The little bicycle was short and small, and the slope was steep. Children often played here, sliding down like it was a slide, wearing the path smooth.
Coasting down the slope was indeed thrilling. Guaizai rode his little bicycle flying down. The first few times it was too fast, he yelled for his father to save him. At the bottom, he clung tightly to Fang Zichen's leg, saying it was too scary, he was scared! He didn't want to play anymore.
For a boy to have such a small courage, how could that be acceptable?
Fang Zichen coaxed him, saying true bravery means facing your fears. He boasted that he'd done the same as a boy, and now he'd grown into a man who could stand his ground and knock out any bully with a single punch.
Guaizai was so fooled he couldn't tell east from west. Heartened by his father's promise of protection, he pushed his little bicycle, chest puffed out proudly, and went. After just a few thrilling rides down the slope, he was utterly captivated by the exhilarating feeling of flying.
"Father, catch Guaizai! Guaizai is going to fly over now!"
"Okay, Father has locked onto the target."
The father and son's boisterous laughter and play could be heard across half the village. It wasn't long before Liu Dali appeared, leading a whole group of children in their direction.
Seeing Guaizai pedaling the bicycle so fast, they were full of curiosity, their eyes wide.
The children watched eagerly. Guaizai was quite sensible and rode up to them.
"Guaizai, what is this you're sitting on?" Liuliu asked.
"It's the little bicycle my father bought for me!" Guaizai got off the bike: "Liuliu, do you want to try sitting on it?"
"Can I?"
"You can!"
As soon as Liuliu got on, the bicycle tilted to one side. He tried several times but couldn't sit steadily.
"Guaizai, I can't sit on it."
"Let me try," Liu Dali said.
But after several tries, he couldn't sit on it either.
"Guaizai, why don't you fall when you sit on it?"
"Because I already know how to ride it." Guaizai ran over to Fang Zichen: "You need Father to hold it, then you can sit steady."
The children immediately looked at Fang Zichen. They might have been afraid of him before, but after hanging out with him a few times, the children now saw him as a hero.
He could do accounts, read books, earn lots of silver, catch sparrows, was good-looking, and tall...
Uncle Fang is the absolute best.
"Uncle Fang, could you hold me for a bit?" Liu Dali, small but bold, said: "Uncle Fang is the best."
"Yeah yeah, Uncle Fang is the best, and the most handsome too!"
"Uncle Fang is the greatest! I love Uncle Fang the most."
The little guys surrounded Fang Zichen, blowing praise at him. Fang Zichen was quite pleased by it.
He put his hands on his hips, raised a hand, and pointed commandingly: "Line up, line up! From tallest to shortest. Get in line properly, and you can each have a turn. I'll hold you and we'll coast for a few rounds."
The little guys jumped for joy, cheering loudly: "Yay~"
Guaizai also went to line up.
He was the shortest, so he ended up at the very back.
Liu Dali was first. Fang Zichen taught him what to do and how to pedal, then started holding him.
As soon as the pedals were pushed down, the bicycle started moving. With Fang Zichen holding it, the bicycle moved forward steadily.
The bicycle was comfortable to sit on and novel, Liu Dali liked it immensely. After a few rounds, before he had gotten his fill, it was the next child's turn. Although he hadn't had enough and still wanted to ride, he didn't act spoiled. After stepping aside, he looked at Guaizai, his eyes full of envy.
When it was the two little gers' turn, Fang Zichen was always more patient and let them ride a few extra rounds.
In his eyes, since ger could bear children, they were somewhat similar to young girls.
They were delicate and soft, and he felt they deserved a little extra kindness.
This era was often unfair to women and gers. They had to discuss marriage at fifteen or sixteen. Once married, their lives mostly revolved around their husbands and children—laboring, toiling, with little freedom. If they married the right person, the latter half of their life might have some support. If they married the wrong person, then life would just be something to endure.
Who could know what futures awaited these two gers? The most he could do was help them store up a few more happy childhood memories.
Moreover, the two little gers were quite good-looking. Who knew which family's pig would get to enjoy such good fortune later.
But... He looked at Guaizai. Guaizai's little face was flushed, his big eyes dark and bright. Seeing his father look over, he smiled at him, revealing a mouthful of little white teeth like grains of rice, his eyes curved like crescents.
Parents always thought their own child was the best, that even their faults seemed endearing
But to be fair, Fang Zichen felt Guaizai was truly adorable, his little appearance quite handsome. If he looked like this before even growing up, when he grew up he'd probably have some of his father's charm.
Gers always evoked more pity than boys.
My son is soft and gentle, virtuous and considerate, just like a little ger.
If my son were a ger...
Forget it!
Fang Zichen didn't even dare think about it carefully. The idea of one day marrying off the son he worked so hard to raise, not being able to see him every day... what would he do then? If he married far away, and his soft, gentle son was bullied, and he couldn't immediately rush over to deal with it... that would be terrible.
He had always believed it was a dog-eat-dog world. Faced with the prospect of his own precious cabbage being uprooted by someone else's pig, he decided he would much rather his own pig be the one doing the uprooting in someone else's cabbage.
After giving each of the eight children a turn, supporting them for several rounds each, Fang Zichen was completely worn out.
Guaizai tugged on his clothes: "Father, sit down."
Fang Zichen squatted down in front of him. Guaizai wiped his sweat and kissed him: "Father, Guaizai gives you a kiss, gives you energy!"
Fang Zichen felt deeply comforted: "You really are my good son. Do you want Father to hold you for a coast?"
"No need now. Guaizai can pedal by himself. Won't let Father be tired." Guaizai said.
No comments:
Post a Comment