Extra Story - Chapter 3: Distant Mountains, Rising Clouds, Late Night Rain

That day, thick clouds pressed down on the sea, and the water and sky merged like ink. After a long period of swirling wind and clouds, a belated rain finally fell in the night.

"And so, Chichi was born."

Two pairs of phoenix eyes, one large and one small, gazed at each other. After a moment, a sweet child's voice piped up: "No golden radiance, just an auspicious cloud flying out of a dark cloud?"

His cool lips twitched imperceptibly: "What your Grandpa Song says cannot be trusted."

She hadn't even said it, and Daddy had already guessed who said it. "Daddy is so amazing!" Chichi's eyes widened.

With a slight smile, Ye Jinglan took Chichi's hand and walked into the garden.

"Daddy."

"Mm."

"Uncle Song said that the place Daddy used to live was a hundred times bigger than our home." Butterflies fluttered among the lush spring grass, occasionally resting on the fragrant flowers in Chichi's braids. "Why didn't Daddy want a place like that anymore?" Chichi looked up curiously, her eyebrows arching like a phoenix's.

"Because your mother wasn't there."

The low, deep voice flowed into her small ear canal, like spring water in March, so restrained and carrying an ineffable gentleness. It warmed her heart, and she vaguely understood something.

"Oh, this time it's another boy." A lively female voice awakened her from her daze.

Looking over, she saw two people sitting in the pavilion behind the tree. The one who spoke had a slightly bulging belly and was angrily biting into an apricot.

"Children are all the same, Senior Sister, what are you angry about?"

The tree shade concealed the person but not the voice. Chichi looked up slightly, and seeing those clear, water-like phoenix eyes, she understood a little more.

"Angry about what? Angry about not having a daughter! I remember when I gave birth to Xiaoya and Xiaosong, Senior Brother told me that good things don't come in threes, the next one would definitely be a daughter. But what happened? Four, five, and six were all boys!"

There seemed to be a rustling sound in the pavilion. After an arc, a cleanly eaten apricot pit rolled to her small feet.

Auntie seems very angry, Chichi silently looked up.

"Qingqing." The angry voice suddenly lowered, with a hint of pleading, "After you've given birth to this one, give me a few doses of the medicine your husband-in-law prepared for you."

"Senior Brother then..."

"Don't worry about him. It's already seven! It's good enough I didn't ask him for a refund! Still giving birth?" She paused, then added, "But what about you two? Are you really only planning to have Chichi?"

"One is enough."

"True, you gave everyone quite a scare when you had Chichi. That rain lasted two days and two nights, almost driving people to despair. At that time, your husband-in-law, he..." The female voice trailed off.

The child looked up at her father. An unfamiliar worry gently flowed through his eyes.

"I know his pain was no less than mine, so if he said no more children, then no more children. If he said to take medicine, I took medicine. I promised him I'd stay with him until old age, and never cross the Bridge of No Return before him."

Hearing this, the strength in his hand suddenly increased. Feeling her father's mood, Chichi gently squeezed back. The beautiful atmosphere in the garden continued to linger, when the energetic female voice rang out again.

"Qingqing! Did you eat this apricot?"

"Why?" Her voice sounded a little innocent.

"You, you, you aren't afraid of sour things!"

"Eh?"

In the blink of an eye, Chichi was carried into the pavilion.

"Husband-in-law, quickly take a look at her!"

It was one thing for Auntie to be flustered, but even Daddy looked nervous. Chichi walked to her mother's side, bewildered, picked up an apricot, and tasted it: "So sour!" Her little face wrinkled up.

"Sour?" Yuexia licked her lips, then suddenly froze. "Could it be..."

Withdrawing the hand that had been taking her pulse, Ye Jinglan looked at her with worried eyes.

"Um, Qingqing, you don't need to give me that medicine anymore." Holding the sour apricot, Xiaoniao sighed, "Oh, these days, men are unreliable, just unreliable."

The three adults in the pavilion had various expressions, making her quite confused.

Was the power of sour apricots really that great?

A few months later, she realized that the power of sour apricots was indeed astonishingly great, so great that it suddenly inflated her mother's belly.

"Is little sister in here?" Her phoenix eyes sparkled, and she touched it curiously.

"Chichi, it's a boy," Xiaoniao reminded with a smile.

"But Daddy said it's a little sister."

"It's a boy. 'Sour for boys, spicy for girls.' Your auntie here is experienced, absolutely no mistake!"

"That's not right," Chichi climbed onto the bamboo couch, her eyes blinking as she looked at her mother. "Brother Xiao said that little babies are put into Mommy's belly by Daddy himself, so if Daddy says it's a little sister, then it's a little sister."

"That brat!" Someone's mother gritted her teeth in anger. "Chichi, stay away from him in the future. Your auntie truly doesn't want her own fate to repeat itself on you!"

"Mommy..." Not understanding why Auntie was so agitated, Chichi snuggled into her mother's embrace.

"So, Chichi, do you want a little brother or a little sister?"

Her slender fingers ran through Chichi's hair, feeling so comfortable. "Chichi just wants Mommy." Her small face pressed against the round belly. "As long as it's born from Mommy, even a sour fruit would be fine."

"Silly child." Mommy's gentle smile made her feel so comfortable leaning in her fragrant and soft embrace that she felt like sleeping.

Yesterday she learned a character: a dot, a vertical stroke, a horizontal fold, and a small pig (豕) under a house.

Mother said it was the character for home (家). Mother also said that Daddy went out to sea to sell medicinal herbs to support the family, to build a house for Mother, Chichi, and little sister, and to raise small pigs.

A few months ago, she didn't quite understand why Daddy would give up such a magnificent large house and only love this quiet garden. But now she understood, because this was home, because it had her, it had little sister, and most importantly, it had Mother.

"Mommy..." she purred like a kitten, "Chichi misses Daddy so much."

"Mm, Mommy misses him too." The voice was deliciously warm, like soft, sweet cotton candy, leaving an indescribably sweet aftertaste in her heart.

"Mommy..."

"Mm."

"Tomorrow, Daddy, Uncle, Brother Xiao, Grandpa Song, Uncle Song, Second Uncle Song, and even Great-Grandpa who's on his travels will all be back, right? Chichi has been counting the days... It's New Year's... not a single one can be missing..." Her voice grew softer and softer, finally almost a murmur.

"When Chichi wakes up, they will all be back, not a single one missing."

Mm, not only will none be missing, but there will be two more. Auntie's little seventh, and Chichi's little sister. So good, so good. So good that she didn't want to sleep, only wanted to stay awake all the time...

Her small hand covered a yawn. It seemed Grandpa Zhou (the Duke of Zhou, a reference to dreaming) was coming to play chess with her again. Anyway, her chess skills were poor; she'd lose in a little while.

When she wakes up, when she wakes up...

When she woke up, she was still in her mother's arms. She rubbed her eyes, but realized she wasn't seeing things; the surroundings were indeed moving backward.

"Mommy?" It was pitch black all around; she couldn't see her mother's face.

"Don't be afraid, Chichi, we'll be there soon."

She could hear the unusual tone in her mother's voice, and because of it, she didn't ask further, just nestled quietly in her mother's arms, silently counting.

One, two, three...

She had never felt counting to a hundred was so long, never felt the sea breeze was so cold, and never felt her mother's embrace was so warm.

"Chichi, we're here."

It turned out that while she was lost in thought, they had already reached the mountaintop. She didn't know which path her mother had taken.

She timidly followed behind her mother, cautiously looking down the mountain. In the darkness, clusters of flames ignited, and the tall stockade gate collapsed with a roar in the sparks. Familiar cries filled the air.

"Mommy..." She was so scared.

"Auntie!"

"Auntie!"

It was Second Brother and Third Brother. Where was Auntie?

"Xiaoya, Xiaosong, where's your mother?" Mother asked for her.

"Mommy is in the woods; she's probably giving birth."

Second Brother's face was covered in dust, and Third Brother's hands still had bloodstains.

"We ran into a few sea bandits on the way up the mountain. Mommy fought them, and then..."

"Xiaoya, hurry down the mountain and find a midwife. Xiaosong, take Chichi and retreat into the woods. Take care of your younger brothers and sister, and your mother."

"What about Auntie?"

"Mommy!" She clutched her mother's sleeve tightly.

"Chichi, be good. Listen to Mommy and go into the woods first. Mommy will be there soon."

She clung to the soft hand on her face, unusually throwing a tantrum: "No, Chichi wants to be with Mommy."

"So you were hiding here!" A rude laugh filled with malice echoed, and in an instant, the mountain path was illuminated by torches. "Oh, it's all women and children. Brothers, we're in luck!"

With that, a dozen sea bandits surrounded them.

"Xiaosong, Xiaoya." Mother lowered her voice, with a convincing power in her words.

"Understood, Auntie."

She was carried away by Third Brother. This time, she didn't struggle, because she knew her mother had made up her mind.

"This pregnant woman is really pretty," the sea bandits held up their torches and shone them on her mother. "One by one, later. Don't play them to death too quickly."

Laughter mixed with the stench of blood, making her feel sick to her stomach.

"Beauty, if you obey, we brothers can let these children live." A hairy, dirty hand reached for her mother's chest. She was about to shout in anger when she saw a flash of silver light streak from her mother's sleeve.

"Go!"

The cold light illuminated her eyes, and the person in her eyes was definitely not an ordinary woman who went with the flow. The smooth sword energy was like snow, like a silken ribbon, and the soul-stirring sword sound was clear and high, reaching the clouds. She watched, unable to avert her gaze.

"So powerful!"

She didn't know when she had been carried into the woods. Beside her, Third Brother and Fourth Brother were both craning their necks to watch, their childish faces filled with admiration.

"I've never seen Auntie use a sword before, and I didn't know she was this good."

"There's a lot you don't know," Auntie said, her face pale, as she leaned against a tree. "She has so many secrets."

Secrets?

Gazing at the sword energy like a rainbow, her innocent pupils shimmered.

This was her mother.

________________________________________

If she had known the consequences of being extraordinary, she would have preferred her mother to be ordinary.

Her small hand pushed aside the curtain, and Chichi quietly entered.

A tall figure stood by the bed; Daddy had recklessly transmitted his vital energy to Mommy all night.

"Mommy." She tiptoed onto the bed and whispered by the pillow, "Wake up, Mommy, Daddy's back."

She found out later that those people were infamous sea bandits, driven out of Divine Kun, which was why they had come to the East Sea. They took advantage of the island's men being out at sea to try and plunder their island.

That night, most of the women and children down the mountain were abducted. But their family, not only did not lose anyone, but gained a new life. Although weak, the prematurely born little seventh eventually survived.

However, Mommy had fallen asleep.

"Mommy, don't sleep anymore." Her eyes were misty, but she refused to let tears fall. Softly, her small face rested on the swollen belly. "Little sister, tell Mommy not to sleep, okay?"

"Chichi, don't disturb your mother."

"But..." She looked into the shadows. Green whiskers had grown on his chin, and Daddy's lips were frighteningly white.

"Your mother is just too tired." His long, slender phoenix eyes held a hint of expectation, as if Mother would open her eyes at any moment. "Since your mother promised Daddy, she won't break her word."

"Mm, Mommy said not a single one would be missing."

Three months later...

"Home (家): a dot, a vertical stroke, a horizontal fold, and a small pig (豕) under a house." Chichi looked up, her eyes full of spring's vibrancy. "Mommy, is this right?"

"Mm, written very well."

She looked at her mother, whose face was already tinged with pink, her eyes feeling as if she had eaten a sour fruit.

So good, it was so good that Mommy had woken up.

"Mommy, Mommy," she cooed, snuggling into the fragrant, soft embrace. "Mommy, teach me how to write little brother's name."

That's right, half a month ago, she had a biological little brother, who arrived just as late as she did, causing Mommy pain for two days and two nights.

"The gathering of sky and water is called cloud (云), the rising of green mist is called rise (起)."

Resting her chin on her hand, Chichi looked at the two characters on the sand tray and suddenly asked, "And 'Slowly,' how do you write that?"

"Slowly?" Yuexia was puzzled.

"Daddy said little brother came even slower than Chichi, so his nickname is Slowly."

"Oh?" Yuexia looked interested.

"Uncle said, daughters are fine, but boys must be raised well."

"And how is that 'well'?"

"Daddy won't tell me, Uncle won't tell me, and even Brother Xiao and the other brothers won't tell me." Chichi poked the sleeping little face in the cradle, her face full of worry. "Mommy, you didn't see how fierce their faces were when they said that."

"Men's strange quirks. By the way, Chichi, where's your Daddy?"

"Ah, Daddy..." Her phoenix eyes blinked, evading left and right. "At that time, it was almost ready, and Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother and I went to gather shells! Mommy, you lie down first, Great-Grandpa will come to transmit qi to you later!"

"Hey, run slower!" Watching the little figure disappear into the distance, Yuexia slightly furrowed her brows. "Is only Master at home? Where have they all gone?"

________________________________________

The night deepened. The little girl sat by the sea, hugging her knees, gazing at the moon, whose light was clear as water. After a while, a wooden boat silently docked, and a dozen figures jumped off the boat.

Standing up, she ran like a bird towards the shore.

Uncle Song, Second Uncle Song, Uncle, Brother Xiao...

Under the moonlight, she counted them one by one. The blood-stained men emerged from the sea.

And Daddy!

She lowered her shoulders with relief.

Good, not a single one was missing.

"Chichi?" Xiaoxiao, walking in front, was the first to see her. "Why are you here?"

"I came to pick you up." She curved her eyebrows. "Second Uncle Song, don't hide it, I saw it."

"Little Miss..." Second Uncle Song awkwardly took out his saber from under his clothes. "Practicing with a saber in the sea on the night of the full moon can increase your power by 30%!"

"Second Uncle, stop making excuses. Chichi knows you went to kill sea bandits."

With a thud, the saber fell into the water. The adults looked incredulously at the child, who was half their height, her palm-sized face showing a maturity beyond her years.

"Uncles, please go back quickly. Any later, the aunties will get suspicious."

"Oh." The men all complied.

Stepping forward and taking his daughter's hand, Ye Jinglan then noticed that Chichi's small hand was a little cold and trembling, but her face still held a smile.

"Daddy, I told Mommy that you and Uncle went to play chess."

"Chichi did very well." Bending down, he picked her up, and Ye Jinglan walked towards the mountains.

"Daddy, Mommy ate several bowls of rice today; her spirits are much better."

"Your mother's body will get better and better."

"Mm, mm."

A stream of warm liquid slid down his neck. Ye Jinglan held his sobbing daughter, unconsciously reaching the quiet garden.

"Chichi doesn't want to always hide behind Mommy." Sliding down from him, Chichi raised her hand and looked up, her swollen phoenix eyes filled with determination. "Please, Daddy, teach Chichi martial arts."

With a look of gratification, Ye Jinglan nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Daddy!" Unable to control herself, she shouted, but unexpectedly, she startled someone with sharp hearing...

"Wah!"

An earth-shattering cry scared the moon into the clouds. Ye Jinglan frowned and walked towards the main house.

"Xiuyuan, you're back."

The faint candlelight illuminated the room.

"I'm sorry. I played chess with Brother Wuyu until now, and I'm late coming back."

On the window, the tall figure bent slightly and picked up the small toddler.

"Give me the child," the person on the bed reached out.

"Sleep, Qingqing. I'll watch him tonight." The tall figure walked back and forth, constantly rocking the crying infant in his arms.

The woman lowered her head and chuckled softly: "Manman is hungry."

The long shadow paused slightly, then walked to the bedside. Inside the window, the woman rustled as she unbuttoned her clothes, and the infant's cries stopped abruptly.

"Qingqing, you've worked hard."

"Mm, not hard at all."

Two silhouettes on the window leaned against each other, like a long, poetic scroll, engraved in Chichi's heart.

Home: a dot, a vertical stroke, a horizontal fold, and a small pig under a house.

Who are the pigs for?

For Daddy, for Mommy, for little brother.

She smiled, gently closing the door to the quiet garden.

----End----