bookpower Chapter 39 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUA'ER
Chapter 39 HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUA'ER
As the siblings settled around the wooden dining table, their father emerged from the kitchen carrying a glazed earthenware bowl adorned with dancing cranes. Steam rose like morning mist from the wild mushroom and chicken soup within, carrying with it the earthy fragrance of fungi gathered from the forest.
Following behind him was their mother, who held a large bamboo steamer basket lined with lotus leaves. Within lay rows of carefully folded jiaozi, their wrappers as thin as autumn frost, betraying the shadows of minced herbs and meat beneath. Each dumpling was pleated with eighteen precise folds—a number of good fortune—and arranged in a pattern that resembling floating clouds.
"Wowwww..." The siblings breathed in unison, their eyes wide as saucers at the feast laid before them.
Li Hua felt her brothers' excitement radiating from either side of her, but something was different about her place—unlike her brothers, she didn't have the customary small bowl of rice before her. Seeing her questioning look, their mother disappeared into the kitchen. When she returned, she carried something that made Li Hua's breath catch—a special, crimson-glazed bowl decorated with golden phoenixes. She placed it before Li Hua with the gentle care one might use to handle a precious treasure.
Li Hua's eyes widened at the contents within. A nest of longevity noodles, hand-pulled until they were as thin as silk threads, coiled like dancing dragons in a clear broth that sparkled with tiny droplets of golden oil. The noodles were crowned with sprigs of emerald green vegetables and delicate threads of ginger, each strand stretching unbroken in endless loops—a symbol of long life and eternal blessings. Nestled beside the noodles sat a tea-stained egg, its marble-brown shell bearing intricate patterns like an ancient map, promising the rich golden yolk within that symbolized the warmth of the rising sun and the fullness of prosperity to come.
The special meal could mean only one thing.
"Happy Birthday, my precious Hua'er," her mother said softly.
"Happy Birthday, Little Sister!" Li Hao practically shouted, bouncing in his seat with excitement.
"Let's eat," her father said softly, his eyes crinkling with affection. Though her eyes were still slightly puffy, Li Hua found herself embraced by the gentle comfort of her family as they settled around the table together.
Li Hua carefully gathered a small bundle of gossamer-thin noodles, their strands glistening with golden droplets of broth and placed it into her mouth.
"Delicious, very delicious," she said softly, her eyes cast down as a small smile tugged at her lips.
The flavors overwhelmed her practiced restraint and soon she found herself slurping up the noodles with growing enthusiasm. Her tiny cheeks puffed out like a hamster's as she tried to fit too many noodles in her mouth at once, earning delighted laughter from her family.
"Slow down, Hua'er!" her mother said through her giggles, while her father's shoulders shook with gentle mirth. Her brothers exchanged tender looks—their usually composed little sister rarely showed such uninhibited joy. Li Wei reached over to wipe a drop of soup from her chin with his sleeve, the simple gesture of care making her pause mid-slurp. Such casual displays of affection were still new to her, each one a precious reminder of how different this life was. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she continued eating, savoring not just the noodles, but the blessed feeling of being surrounded by family.
The rest of dinner passed in comfortable joy, filled with the gentle clinking of chopsticks and soft conversation. When the meal concluded, everyone pitched in to clean up. Their mother moved gracefully around the table, wiping down its wooden surface with practiced care, while Li Hua followed behind her with a small cloth, diligently helping to dry. At the washing basin, her brothers worked in tandem—Li Wei carefully washing each dish while Li Hao rinsed—as their father dried them with methodical precision.
Once the kitchen was spotless, their father gathered the siblings with a gentle smile. "My little warriors," he said, "come with me. Let's begin your lessons." He led them to the back of the courtyard where their small plum tree stood, its branches casting delicate shadows in the afternoon light. There sat five cushions—worn but clean and clearly placed there with purpose. Though the cushions weren't new, their presence in this familiar training spot was novel, promising something different from their earlier exercises.
"Sit," their father said, his eyes twinkling with the promise of knowledge to come. Li Hua settled onto the middle cushion, her brothers taking their places on either side of her, their faces bright with curiosity about what their father might teach them today.