Quze Yu The Midnight Tale [Vol. 1] (On Hiatus)

Chapter 3: New Day; Fluffy Pancakes, A Secret Side

"Quze Yu!!!"
"Come ooonnnn! We are going shopping at the Market!"
"We are braising meat this time, too!"
"It is for our dinner tonight! You're eating right?"
Just give me a few minutes. This bed, it misses me.
The door crashed open. I then felt something wrapped around my left ankle. The next thing I know, I was hanging...from the ceiling.
I "look" at him with annoyance. He punched me on the nose.
"Arg!"
"Not helping, you'll starve."
*Grimace*
"....Down....Passing out."
He then let go of the rope; purposely having no attention to lower me slowly. My head throbs in pain and I feel a little dizzy. I got dressed and walked to the Market lead by Lanzhi.
The Market is a small area somewhere in the village. Everytime I come here, there are always many smells and voices mixed together. The smell of fresh milk bread that has a hint of peach, mixed with rice and grilled fish. The grumble of moving barrels topped with apples and sour plums. The clattering of tableware from nearby small cafes, the smell of the making of rice wine from Yingyu's place by the river and many voices of people of all ages. When I first came down here, I was so nervous I wouldn't budge for ten minutes from a tree outside The Tavern. Now that I think about it, that was when I first get a chance to visit a Tavern.... huh....
"Hey, Brats! Today is Braising week, isn't it?"
"Hi, Zhen!"
I hear cheerful laughter. That deep voice... Lanzhi's older brother....
"Come by later, I got that special order you guys keep begging me about. You got your wish."
"Really?!"
"The special order...."
"Yaaaaayyy!"
What are they on about? What are we eating? Please don't tell me it is something weird....
They talked with him for a few minutes before heading deeper into the Market. Everyone greeted us, like we are heros from an important journey. Even though they are considered "brats", they are treated like any other. They bought yams, rice, chicken broth and a bag of mixed vegetables, including persimmons to roast on the fire for dessert. The items they buy, I carry.....my arms are on the verge of falling off...
Afterwards, we stopped at a restaurant called Garden's Inn and sat at a spot. Based on the heat sensation on my left side, we are sitting by a window in the back. Walking footsteps approach us with a humming toon. The scent of lavender filled our space in seconds. O, her....
I cross my leg over the other and overlap my arms in front of me, creating a defense barrier for myself.
"Helloooo, what can I get you today?"
"Fluffy Pancakes!!!!"
"Okay coming right up!"
She turns and walks away.
"I can't wait to eat that special order!"
"I feel like my stomach will burst if I eat it...."
"You worry too much, Yin...."
Silence fills our table. Then, Yin giggled.
"Fluffy Pancakes...."
"You're drooling, man! Quit it!"
"No. Let me be in soft heaven.."
"If you keep doing this every time we come here, I won't have the stomach to eat with you! Knock it off!"
"Shut up...*giggles*..."
"Unbelievable.."
Silence fills our table....
"Here you go, o... and here is a bottle of milk for you."
She turns and walks away.
The children dig in. Chewing and slurping of juice filled the table. I listen...just listening to them eating happily without a care...while feeling a little bitter for that woman's misconduct towards me. Lan, she could have at least given me a bowl of soup with bread on the side. Heck, there isn't a bottle of milk. Liar.
Thirty minutes pass. They all sigh and burp with satisfaction.
"Pancakes....pancakes...come to me..."
"Shut up...or I'll make it leave you.."
"No, that will end in a stinky nightmare..."
"You guys are disgusting!"
"What?! I'll punch him in the stomach if he mention that stupid word again."
"Panca--sorry, *burp*."
There was silence for a moment. Then I feel their eyes shift towards me. Confusion and wonder fill the air. I think they are beginning to understand what went wrong.
"Hey...did you get something Quze?"
"I don't think he got anything.."
"How come you didn't say anything?"
I close my eyes and turn my head away from them, squeezing myself tighter with my arms.
Well, I hate to ruin your breakfast with Lan's silent hate for me.
"Well, we can order him a bowl of hard-boiled eggs."
"Eggs?"
"Yin...you just ate."
"Heeeyyy, Lan! Get a bowl of hard-boiled eggs for Quze!"
"Hahaha, okay! They will be done in seconds! The wait won't be long!"
The moment I heard that, I slowly got up from the chair and headed out the door.
"Quze, where are you going?"
"You haven't eaten yet."
"You're eggs aren't done!"
I scoffed. I know darn well that those eggs won't even be close to being done.
After waiting for three minutes at the open diner, we head back to the house up the hill to put the stuff away. I and the younger ones got the sides ready while Liao went to the Meat Shop to get the order. My job in this endeavor is roasting the persimmons. When he got back, it was dusk and the fire pit outside was already hot. I simply listen as they wash, cut and season the meat. Their laughter drowns my ears. I made a rare smile. By the time the meat is cooked, it is night time.
"Braised Day!!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
"All this work is turning me into a mummy..."
"Are you already one, Yin...?"
"I mean dried seaweed."
Qingyan led me outside and placed me on a blanket. Liao set a tray of food on my lap and sat beside me with his. Everyone gathers round and starts eating.
"Mmmm...This lamb is so tender!"
"I want a persimmon. Can I skip?"
"Idiot! Dinner comes first! How can you put meat on those bones if you don't eat a proper meal?"
"No, what I mean is that I will eat a persimmon, then I will eat dinner."
"Yin... you'll eat them all like the time with the red bean buns."
"Yea, that is what I meant!"
"Nuh uh, that was...that was me sleepwalking."
"Dude... seriously?"
"Yin and his sweet tooth...."
I listen quietly as I chew the meat. Enjoying this everyday family loving atmosphere.
After forty minutes of love and family comedy, it was time for them to go home. The two girls and Yin gave me a hug and went home with their bellies full. It was just me and Liao. I lay on my side with my head prompted, "looking" at the fire, wondering about Liao's behavior. You see, when we are alone, he tends to soften a bit, like a cold father that has a soft side when it comes to someone he cares about. I feel his presence beside me where my head is; having a tranquil air about himself. He sighs and lays down. I feel his eyes looking into mine. I feel strands of my hair being removed from my face.
"What are you thinking about? Your red eyes always seem to glow when you are in deep thought."
You and your secret behavior.
I chose not to answer and just stare at him. After a while, I then close my eyes allowing a flow of comfort entering into my heart. My breathing became steady....then sleep slowly blankets my mind.
Before I drifted away, I felt a warm finger poking my chin. I can't hear his words, but I know then... that Liao ... cares deeply for me.