Chen Xi went straight to her room when she got home.
She didn’t even come out for dinner, and no one in the family noticed she had injuries on her face.
The next day was a weekend.
Chen Xi was sleeping groggily when she was startled awake by what sounded like thunder—the explosion of a popcorn cannon in the courtyard.
With a head full of wake-up grumpiness, she shuffled in slippers and threw open the window with a clang, just in time to see white smoke rising in the courtyard.
Fan Mingsu was bent over with her old back, pouring white fluffy popcorn from a net bag into a wicker basket that Sensen was holding.
San Huang was frantically snatching up popcorn that had fallen to the ground.
Chen Mei covered her ears and jumped far away, her eyes squinting with laughter.
Chen Xi’s eyes lit up, “I want to eat rice popcorn!”
Fan Mingsu smiled and glared at her, “All you think about is eating.”
After saying this, she walked over and sat down in front of the popcorn cannon.
Fan Mingsu poured a bowl of rice she had prepared earlier into the oval iron pot, sealed the lid tightly, and pulled the bellows until it whirred.
Soon, she jumped up and removed the iron pot from the fire.
Chen Mei quickly put a blackened net bag over the iron pot lid, then covered her ears and scurried away.
Fan Mingsu kicked down hard, and with a loud bang, white rice popcorn spilled out of the net bag like snowflakes.
The sweet aroma spread throughout the courtyard.
Chen Xi leaned on the window, watching with a smile.
When Grandpa was alive, he used to go through the streets and alleys making popcorn for a while.
Back then, neighbors would often come to their house to have Grandpa make popcorn for them.
Chen Xi loved that moment after the loud bang when popcorn spilled from the net bag, instantly filling the courtyard with a sweet smell.
That was the most heartwarming scene in her memory.
In the afternoon, Chen Xi was going to Yang Shan’s place to teach her daughter how to draw.
Fan Mingsu packed a bag of popcorn and a bag of rice popcorn for Chen Xi to take to the little one.
She followed Chen Xi into the courtyard and pointed at the bruise on her forehead, saying, “Don’t try to fool me—what happened with this injury?”
Chen Xi said, “I just bumped into something. What else could it be?”
Fan Mingsu looked suspicious and was about to say more.
Chen Xi quickly mounted her motorcycle and sped away.
She rode to Dr. Yang’s clinic.
The old man had just woken from his afternoon nap and was practicing Eight-Section Brocade in the clinic filled with the scent of traditional Chinese medicine.
Chen Xi greeted Dr. Yang and went straight to the back courtyard.
Yang Shan and her daughter Ruirui had also just woken up.
The little girl sat in a chair, hugging the floral cloth doll she always needed when sleeping, her eyes still drowsy.
Yang Shan stood behind the chair, brushing her hair.
Chen Xi pushed open the door and waved the popcorn at Ruirui.
The little girl immediately became wide awake, took the popcorn from Chen Xi, and said in her sweet voice, “Thank you, Godmother.”
Chen Xi’s heart was practically melting. She reached out to touch the little girl’s soft hair.
Yang Shan cleared the lunch table.
Chen Xi spread out drawing paper and had Ruirui continue copying the flying apsara she had been working on the week before.
The ethereally graceful flying apsara was drawn round and plump by the little one, with one foot looking like a big white steamed bun with five grapes on top.
Yang Shan leaned over to look and couldn’t help laughing, “Is this a flying apsara?”
Chen Xi pushed her away, “Don’t disturb us. I wasn’t even as good as Ruirui when I was little.”
Yang Shan walked away with a smile, brought over a half-finished crocheted flower, and sat beside them quietly, working.
Chen Xi took out her sketchbook from her canvas bag.
She continued working on the third character’s line drawing, occasionally giving Ruirui pointers.
The room was very quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock audible.
Afternoon sunlight filled the windowsill.
Chen Xi was drawing when she began to feel drowsy.
Just then, the door to the room with the massage bed that faced the back courtyard opened.
Yang Guan came out carrying a thick book and sat down on the steps by the door.
The sun warmed his body.