Ren Yong
As a young child, I was undoubtedly what some might affectionately call a "momma's boy." My mother, Mei, was the epitome of kindness and nurturing. Her influence not only shaped my life but also that of my brother. I was often by her side if you saw me, and my brother would mock me for always sticking close to her. Nevertheless, I didn't mind one bit. After all, my mother was my companion for everything, whether teaching me about the intricacies of plants or snuggling up with me for bedtime stories.
As I entered my teen years, my mom and I shared a special bond strengthened by our love for cooking, reading, and nature.
"Xiāngliào." (Spices.) Mom said.
I hand Mom the star anise and some other spices. She puts all the spices into cheesecloth, ties it, and puts it in the pot.
What I loved most, however, was spending time in the kitchen with her. She taught me the importance of precision, a sound palette, and the art of creating delicious meals from scratch.
I inhale through my nose, taking in the aroma of food that fills the kitchen, which causes my stomach to growl with anticipated hunger.
Mom giggles at me. "Shíwù hěn kuài jiù huì zhǔnbèi hǎo." (Food will be ready soon.)A high-pitched whistle blows from the teapot. After removing it from the heat, I set the teacups on the tray and took them into the dining room.
Light laughter and voices could be heard coming from the dining room. My mom's two sisters and her parents had come to stay for a few days. Having a distant family over has advantages: lots of food, pictures, and souvenirs from Taiwan, as well as seeing family members I haven't seen since I was twelve.
They were all sitting around the table, smiling, playing a card game called Dou Dizhu. I go around the table pouring everyone tea, starting with my grandparents.
"Tāmen zhǎodào fànzuì de rénle ma?" (Did they find the person who committed the crime?) Aunt Wen asked, referring to the hate crime incident.
"Bù, tāmen méiyǒu zhǎodào tā." (No, they didn't find him.)
After serving everyone else, I pour myself a cup and sit at the table to watch my family play. I didn't know much about the game they were playing, but I did love seeing them get worked up about it.
I smile when everyone around the table groans in frustration at Grandpa's win.
Though it's nice to have family over, there are disadvantages.
One is the lack of privacy and giving up personal space around the house. Another is the constant comparison to my brother. With family here, I must constantly hear my father smugly praising my brother's accomplishments, Raven, for the next few days.
"Nǐ hǎo!" (Hello!)
Raven peeked into the dining room with widened eyes and a big smile, wearing his athletic gear. His presence instantly dampened my mood.
"Xiǎo bǎo" (Little treasure), Aunt Wen gushed as she and everyone else showered him in hugs.
"Nǐ jīròu yuè lái yuè fādále." (You're getting so muscular.) Aunt Liu points out.
Raven smiles, then flexes his biceps. I release a low, frustrated sigh while trying not to roll my eyes in front of them.
"Tā jīngcháng duànliàn, gānggāng chéngwéi tiánjìng duì duìzhǎng." (He works out a lot, and he just became captain of the track team.) My father added, not wasting any time to start bragging.
"Nǐ yīnggāi ràng nǐ de xiōngdì hé nǐ yīqǐ duànliàn." (You should get your brother to work out with you.) Dad added, prompting laughs from around the table.
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