Special Chapter: Youth
A small child, a little girl around 5 years of age, swayed in her spot playfully in front of a small and charming house. The house had a yard full of flowers, each of which only served to compliment the girl’s fair and tender features while her pure white sundress fluttered in the gentle breeze. Her black hair was to her shoulder, straight and smooth like satin, framing her cherubic face that was still plump with baby fat, looking as if water could be squeezed from her cheeks. Her eyes were large and full of life, glistening with curiosity as if waiting for someone to exit the house. The girl worried her little lips, showing her concern for the one she waited on.
“Big Brother Cheng said he’d be out soon…. but it’s been so long!”
The girl’s voice was soft, warm and sweet, a charming lilt to it. Just as she began to stomp her feet in impatience the front door of the little house opened and a young boy, of 9 years old, stepped out. He had a scrawny figure, tanned by the sun, his black hair short and messy. He was wearing khaki pants and a t-shirt that had the English word Fun on it. His eyes were sharp, a coy glint shining now and then, his features bearing a striking resemblance to the stern man who had seen him out of the house.
“XiaoXiao, do not cause a fuss. My mother fixed your sun hat, she wanted me to find her ribbon to make it prettier, she said.”
The boy, Gang Cheng walked over to the smaller Feng Mian and sighed, snugly placing the hat on her head before straightening out the girl’s wardrobe. He impatiently sighed, taking her hand in his as he walked with her towards the vehicle awaiting them. It was the van used for Inn transportation, particularly in the summer months, and Gang Cheng was rather familiar with it, though not like Feng Mian who easily clambered in and sat instinctively in her favorite spot.
“Mian is big enough to go to the mountain too? With all the other big kids? She can go, really?”
“That is right. You are old enough to come with us this year, but you have to be careful.”
“Mian is always careful, Big Brother Cheng! She is a good girl! Brother says good girls get the best hugs so Mian is on her best behavior all the time! She even washes her teeth after her snack time and naps! Plus Mian can… can tie Mian’s shoes and get dressed by herself!”
“That means you are a very good girl, keep it up ok?”
“Mian will! Mian wants a hug!”
Feng Mian spread her small arms wide, excited to get a hug from her favorite friend Gang Cheng. She was closest to him ever since she could remember, he was so smart and was such a big kid compared to her, even if it was only a few years difference. She was jealous of him, her little heart twisting into knots when she thought about him. He didn’t always play with her, sometimes he even pushed her aside to work on his school projects, but it only made her chest burn hotter.
Gang Cheng leaned in, wrapping his arms around her small body. He gave her a soft squeeze, hearing a giggle escape from her lips. His cheeks flared to a deep crimson, his hand raising to his mouth to hide his embarrassed cough. He always had a weird feeling when he was around her lately, something felt too tight and uncomfortable like it was missing. He could never place how he felt these days but he chalked it up to growing older. His father had already given him ‘the talk‘ and for a little while he was scared of growing older, yet he quickly found out it didn’t matter how he felt about growing older, it would happen regardless.
“Do you have your whistle XiaoXiao?”
“Mian has the whistle necklace papa gave, right papa?”
“That is right, I already gave her all the necessities Cheng’er.”
The broad and sleepy looking man chewed on the cigarette between his lips, the cigarette bouncing up and down while he talked.
“Even her juice?”
“Even her juice, unless she eats her snack and drinks her drink early she should have everything needed.”
Gang Cheng grew silent while the gruff man returned to driving. Gang Cheng was admittedly still a little scared of Feng Mian’s father Feng Zhao, but after knowing the man for so long he’d started coming to terms with the gentle giant.
“Feng Mian, can I check your bag?”
Cogs began churning in Gang Cheng’s mind, he wanted to keep Feng Mian reliant on him and this was a perfect opportunity. Having her around made his days more peaceful as she was a good blocker for the other girls who began to notice boys, plus she was clever and cute, who wouldn’t want her around. The only issue was that some boys were already beginning to notice her and Gang Cheng himself didn’t like that.
“Hnn? Check Mian’s bag? Ok.”
Feng Mian handed over her bag easily, returning her attention to the road she could see from the seat, her seatbelt tight against her and making it hard for her to really enjoy the scenery. As Gang Cheng watched her from the corner of his eye he fished around in her backpack. Ah, he found it. He lifted the three juice boxes and water bottle sneakily from her bag, placing them into his own that was lying next to him. He wasn’t aware that Feng Zhao was watching him from the rear view mirror causing him to be startled from the sudden deep chuckle. Color rose to his cheeks again as he closed up his bag and placed Feng Mian’s back into her lap.
“Big Brother?”
“It is nothing, XiaoXiao. Do you want to be in my group going up the mountain?”
“Yes! Mian wants to! Is Big Brother Song going to be with us too? He tries to flip up Mian’s skirts sometimes! Mian doesn’t like him.”
Feng Mian’s cheeks puffed out and Gang Cheng’s face grew pale. His friend Song Men did what!? He grit his teeth, making a snap judgment to punch Song Men if he ever made a move on Feng Mian, she was like his sister and he wanted to protect her. Only he was allowed to tease her, it helped her grow more adult and build character! Or at least that’s what his father said happened when boys teased girls they liked…
If there is ever a girl you like, give her plenty of attention and tease her if you can. Do not be too mean but don’t be too soft. It builds character you know, there is the bonus of it making her grow wiser and more adult too. Women are wise, boy. They grow smarter than boys faster than them, but when they are vulnerable it is the boys time to shine.
Is exactly what his father had told him, right as he lightly slapped his mother on the butt cheekily. Gang Cheng had cringed at that moment as his mother had swore at his father, calling him a pervert. Now is the time to tease her, huh? He might not like like Feng Mian, but he wanted to help her grow up and get this character, character sounds like it’s important for someone. He nodded his head, still deciding to carry through with his tease of taking her drinks. He’ll have her borrow his drinks on the hike, making them grow closer and having her remember to go over her own supplies after someone tampers with it. He heard all about people’s things being stolen when he went to Beijing to see his grandmother just two months before, it makes him worried for such a delicate little girl like Feng Mian.
The car continued to roll through the town and gradually more and more youngsters climbed inside. No one got close to Feng Mian or Gang Cheng until they arrived at a small flower shop. Instantly all the other kids grew rambunctious, clambering over each other or pushing one another.
“Get out of the way! Make sure there is no room! Make him sit next to Gang Cheng!”
One little boy called out, whining pathetically.
“Ugh! Please do not bring live frogs this time! And do not attract big bugs either!”
A girl cried, another squealing in disgust.
A blurry image of a child barreled into the car, practically landing in Gang Cheng’s lap. A bright and strongly chiseled face, for a child, appeared in gang Cheng’s vision. He wasn’t even mildly surprised, staring at the eyes that could rival Feng Mian’s in brightness.
“Song Men.”
“Brother Cheng.”
“Sit down, Mr. Feng cannot drive with you crawling over me.”
“I wanted window seat! You know I like the window seat, A’Mian!”
“It is Mian’s papa’s car!”
“I am a guest!”
“Mian owns it!”
“You do not own it, your dad owns it!”
“Papa’s car is Mian’s car. Owning too! Owning is Mian’s!”
“Do you even know what it means to own something?”
“Mian knows! Mian knows a lot!”
Just as Song Men was going to open his mouth Gang Cheng slapped his hand on Song Men’s mouth.
“No fighting.”
“Mian is sorry.”
Feng Mian hung her head low, embarrassed for getting in an argument with Song Men.
“You too Song Men.”
Song Men grunted and groaned as Gang Cheng continued to cover his mouth with his hand, in a desperate attempt to get free Song Men licked Gang Cheng’s hand. Instantly Song Men was freed and he sat down next to Gang Cheng, pouting. There was a window next to him, but it wasn’t the window. He began picking at his belly button, unamused in the scenery. He’d already been on the trip for 3 years in a row after all, though Gang Cheng went 4 times already. Gang Cheng was so lucky to be born a year older!
“Want to play a game?”
Song Men barked, the rest of the kids perked their ears, wanting to hear the proposal.
“Let’s guess the color of the girl’s underwear.”
Song Men bravely pushed out his chest and before Feng Zhao could even stop the car Gang Cheng punched Song Men in the face.
“Do not be an idiot! That is not going to happen!”
“It was only a suggestion. I am bored!”
“Read a book.”
“I get car sick.”
“Then puke out the window.”
“Ah! No, no, no! Not out the window, just ask me to stop and you can puke on the side of the road if you have to.”
Feng Zhao cried out, tired of the interactions between Gang Cheng and Song Men.
=======
Feng Mian panted, staring at her empty bag. She’d walked so far but she had no juice or water? What is this!? Didn’t her dad pack her some juice to drink? She knew Gang Cheng had looked it over for her but it’s empty! She only has her snacks. She pouted, about to call for her father, however, as she looked up she saw he was surrounded by 10 other children. She lowered her head and pouted, thinking no one would understand until Gang Cheng entered the area. He was carrying his backpack and he pulled out a juice, handing it to her.
“Did you forget to triple check your bag to make sure you had them?”
“M-Mian thought you did!”
“I checked for bug spray. Here, drink my juice. I have water.”
Feng Mian guiltily looked at Gang Cheng, pouting as her lip quivered.
“Mian forgot… she will remember next time, Big Brother.”
“It is ok. I have an extra drink if you want that.”
“No, Mian’s ok. Hey, big brother…”
“Yes?”
“Do you think Mian is a big girl yet? Even if Mian forgot?”
“Mian is a very big girl, you will be bigger than even the Meteo…. meteo-”
Gang Cheng struggled to talk, but Feng Zhao walked up behind the two.
“The IAP Meteorological Tower? Are you trying to tell my daughter she will be over 30 thousand centimeters? Don’t scare her.”
Feng Zhao took a roll of paper, slapping Gang Cheng slightly on the head.
“Even as a joke that’s too tall for a little girl to even imagine.”
Feng Mian’s eyes brimmed with tears, clutching her skirt tightly. She couldn’t even count all that good yet, but 30 thousand seemed impossibly high. Much, much, much taller than her father! If that was the case, Gang Cheng would be nothing more than a speck before her. She would tower over everyone, that scared her. She completely gave in to her emotions, sobbing wildly as she slammed her little fists into Gang Cheng’s chest.
“Big brother bullied Mian! Mian won’t be a monster! Mian is going to stay small!”
“Ok, ok! I promise Mian won’t grow taller than me, ok? Even if you did grow to 30 thousand centimeters, I’ll grow to 35 thousand. I’ll always be taller than you.”
“Promise?”
Feng Mian’s sparkling eyes pleaded Gang Cheng cutely, his face blossoming like a flower into a red blush. He mechanically nodded his head as she begged him, sniffling up at him. He turned his head away, his hand instinctively going to clean her face of snot and tears.
“You’ll always be shorter, it’s my promise, ok? Xiao Mian will always be small, will always be Big Brother Cheng’s XiaoXiao. Nothing will change, ok? Even when Big Brother Cheng grows up, even if we are over 100, you’re still Brother Cheng’s Xiao Mian.”
Feng Mian’s face was now clean and she paused, thinking of what Gang Cheng said. Her little mind couldn’t quite handle what happened and she pushed her face into Gang Cheng’s chest, whimpering and muttering things intelligibly, only she knew in her little heart that her childhood friend and big brother figure became the most important man in her life. Her chest ached so much she wanted to cry, her stomach feeling so full she wasn’t even hungry. Her mind went off like a firework, popping indiscriminately as happiness shot through her veins.
“Mian will remember. Mian will hold Brother Cheng to his words.”
She whispered quietly, clenching his shirt with her tiny fists, removing her face from his chest. She gave him a determined look, chewing on her bottom lip.
“Big brother has to be much, much taller than Mian. He has to always treat Mian like….”
She couldn’t figure out her emotions, her words becoming too complicated for her right then.
“Like? Like what Mian?”
“Uuuu, Mian will make Brother Cheng most important! Like papa for mama! S-so Brother Cheng has to be ready for that!”
Gang Cheng’s vision faded for a second as Feng Zhao gave him a harder slap to the head.
“You useless boy! My girl isn’t for you! Don’t you even think about it! You won’t get it in this lifetime if I can help it! Pei! You keep your paws off my daughter!”
Mian tilted her head in confusion, seeing her father drag a flushed Gang Cheng from her side. The lecturing Gang Cheng got wasn’t projected to her, but she felt what she said was the best way she could word it as her little head could figure. She chose to instead dig into Gang Cheng’s bag and take his drinks. She wanted to help her papa punish him for whatever he did, even if she didn’t understand.
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There it is folks! 5 chapters in one week! We will return to just 1 chapter a week next week. I hope you enjoy today’s chapter and special! Feng Mian doesn’t exactly remember this encounter and while Gang Cheng does we won’t have an answer on how he feels about it yet.
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