The Ji family lived at the northern exit of Xidiandang Village, while Shitou’s home was in the east, separated by more than half the village.
His family had fled here years ago during a flood. Back then, the village head said there were benefits to accepting refugees, so the village chief decided to let two families stay. Wang Shitou’s family was one of them. After settling in the village, they were allotted three mu of land. Three mu wasn’t enough to feed the family, so his parents found work on their own. Shitou’s father hunted in the mountains, while Shitou’s mother made and sold tofu at home.
When Shitou arrived home, his mother was pouring soaked soybeans into a stone mill.
Shitou immediately went over to help push the mill.
After the mill turned a couple of times, milky-white soy milk flowed into a wooden basin. Shitou’s mother spoke up: “Something on your mind?”
Shitou scratched his head sheepishly: “How did you know, Mom?”
Shitou’s mother laughed heartily, wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes: “Usually you come home bouncing around, but today you’re like a mouse seeing a cat. Go on, what’s the matter?”
Shitou hesitated to speak. He knew how hard his family worked for money. His father didn’t always have a successful hunt in the mountains, and his mother earned every penny through backbreaking labor. Though young, he understood that the family’s money came from each animal his father caught and each piece of tofu his mother sold.
His spirits suddenly sank.
Shitou’s mother noticed. She scraped all the ground soy milk into the wooden basin, carried it inside to boil, and called Shitou in to tend the fire, casually probing: “Who did you play with today?”
At this, Shitou perked up: “I played with Feng-ge’er. His older sister made him a Bamboo Tube Cannon—it’s so much fun! It shoots things out with a whoosh! When I was playing, I saw a little bird and almost shot it down. Too bad there was only one fruit…”
He hadn’t had enough fun.
Shitou’s mother understood and asked: “Bamboo Tube Cannon?”
Shitou grew even more excited: “Yes, made from bamboo!”
He gestured: “It looks like this. Feng-ge’er wouldn’t let me look at it too much or touch it, saying his sister wants to sell it for money.”
After saying this, his voice trailed off.
Shitou’s mother wiped her hands clean and patted Shitou’s head: “Do you want a Bamboo Tube Cannon but feel too embarrassed to ask me?”
Shitou was startled she had guessed. He hung his head, voice full of disappointment: “Mom and Dad work so hard for money.”
Children from poor families often mature earlier than others.
Shitou’s mother sighed: “If you want something, just tell me. Our Shitou has helped me grind tofu and carried his father’s game—he’s a good boy. How much does the Bamboo Tube Cannon cost?”
Shitou tugged at his clothes: “Two wen. Feng-ge’er said we could trade something else for it.”
Hearing this, Shitou’s mother said: “After the tofu is done, take two pieces and trade for one.”
“Mom…” Shitou’s eyes stung.
Shitou’s mother motioned with her lips: “Make the fire bigger.”
Shitou grunted in acknowledgment and silently sat down to feed firewood into the stove. He often helped his mother with the fire and was already quite skilled.
…
After finishing the tofu, Shitou’s mother personally took Shitou to the Ji family’s doorstep.
The Ji family’s courtyard was livelier than usual. Shitou peeked in and saw that besides the Ji siblings, three or four half-grown boys were gathered in the yard, all craning their necks and staring eagerly at Ji Ning, who sat on a small stool.
Ji Ning was bent over, deftly and steadily whittling bamboo sections with a machete, while Feng-ge’er stood with hands on hips, calling out to several children: “Don’t rush, line up properly. My sister said we have to make them one by one.”
Shitou’s Mother was slightly taken aback. She wasn’t very familiar with Ji Ning, remembering her as a somewhat quiet girl. She hadn’t expected that after a serious illness, her temperament would change. Looking at her now, she truly seemed to have the makings of a businesswoman.
With a smile, she called toward the courtyard: “Feng-ge’er’s mother, are you home?”
Mrs. Wang heard the voice and came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron as she approached: “Yes, yes, I’m home. Oh, it’s Shitou’s Mother. Come in and sit.”
Grandma Ji also came out from the house to exchange greetings. Both women noticed the bowl Shitou’s Mother was holding, containing two snow-white, square blocks of tofu, and glanced at the timid Shitou. They already understood her purpose.
Their gazes instinctively fell upon Grandpa Ji, who was sitting under the eaves. He puffed on his pipe, eyelids slightly raised, saying nothing, but his attention was clearly fixed on the lively scene in the courtyard.
Shitou’s Mother found a stool and sat down, smiling as she said: “This child Shitou came home and kept talking about how much he liked that bamboo cannon thing Ning girl made.”
Mrs. Wang pursed her lips: “Just a child’s toy, that’s all.”
Though she said this, the smile on her face was unmistakable.
Shitou’s Mother didn’t follow her lead: “But your Ning girl is clever. Other children wouldn’t have thought of such a thing.”
She extended the bowl in her hands: “We don’t have cash at home. What do you think—can we trade these two blocks of tofu for one for the child?”
She was asking Mrs. Wang, but Mrs. Wang instinctively looked toward Ji Ning.
Everyone was looking at Ji Ning.
Ji Ning set down her knife and bamboo and stood up. She brushed off the bamboo shavings from her clothes and walked over with poise, politely greeting first: “Auntie.”
Then she glanced at the tofu in the bowl. The quality was good, and the pieces were large. Quickly calculating in her mind, she remembered that the tofu bought yesterday cost one wen per piece. Two pieces of tofu would exactly trade for one Bamboo Tube Cannon.
She showed an age-appropriate, slightly shy smile: “Auntie, that’s fine. Since Shitou wants one, I’ll get one for him right away.”
She turned and walked to where the finished products were placed. There were already five or six completed Bamboo Tube Cannons there. She picked the most finely crafted and smoothest one and handed it to Shitou, who was watching her eagerly: “Here, Shitou. Be careful when playing, don’t aim it at people.”
Shitou joyfully took the Bamboo Tube Cannon, his little face flushed: “Thank you, Ning sister.”
With the trade successfully completed, the other children grew anxious.
“I want one too!”
“Ning sister, save one for me. I’ll have my mother trade eggs with you!”
“I… my family has dried vegetables!”
“I… I’ll ask my mother for money tomorrow!”
Feng-ge’er, who had been somewhat nervous, now felt more confident. Standing in the middle of the courtyard, he called out: “Those who brought items or money, line up first. As for those who want to trade things, wait until my sister decides whether she’ll accept them!”
Those who could afford to buy with money were still in the minority; most were bartering with goods. Children’s thinking often follows that of adults. Since Feng-ge’er had mentioned in advance that eggs could be exchanged for the toys, most children only remembered eggs. However, at this time, most eggs were saved to be sold. Trading eggs for bamboo toys? Most adults would not agree.
Aside from Shitou, who had been brought along and exchanged a piece of tofu for one, Jing-ge spent two wen to buy one, and two other children traded eggs and duck eggs for one each. Another child wanted to exchange dried vegetables from home but was politely declined by Ji Ning.
At this time, almost every household in the village grew their own vegetables, and any surplus was dried into preserved greens. Her family had no shortage of them, and neither did others.
The children who had obtained the Bamboo Tube Cannons excitedly made plans to play together, while those who hadn’t managed to get one were on the verge of tears. With everyone else having one, how could they be happy?
They could only go home crying and insisting on getting one.
Grandpa Ji, puffing on his pipe nearby, watched the lively scene and clicked his tongue in slight amazement.
As for Shitou’s Mother, who had arrived earliest, she didn’t leave after exchanging for the Bamboo Tube Cannon. Instead, she stayed for a while, chatting cheerfully at home, and then pulled Mrs. Wang aside to ask, “When will your husband be back? I’d like to ask him to bring something back for me the next time he goes to town.”
Author’s Note:
None