My neighbor’s older brother, Tang Shi, is a year older than me and has been my role model since we were kids.
He’s tall and incredibly handsome, and I love going out to play with him.
He’s great at basketball and can ride a bike. He often takes me out on his bike and sometimes buys me ice pops.
But my mom says kids shouldn’t eat too many ice pops or their stomachs will freeze.
Once, I didn’t listen to her and had Tang Shi buy me a lot of ice pops. Sure enough, after eating them, my stomach started to hurt. I was in so much pain, crying on the floor, thinking I was going to die.
That’s when Tang Shi ran over from next door, picked me up from the floor, and asked what was wrong.
I told him my stomach had frozen. He said it hadn’t, but I didn’t believe him. With no other choice, he sat with me on the floor and massaged my stomach.
He massaged for a long time until my stomach finally stopped hurting.
Tang Shi is really nice. I like my neighbor’s brother the most!
——『My Dearest』
…………
The above is the award-winning piece I wrote for the New China Cup Essay Contest when I was in third grade.
I vaguely remember how Tang Shi sweet-talked me into writing such a nonsensical essay, then personally took me to school to hand it to the teacher.
It was the weekend, and after submitting the essay, he took me to a convenience store. As a reward for my hard work, I could choose my favorite ice pop.
When I was little, I was fair and chubby, with big eyes and long lashes, like a porcelain doll, as the adults would say.
Standing on tiptoe at the freezer, I asked for three Big White Rabbit ice creams in one go.
Tang Shi often brought me to buy treats, so the store owner knew us. She bent down to touch my face, "Oh my, is little Yueguang going to eat all that by himself?"
I rolled my eyes and turned to Tang Shi with a flattering look, "One is for Tang Shi too."
Tang Shi was taking money out of his pocket and glanced at me, giving a cold snort, "At least you have some conscience."
I was extremely proud then, having both eaten ice pops and pleased Tang Shi. My parents are both businesspeople, and from a young age, I was influenced by them to know how to "maximize" my benefits.
You have to get wool from the sheep’s back. I spent Tang Shi’s money to make him happy, so he would take me to buy treats again next time.
"Tang Shi," I said, holding an ice pop in one hand, with melted cream running down my sticky, dirty hand, and tugging at Tang Shi’s shirt with the other, "you’re so nice, I’ll always like you."
Tang Shi was satisfied and took me to sit on a bench outside the convenience store, reminding me, "Don’t tell your parents I bought you ice pops, okay?"
"Mm-hmm." I nodded while licking the cream that dripped from the stick to my fingers, my eyes fixed on the two unopened Big White Rabbits in the plastic bag.
My family was strict. My parents wouldn’t let me eat many ice pops or give me extra pocket money. Only when I followed Tang Shi around could I enjoy ice pops, spicy strips, and other snacks freely.
Later, my essay 『My Dearest』 won first prize, and the teacher personally brought the trophy to my house.
We lived in a large villa with a yard, where two cars with four rings were parked, and a steel beast I needed my dad to lift me onto.
The teacher handed the trophy and certificate to my dad, patting my head, "Yueguang is a very smart child. It’s amazing for someone so young to write such an essay."
Tang Shi had taken me to sign up for the essay contest, and my dad had no idea I participated. But he was happy about my win, generously donating two truckloads of books to our elementary school and asking for my winning essay from the teacher to frame in gold and hang in our living room.
Even now, that essay still hangs there, and every classmate who visits my house has to stand in front of it and read it.
Then they laugh hysterically, as if someone installed a speaker in their throat.
Those who can come to my house are naturally close friends, and those who are close to me know about Tang Shi. Those who know about Tang Shi also know how he bullies me.
Despite all his bullying, my family still hangs a childish essay that praises him like a god.
I wish I could travel back eight years and slap that little kid who sold his dignity for a few Big White Rabbit ice creams right into the wall.
"Cheng Yueguang!" Tang Shi called me from next door again. Both our families lived in detached villas with large yards, separated only by a wall.
I hated how close our houses were and hated even more how my mom loved to bathe me in the yard when I was little.
She liked to carry my chubby self out, put me in an inflatable kiddie tub, and cover me in bubbles.
Tang Shi would watch her bathe me. Every time he heard the servants inflating and filling the kiddie tub, he would ring our doorbell, telling my mom he wanted to help bathe me too.
That little rascal didn’t want to help bathe me! He just wanted to sneak a pinch at my little willy!
I hate, hate, hate it! I hate Tang Shi to death!
Even now, he still bullies me, calling me over the wall to do hard labor for him.
I’ve tried to resist him, drinking milk like crazy every day, but I’m still half a head shorter than him and can’t catch up.
I can’t beat him, and I don’t dare to scold him. I can only be oppressed by him, looking like a little old man with a frown all day, even losing the little chubby flesh on my body from being so angry.
I slowly walked over to the next door, where Tang Shi was waiting in the yard, surrounded by some other random people.
Tang Shi pulled me to his side, draping his arm over my shoulder, leaning half his weight on me.
"Here, this is Cheng Yueguang."
The people around him curiously looked me over, and I looked at them with a miserable expression.
Some of them looked familiar, probably Junior Year students who often came with Tang Shi to find me at our class door.
Tang Shi let go of my shoulder, lazily saying, "These are my classmates. They’re here for a gathering today. Go tell your mom you’ll have lunch at my place."
The housekeeper had made bird’s nest soup for my mom, and I wanted to have some too, so I wasn’t keen on staying. I frowned and asked Tang Shi if I could go home for lunch.
"What are you thinking?" Tang Shi pinched my cheek, saying domineeringly, "Of course not!"
I opened my mouth to speak, but Tang Shi was already pushing me toward the house, "Go, go, go, help my mom prepare the vegetables for the barbecue."
He shooed me into the house like a little chick, and I could only go to the kitchen to find Aunt Tang.
Aunt Tang is Tang Shi’s mom, a very gentle woman who doesn’t work and stays home to take care of Tang Shi.
She’s not as strong-willed as my mom, so I like her a lot. When I was little, I often ran to Tang Shi’s house to snuggle in her arms and watch cartoons.
"Auntie," I said, helping her wash vegetables at the counter, "let me help you."
The water flowed from the faucet as I placed the fresh green lettuce under it, making it look crisp and lively with droplets.
Aunt Tang tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and handed me a strawberry, "Yueguang, have some fruit. Is your brother bullying you again, not letting you play with them?"
I took the strawberry from Aunt Tang and popped it into my mouth. It was sweet and sour, delicious. After finishing it, I grabbed another from the fruit plate.
I said, "Auntie, Tang Shi always does this. Can you do something about him?"
Aunt Tang laughed, like coaxing a child, "Alright, alright, Auntie will definitely talk to him. But you know, our Tang Shi likes Yueguang, that’s why he teases you."
The strawberry I picked this time was too sour, making my face scrunch up. I thought, Tang Shi’s affection is too terrifying. I’d rather he hated me to death.
A group of teenage boys gathered together, and all they could talk about was homework, exams, and girls.
I sat on a low stool next to Tang Shi, my legs curled slightly to one side, focusing on eating the grilled ribs on my plate.
If I were at home, my mom would never let me eat these things. Although Tang Shi was annoying, I temporarily forgave him for the sake of the grilled ribs and even poured him a glass of yogurt, "Here you go."
Tang Shi pushed the yogurt away with a look of disdain, "Only kids like you drink milk. We drink beer."
The boy sitting on my other side asked, "Cheng Yueguang, do you want some?"
I shook my head, saying I didn’t dare. My mom repeatedly emphasized that kids in our family couldn’t touch alcohol. She said beer would damage my brain, and if she found out I drank secretly, she’d beat me to death.
Tang Shi glanced at me but said nothing.
His classmates dragged their chairs over to us, asking if I had a girlfriend, "Cheng Yueguang, do you know the class beauty likes you?"
How would I know? My mom said kids shouldn’t date early, and those who do aren’t good. I honestly told them, "I don’t know."
They laughed, shoving each other and winking.
Tang Shi and I were both in the International Department, and our classmates were mostly from wealthy families. One boy took out a smartphone from his pocket, found a photo, and showed it to me, "Do you think she’s pretty?"
My mom wouldn’t let me have a phone, so I could only borrow Tang Shi’s to play games occasionally. Seeing this boy willingly hand me his phone, I cautiously took it.
The screen showed a long-haired girl with cat ears edited onto her head using a photo app. Her eyes were big, and she looked very sweet.
I said, "She’s pretty."
After saying that, I glanced at the boy, hesitated, and asked if I could play with his phone.
The boy readily agreed, "Sure, go ahead, but don’t spend the coins in my game. I’m saving them for something."
I was amazed. To play on Tang Shi’s phone, I had to beg him for ages, and sometimes even sign humiliating, unequal treaties. This boy was so kind, I was touched and poured him a glass of yogurt, "Here, have a drink."
"Tch," Tang Shi rolled his eyes disdainfully beside me, tossing his phone into my lap, "Go ahead, play with it. Spend the coins however you like."
I spent the whole afternoon at Tang Shi’s house, returning home in the evening smelling of oil and smoke.
My mom was in the living room, telling my dad how stupid the client was this time, how the boss looked decent but had a head full of crap.
She didn’t know I had come in and kept cursing. My dad lightly tapped her arm, "Our son is back."
My mom, like a goose with its beak tied by a rubber band, instantly fell silent.
"Mom." I stood in front of the sofa, wanting to ask if I could get a phone. My dad had always agreed to buy me one, but my mom was the decision-maker at home. If she said no, then it was no.
I wanted to play on a phone, either by begging Tang Shi or finding a way to get my mom to relent.
Before I could mention the phone, my mom jumped up, "Oh my! What’s that smell on you!"
She grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to sniff, her expression like Tang Shi had taken me dumpster diving for food.
She shook me, her manicured nails digging into my soft arm flesh, "Son, what did Tang Shi make you do, huh?"
The soft flesh on my arm hurt from her pinching, and I tried to pull my arm back, "Mom, you’re hurting me."
Only then did my mom let go, circling me twice and instructing the housekeeper to run a bath for me. She said, "I shouldn’t have let you go out to play. Look at what you’ve gotten into, Tang Shi only gives you junk to eat."
My dad couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up for me, "Alright, alright, Yueguang isn’t a child anymore. You should interfere less."
"I’m just concerned about our son!" My mom glared at him, "Did you forget how Yueguang cried and vomited after Tang Shi fed him half a pound of meatballs, saying his stomach was uncomfortable?"
"Ha," my dad stood up from the sofa, wrapping his arms around us, "Of course I remember, but that was when they were kids, wasn’t it? They’ve grown up now and know their limits."
"Besides," he kissed my mom’s forehead and ruffled my hair, "Tang Shi’s dad is in the leadership team. We might need him someday. If Yueguang and Tang Shi have a good relationship, it’ll be easier for us to talk."
I blinked, only half-understanding what I heard. My mom understood, though, and playfully poked my dad’s chest with her finger, "You, always scheming."