Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 329
>Chapter Title: Moon Eve
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> With a "splash," the startled Li Huowang abruptly shot to his feet and stumbled back several steps.
> The sound of the stool clattering to the ground immediately drew the stall owner's attention, and he sidled over cautiously. "Sir? What's the matter? Noodles not to your liking? Soup off? How about I get you a fresh bowl?"
> Li Huowang, his face twisted in utter revulsion, shot him a glance, then eyed the man's pregnant wife. Without a word, he tossed down a chunk of silver, hopped onto the carriage, and sped off.
> "Sir, you've overpaid! A bowl of noodles doesn't cost that much!" The stall owner's shout only made the carriage pick up even more speed.
> Aboard the galloping carriage, Li Huowang clutched his belly with a bizarre expression. "What's going on? Was that just Black Tai Sui parroting words like a mimic, or does it really think I'm its dad?"
> He had always assumed this Tai Sui was like Danyangzi from before—after all, its very existence was for seizing others' bodies.
> But what had just happened seemed completely different from what he'd thought.
> "Dad?" That voice piped up again, promptly earning a retort from Li Huowang. "Don't call me dad!"
> "Why?"
> Black Tai Sui's question stumped Li Huowang for a moment. He mulled it over before snapping back to his senses. Yeah, why not? Whether this was good or bad for him was still up in the air.
> —————————————
> The rooster's crow slowly drew Yang Kid's eyes open. He rubbed them and looked around, still not quite used to having a room all to himself.
> Those first few days, without smelling Senior Brother Cao Cao's stinky feet, he hadn't slept soundly at all.
> Stretching vigorously, Yang Kid got out of bed and started pulling on his clothes.
> At his age, he shot up by the day—that daoist robe was clearly too short now.
> Shrinking his neck against the morning chill, Yang Kid headed toward Bai Lingmiao's room.
> Living in Cow Heart Village beat the wind-and-sleep exposure outside by miles. There was a well in the yard across from the kitchen—handy for laundry, dishes, washing up. No need to fetch water at dawn.
> He got the water boiling and added the rice that had soaked overnight. Yang Kid deftly started simmering the porridge.
> Porridge might be simple, but it depended on how you made it. Slow-simmer it right, coax out all the rice oil, and it had its own special flavor.
> He popped open the pickle jar, grabbed some chopsticks to fish out a clump, and laid it on the cutting board to slice into strips and chunks.
> Deep in his task, Yang Kid was interrupted by footsteps. He looked up to see the fat-faced woman. "Little fellow villager, up early again today, huh?"
> She cradled a new man's garment in her arms.
> "Bring out last night's leftover tofu. We'll have it with the porridge." As he spoke, Yang Kid couldn't help sighing to himself. Things were better now—leftovers even.
> "Right away." Ordered about, the woman didn't mind a bit and did as told.
> When the porridge was done and the veggies prepped, the others trickled into the hall for breakfast.
> Li Huowang had been gone a good while now. Everyone was gradually adjusting.
> But each heart felt hollow, like they'd lost their backbone. With no one calling the shots, they didn't know what to do.
> As for his harsh words before? No one held a grudge.
> They'd all clawed through life and death—tough as nails. Li Huowang calling them useless? Even if he stood there cursing them a full day and night, they'd just grin and bear it.
> But they weren't blind. They could all see who hurt the most with Li Huowang gone.
> Bai Lingmiao hadn't smiled once since he left. She no longer felt approachable, more like a block of ice keeping everyone at arm's length.
> Chun Xiaoman let out a soft sigh and picked up a piece of pickle with her chopsticks, dropping it into Bai Lingmiao's bowl.
> She'd been bunking with her these days, just in case her good friend did something rash.
> Bai Lingmiao picked up the pickle, popped it in her mouth, and chewed it into tiny bits.
> "That Miss Bai."
> Lv Zhuangyuan's words made Bai Lingmiao look up, her long white lashes fluttering as she asked calmly: "Master Lv, something you need?"
> "See, we've rested up a good long while now. I reckon the Lv Family Troupe could hit the road for gigs. Harvest's in, farmers got nothing much doing—just hunkering down for winter. Plenty of time to watch plays."
> "Alright, but today's Moon Eve. How about we head out after the holiday? What do you think, Master Lv?"
> Master Lv nodded awkwardly. "Sure, sure, that works."
> Truth be told, he'd hoped to take the whole family out for Mid-Autumn, to dodge the awkwardness in the village. But if she said so, no choice but to drop it.
> By now, he'd heard the full story—this girl had lost her whole family. Mid-Autumn wouldn't be easy for her.
> "I can make mooncakes!" Yang Kid piped up eagerly.
> "Back then, that scabby-head always had us make mooncakes for Mid-Autumn. I was the fastest and best among the daoist kids!"
> Seeing Chun Xiaoman shoot him a look, Yang Kid froze, then plopped down and buried himself in breakfast.
> After breakfast, Yang Kid dug out the mooncake molds. Lucky for them, Bai Family Village had everything you could want—otherwise it'd be tricky.
> Gouwa stuck half his head in the kitchen door, feigning helpfulness. "Kid, need a hand?"
> "Nah, I got it solo."
> "Gotcha! Then tonight I'm counting on a taste. Taking the Fool to build a tile kiln!"
> Busy all day, and as night fell, the bright moon rose high.
> Pastries and fruits from the peddler, stacks of mooncakes— all laid out on the table.
> Moon-gazing called for wine, so a jar from the cellar was hauled out.
> Bai Lingmiao, at the head seat, raised her cup to the others. "Moon round, people round, all things round and reunited. Hearts at ease, all goes smooth. I wish everyone family bliss and harmony overflowing!"
> They glanced at each other awkwardly before clinking cups in twos and threes, mumbling vague replies.
> One cup down, Bai Lingmiao's eyes reddened. "Come on, everyone, don't just drink—eat the mooncakes. Junior Brother Yang's look great; they're bound to taste amazing."
> With that, she picked one up and nibbled a tiny bite.
> Seeing everyone's tentative caution, Bai Lingmiao sniffled and let out a laugh.
> "Look at me, brain's gone soft. Moon Eve, and I haven't changed the ancestral hall offerings. You all eat—I'll swap 'em out and be right back."
> She picked up a stack of mooncakes and headed for the Bai family ancestral hall.
> With Bai Lingmiao gone, everyone finally exhaled. Gouwa tugged at his collar, looking miserable. "Sigh, some Moon Eve this is."
> "You eat. I'll check on her." Chun Xiaoman stood to follow.
> But the Fool grabbed her hand and shook his head slightly. "Let... let her... be alone... for a bit!"
> "Eat the mooncakes, everyone. Junior Brother Yang's mooncakes came out great." Bai Lingmiao held the mooncakes in both hands, placing them before the dense ranks of spirit tablets in the ancestral hall.
> These were all new—every spirit tablet from Bai Family Village, men, women, old, young, neatly arrayed.
> The black-backed, white-lettered tablets formed a crushing wall of darkness looming overhead, gazing down at the sole surviving blood of the Bai family.
> (End of chapter)
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