Fang Chi said. After a while he frowned. “Why didn’t you say these were your friends? You really came along with them?”
“That day I asked which club you trained at,” Sun Wenqu smiled. “If you’d told me, I’d have said. You wouldn’t say, so I had to stop.”
“I…” Fang Chi opened his mouth, at a loss, then shut it and said nothing.
By the river, two farm-inns were open. People were already sitting in riverside pavilions, eating and watching the view, families with kids.
Their group of twenty-plus filled the rest of the tables. The leader had called ahead, so the boss was already preparing.
Fish, free-range chicken, free-range duck, Luo Peng went along to pick them out.
Fang Chi also went into the kitchen. The boss turned and, spotting him, laughed. “Little Chi, come back to see your grandpa, eh?”
“Mm.” Fang Chi smiled, grabbed a small steamed sausage from the pot, bit into it. “Tasty.”
“Your grandpa just went back inside, I saw him on my way over,” the boss handed him a strip of cured meat. “This batch is good, not too salty.”
“I’ll go see him. You’re busy.” Fang Chi slipped out the back door.
It wasn’t far, five minutes’ walk.
Every step was familiar: the ground, the houses, the air, the old men and women chatting at doorways, the dogs sunbathing against walls.
Fang Chi walked briskly, then after a dozen steps couldn’t help skipping a few times.
“Really is fourteen, huh,” a lazy voice drawled behind him. “Bouncing along like that.”
Fang Chi jumped in fright, turned to see Sun Wenqu following him.
“What are you doing?” Fang Chi glared. “You guys eat at the farm-inn, rest a bit, then go boating…”
“I’m not eating that,” Sun Wenqu said, smiling, stretching, lifting his face to take a deep breath. “Air’s really good.”
“Then what are you going to eat?” Fang Chi was at a loss how to deal with him.
“At your grandpa’s,” Sun Wenqu answered cheerfully. “That’s the real farmhouse meal. Whatever you eat, I eat.”
“I eat…” Fang Chi almost blurted, If I eat sh*t, would you eat it too?
But too eager to see his grandparents, he couldn’t be bothered to argue. He turned and strode on.
Sun Wenqu followed leisurely behind. “Hey, not bouncing anymore? I’m just tagging along for a meal, not doing anything. Is it worth sulking so much you won’t even skip?”
Fang Chi didn’t reply, didn’t turn around. As he walked, he gave two little hops.
Sun Wenqu laughed for ages.
Nearly a hundred meters from his grandpa’s house, Fang Chi heard barking. A big yellow dog came tearing down the path like a gust of wind.
It was the family dog, a mutt between a native dog and Sheltie. Grandpa called her Xiaozi, though she was female. Nearly ten years old now.
Fang Chi bent, clapping his hands. Xiaozi ran faster, tongue almost flapping off her head.
“Holy sh*t,” Sun Wenqu yelped. “That big a dog? Yours?”
“Mm.” Fang Chi turned, and saw Sun Wenqu, who had been walking easily behind, now plastered against a wall. Fang Chi felt an indescribable thrill, unable to hide his grin. “You afraid of dogs?”
“Not really,” Sun Wenqu frowned, worried. “Just… big ones.”
Pressed against the wall, he watched the dog barrel into Fang Chi, wagging, rubbing, yipping in delight, ears folded flat.
“Good girl, Xiaozi.” Fang Chi crouched, hugging her head, rubbing hard. “Missed me, huh?”
“Little Chi? Little Chi!” From a courtyard up ahead, a plump old lady came out, calling in a loud voice: “Hey you little brat, what are you doing back here!”
“Grandma!” Fang Chi lifted his head and answered, his voice full of joy. One hand patted the dog’s head, the other pointed at Sun Wenqu. “Boy, keep an eye on him, this is your… Uncle Sun.”
“Quit taking advantage of me!” Sun Wenqu said.
Fang Chi ignored him, took off running toward the courtyard.
Sun Wenqu stayed where he was, silently staring at the big yellow dog, apparently called Xiaozi.
The dog had been so excited on seeing Fang Chi it nearly peed itself, but now, instead of chasing after him, it plopped down right in front of Sun Wenqu.
“Hey,” Sun Wenqu shifted a step to the side. The dog shifted too. He had no choice but to stop. “What’s this supposed to mean? No, what does he mean?”
The dog wagged its tail. It didn’t look like it wanted to bite him, but also had no intention of moving aside.
Sun Wenqu had to keep pressing against the wall and tried stepping toward the courtyard again.
The dog shifted forward with him.
Sun Wenqu stopped; the dog stood still too. He took another step.
This time the dog stood up and came to his leg.
“What the h*ll!” Sun Wenqu was scared stiff. Standing, the dog’s head reached his thigh.
The dog sat down right against his leg.
Across the yard, Fang Chi was hugging and chatting with the old lady. Just when Sun Wenqu was about to wave and remind him there was still a man besieged over here, Fang Chi actually went into the courtyard with the old lady.
Sun Wenqu was furious, couldn’t hold back and shouted: “Fang Chi!”
The shout had enough force to startle the dog, which suddenly jumped up and lifted its head to look at him.
“I wasn’t yelling at you,” Sun Wenqu leaned against the wall. “Go, call your master over. Xiaozi, right? Xiaozi, be good, go call that little b*stard Fang Chi over.”
The dog tilted its head.
“Tch,” Sun Wenqu clicked his tongue. “Don’t play cute. That head of yours is anything but cute…”
“Xiaozi!” Fang Chi finally came back out of the courtyard, running over with something in his hand.
The dog leapt up, barking, and ran toward him.
“D*mn.” Sun Wenqu frowned, muttered a curse under his breath, but let out a sigh of relief.
“Try this.” Fang Chi came up and handed him an ear of corn.
“Not eating.” Sun Wenqu shot him a look. “What’s this, revenge?”
“It’s sweet corn, really sweet, you can eat it like fruit,” Fang Chi said. “My grandpa just boiled it.”
“…I didn’t wash my hands.” Sun Wenqu looked at the corn in his hand. It was beautiful, and the smell was tempting.
“Hold it by the husk.” Fang Chi peeled it a little for him. “Don’t tell me you can’t even bite corn.”
“Give it here!” Sun Wenqu snatched it and bit down.
It really was sweet, and very tender.
“Bringing friends home without saying a word.” As soon as they entered the yard, a thin old man with a smiling face came out of the house. “Didn’t I tell you to let me know beforehand so I could prepare?”
“What’s there to prepare? Just some casual food. I’m still leading people into the mountains this afternoon,” Fang Chi said.
“What’s this friend’s name?” The thin old man should be Fang Chi’s grandpa, he had a similar look about him, kindly and pleasant.
“My surname’s Sun, Sun Wenqu. Hello, Grandpa, Grandma.” Sun Wenqu greeted them, then glanced at the dog wagging its tail furiously at the side.
“Don’t be afraid, this dog doesn’t bite, very well-behaved.” The plump old lady laughed. “Xiaozi, out of the way, you’re scaring him!”
“…Very well-behaved indeed.” Sun Wenqu smiled, only sitting down on a little stool in the yard once the dog had moved away. “We just suddenly came, no advance notice, don’t blame us. Mainly Fang Chi said home food here was the best, dragging me along…”
Fang Chi whipped his head around and glared at him.
“This little brat, always bragging that his grandpa’s cooking is good, telling everyone,” Grandma clicked her tongue and went toward the kitchen. “Actually it’s awful. Mine’s the good stuff. I’ll cook for you, it’s just about time anyway.”
“He said mine’s the best.” Grandpa hurried after her.
“Did he? He said the home food’s the best!” Grandma sped up.
“You said it yourself, Little Chi always says his grandpa’s cooking is the best!” Grandpa broke into a run, charging into the kitchen first.
“He’s wrong!” Grandma squeezed in after him.
Fang Chi chuckled, watching the two old folks jostle into the kitchen. But when he turned and saw Sun Wenqu, he immediately looked annoyed again: “What’s with that about me dragging you here?”
Sun Wenqu’s mouth still carried a smile as he watched the two elders in the kitchen. Hearing Fang Chi’s words, he only shot him a casual glance before looking back that way.
“When did I drag you here?” Fang Chi pressed.
“I begged and begged to come,” Sun Wenqu said. “Go, hurry up, tell your grandpa you never said the home food was best, and you didn’t drag anyone here.”
Fang Chi gave him a sideways look, said nothing, and just waved the dog over.
“Call him uncle.” Fang Chi pointed at Sun Wenqu.
Xiaozi immediately tucked back its ears, tilted its head up at Sun Wenqu, and barked twice.
“Sh*t!” Sun Wenqu was so startled he dragged his stool back two meters. Just as he sat down again, before his hand even let go of the stool, he felt something poke his hand. Turning his head, he saw a big rooster stretching out its neck, ready to peck the corn in his hand. He jumped up. “Hey!”
“Oh, so you’re not afraid of chickens?” Fang Chi said.
“Of course not.” Sun Wenqu waved the rooster away and sat back down. “Back then…”
He wanted to say how his dad once dumped him in the mountains to watch people digging, and back when they lived on the first floor, chickens used to wander into his room.
But he didn’t say it. Suddenly it felt pointless.
In the kitchen, Grandpa and Grandma bickered as they cooked. Fang Chi, in the sunlight, teased the dog, listening to the familiar voices, and felt very grounded.
“Your parents live in the city?” Sun Wenqu suddenly asked.
“No,” Fang Chi glanced at him. “They run a shop in the county town.”
“Oh, so your family’s split three ways?” Sun Wenqu said.
“Mm.” Fang Chi nodded.
“Got any more corn?” Sun Wenqu looked at the bare cob in his hand.
Fang Chi went into the kitchen and brought another one out.
Before long, the smell of food drifted from the kitchen, rich with the special scent of firewood, mouthwatering.
“Should’ve asked your Uncle Liangzi to come eat too,” Sun Wenqu muttered. “Pity.”
“Do they know you slipped out?” Fang Chi asked. If he’d disappeared without a word, the leader would be scared stiff.
“They know. I told them I was on a fast, going for a walk.” Sun Wenqu said.
“What fast?” Fang Chi frowned.
“Being uneducated is scary,” Sun Wenqu sighed. “I said my butt hurt, so I’m walking it off.”
Fang Chi frowned harder, stared at him a long while. “You mean fasting? Not eating?”
“Look at that, you figured it out. Touching.” Sun Wenqu said.
“You little brat, come carry dishes!” Grandma’s voice rang from the kitchen.
“Coming!” Fang Chi answered, ran in to bring out a table to the courtyard, then rushed back to carry dishes.
“I…” Sun Wenqu followed two steps, meaning to help.
“Sit down, don’t get in the way.” Fang Chi pointed to the stool.
“Didn’t plan to move anyway, I’ll just wait to eat.” Sun Wenqu sat down.
Grandpa and Grandma were very hospitable. The dishes weren’t fancy but plentiful, all homegrown. A pot of wild vegetable soup smelled incredible; Sun Wenqu also liked the look of a big plate of tender bamboo shoots, and there was another plate of little fish, said to be caught from the creek.
“No time to prepare properly,” Grandpa pushed dishes toward him. “Just our everyday food, see if it suits your taste.”
“It does, perfectly.” Sun Wenqu quickly picked up some food. “This is exactly what I like, simple home cooking, that’s the real flavor.”
“No pesticides, we grow our own vegetables, fresh as can be,” Grandma said. “You city folks can’t get this, you’re all eating what we don’t even want.”
“Grandma,” Fang Chi laughed as he ate, “what are you saying.”
“The truth,” Grandma nudged Sun Wenqu with her elbow. “Shuiqu, eat more.”
Sun Wenqu froze. Fang Chi, sipping soup, immediately ducked his head, the soup spurted out onto the ground.
“Your memory’s bad. His name’s not Sun Shuiqu. It’s Sun…. Sun… what Qu?” Grandpa said.
“I’m Sun Wenqu,” Sun Wenqu held back a laugh and explained. “Wenqu, as in the poem line, ‘To ask how the waters are so clear.’”
“Ah.” Grandpa nodded, looking at him. “Ask who?”
“…Ask no one.” Sun Wenqu nearly choked.
“Oh my.” Fang Chi swallowed his food, leaned back in his chair, laughing so hard he could hardly breathe. “Stop explaining, it just makes it more confusing.”
Sun Wenqu watched him laugh for a while, then quietly said: “Hey, your dimples are showing.”
Fang Chi froze, tried to straighten his face, but after two seconds he burst out laughing again.
“Shame on you,” Grandma tapped his head with her chopsticks. “What’s so funny, making poor Shuiqu, no, what was it again?, making him embarrassed.”
“Wen*,” Grandpa reminded her. “Wen.”
* means ask
“Ask who!” Grandma shot him a look.
“Shuiqu it is then,” Sun Wenqu gave in. “Grandma, I’m Sun Shuiqu.”
“Shuiqu,” Grandma patted him. “Come play more often when you’ve got time. This brat’s never brought a friend home before. Really, our air’s better, food and drink better than your city. Look at me, gonna live a hundred years!”
“Mm.” Sun Wenqu nodded.
“Grandpa and Grandma aren’t educated, don’t know what to say. But if you come, you’ll eat and drink well.” Grandma patted his back again. “Grandma will cook for you.”
“Grandpa’s cooking is the one worth eating,” Grandpa chimed in.
“Mm,” Sun Wenqu smiled. “Both of yours are delicious.”
“Then come often,” Grandpa said.
“Mm.” Sun Wenqu smiled, glanced at Fang Chi. “I’ve got time, could come every day.”
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