Volume One: Youths Meet in Their Humble Days Chapter Thirty: Shen Tang

The next morning, Li Yu woke up early. After tidying himself up, he first went to the Taoist's door to pay his respects and check if the Taoist had risen. From inside, he heard, "Call me when breakfast is ready." Li Yu paused for a moment, smiled, and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Searching around, he found only some white flour left, so he decided to make steamed buns with it. As he was working, a voice came from outside, "Is Uncle Lin back?"

Li Yu quickly washed his hands and stepped out, seeing a young girl at the door. Judging by her height and build, she seemed to be two years older than him. Li Yu replied, "My master hasn't gotten up yet. Is there something I can help you with?"

The girl, smiling at Li Yu emerging from the kitchen, answered, "I came to bring breakfast for Uncle Lin."

She handed over the basket she was carrying to Li Yu, who hesitated, unsure if he should accept it. He glanced toward the Taoist's room, hoping for some guidance, but surprisingly, the always resourceful Taoist remained silent this time.

The girl saw Li Yu's troubled expression and understood the reason, so she said, "It's alright. Uncle Lin is very close with my family. Every time he returns from outside, I'm the one who brings him breakfast. Besides, we've received many things from Uncle Lin over the years. Don't worry."

With that, she tried again to hand him the basket, but Li Yu still didn't accept it. Seeing this, the girl refrained from insisting, withdrew her hand, and noticed the flour dust on Li Yu's clothing. She realized what he was doing and asked, "Are you making breakfast?"

Li Yu nodded. The girl, observing his small stature compared to the stove—perhaps not even as tall as it—thought of her own brother at home, whom their parents never allowed into the kitchen. She volunteered, "Let me help you!"

Li Yu considered for a moment and agreed. He had already refused to accept her offering, and to decline her goodwill again would be ungracious. Moreover, from her words, it seemed that his master and the girl's family were indeed on good terms. As the new disciple, he shouldn't shut others out.

They returned to the kitchen. The girl looked at the orderly scene Li Yu had arranged and admired him, saying, "I didn't expect you to be so capable at such a young age, able to do so much."

She set down her things, prepared to wash her hands and knead the dough, while Li Yu hurried to tend the fire, ready to steam the buns later. The two worked together methodically, and soon the chimney began to send up gentle plumes of smoke.

"What's your name?" the girl asked as she kneaded the dough.

Li Yu added a stick to the fire and replied, "My name is Li Yu."

The girl asked, puzzled, "Is it the 'yu' as in 'little fish'?"

His hand paused, "It's the 'yu' meaning 'extra' or 'surplus.'"

Both fell silent. The girl hadn't expected such an explanation and was momentarily at a loss. She quickly changed the subject, "My name is Shen Tang. You can call me Sister Tang from now on."

Li Yu, not shy at all, responded immediately, calling her the way she suggested. Thus, the two formally introduced themselves.

Shen Tang asked again, "Where are you from? What's the outside world like? I've never been out and don't know what it's like!"

"My home used to be in Hongquan Village, but it's gone now. That's where I met my master. I suppose he pitied me, since I had no one to care for me, so he brought me back. The outside world isn't much. I don't like it."

Shen Tang was a clever girl and realized her question had touched on Li Yu's painful past. She apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you sad."

Li Yu smiled, "It's nothing. Granny used to say, the past is an experience one cannot change. Since it can't be changed, one can only face it. Those sad feelings prove how much those experiences mean to us. Besides, you didn't ask out of malice. I know you just wanted to chat, so I wouldn't feel awkward."

Shen Tang unconsciously paused her kneading, widening her eyes at Li Yu. "How old are you this year?"

Li Yu replied, "Five."

Shen Tang was incredulous, "Really?"

Li Yu nodded again. He understood well why people meeting him for the first time always asked or doubted this. Perhaps only when he reached his teens would this question cease.

"Are people outside all as clever as you? What you just said, I've only heard from my parents and Uncle Lin," Shen Tang remarked.

"Not really. I'm just a bit different." They continued chatting, but Shen Tang no longer pried into Li Yu's affairs. Instead, she talked more about herself—her family's relationship with the Taoist, who was in her family, how she spent her days, and so forth.

This warmed Li Yu's heart, giving him the first sense of kindness from someone other than the Taoist since arriving here.

The steamed buns were soon ready, and as their aroma filled the courtyard, the Taoist's voice rang out, "Tang girl, did you bring something tasty?"

Shen Tang smiled brightly at the Taoist and replied, "Two plates of pickles, five eggs, and a pot of porridge. The pickles are my mother's—pickled cucumbers and five-spice tofu. They're your favorites whenever you visit."

The Taoist, feeling at home, said, "You know my tastes well—excellent, excellent." Li Yu served three bowls of porridge, brought out the freshly steamed buns, and set the pickles on the table. The Taoist asked, "Tang girl, won't you eat a bit?" Li Yu also looked at Shen Tang, inviting her to join them.

Shen Tang gave the Taoist a mischievous smile, "Uncle Lin, you're teasing me again. I've already eaten at home and won't take your food."

The Taoist chuckled, "It's because your family's food is so delicious! If you have another bowl, I'd have one less. You don't know, after being away so long, I've missed your family's cooking."

And so, two ate while one watched. Li Yu felt no embarrassment; after their earlier conversation, he knew Shen Tang was pure-hearted, and her warm smile made him feel at ease.

The Taoist quickly finished a bowl; as Li Yu was about to refill it for him, he waved him off and ladled it himself. Picking up a cucumber, he ate and asked Shen Tang, "Has anything happened in town these past months?"

Shen Tang thought for a moment, "No major news. Everyone lives as usual." She then remembered, "The difference is, my brother's school now has another teacher—so two teachers now. Also, my father said the sea has grown more dangerous lately; the winds and waves are stronger, so they don't dare go far when fishing."

The Taoist, seeing Li Yu's empty bowl, took it and filled it without asking, then asked Shen Tang, "Did your father go out to sea today?"

Shen Tang replied, "No, he's resting at home today."

The Taoist said, "Then I'll go drink with your father later. Tell him to make a couple of dishes for the wine. I'll bring my disciple and have lunch at your place." He handed Li Yu the filled bowl and two eggs, saying, "You need to eat more; at your age, you need food to grow strong."

Li Yu gazed at the food before him, momentarily stunned, as warmth quietly flowed through his heart.

After they finished eating, Shen Tang helped Li Yu tidy up and then took her utensils home. Before leaving, Li Yu walked her to the gate. She took out her purse, poured two candies into Li Yu's palm, and smiled, "My father bought these for me a few days ago. Only two left. Try them."

Li Yu looked at the candies in his palm, feeling their weight as heavy as mountains. Under Shen Tang's expectant gaze, he put one in his mouth and softly said, "So sweet. Thank you, Sister Tang."

Shen Tang, pretending to be grown-up, patted his head, "As long as you like them. Since you've eaten my candy, I'm your sister now. Let's play together."

Li Yu smiled genuinely. Watching the little girl hop away, he gradually understood what it meant to have a friend.

Back in Hongquan Village, the adults warned their children to stay away from Li Yu because of his background, not to play with him. Occasionally, someone would speak to him, only out of respect for Granny, but nothing more. Being more mature than his peers, Li Yu's presence felt stifling to other children, so even fewer wanted to play with him.

He had dreamed of what friendship could be, but never imagined he'd truly feel it one day.

In his heart, Li Yu whispered, "Granny, can you see? I'm really doing well."