Fu Yuanshan's bamboo fan swayed gently in the moonlight, filling the courtyard with the fragrance of locust blossoms.
He suddenly remembered something and called out towards the kitchen, "Jianhua, I'll go to the ditch tomorrow and catch some snails to stir-fry for you guys to have with your drinks."
Jiang Jianhua was sewing on Nian'an's cuff when he looked up and replied, "Remember to touch more. Aunt Zhang said she wanted to eat some last time, so bring her a bowl while you're at it."
Song Yushuang's rocking chair creaked softly. She patted Nian'an's hand a little slower: "You have to go to catch snails before dawn, when they are the fattest. Yuanshan, take Nian'an's little bucket and bring them back to keep in the well water. They'll be fresher after they've expelled all the mud and sand."
Fu Yucheng chimed in, "I'll go help out tomorrow morning too, and while I'm at it, I'll see if I can cut some reeds by the river to weave a small mat for Nian'an to put in her bamboo basket."
Nian'an stirred in Song Yushuang's arms, and crumbs of snowflake crisp fell onto her clothes like scattered stars.
He mumbled a "luo luo" and clung tightly to the tail of the stuffed tiger. Yun Tangyin smiled and wiped the sugar stains from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief: "This child, he's thinking about food even in his sleep."
Jiang Jianhua neatly folded the sewn jacket and placed it on top of the bamboo basket: "I'll let Nian'an wear this tomorrow. I added elastic to the cuffs so it won't get dirty when she runs."
She suddenly remembered the mugwort drying under the eaves, got up and turned it over. "The mugwort is almost dried. It can be used to make sachets tomorrow morning."
As the moonlight shifted over the wall, Fu Yuanshan replaced his bamboo fan with a palm-leaf fan, and the lotus flowers he had just painted on the fan were slowly drying.
“This fan is for you,” he handed to Jiang Jianhua. “It’s convenient to use when sewing shoe soles in the summer; the breeze is softer than that of a bamboo fan.”
Jiang Jianhua took it and examined it closely. A red dragonfly was perched on the dark lotus leaf, looking as if it was about to fly off the paper: "Second Brother's painting skills are getting better and better, even more lifelike than those in the town's painting shops."
Song Yushuang hummed the old tune to its end. She looked down and saw that Nian'an was fast asleep, so she gently carried him back to the house.
The tiger doll's tail peeked out from Nian'an's arms, shimmering like a dancing golden hue in the moonlight.
Yun Tangyin followed her in to make the bed and suddenly said, "Mother, the day after tomorrow is Nian'an's birthday. Shall we steam some longevity peach buns?"
“I’ve already noted it down,” Song Yushuang glanced at the kitchen. “There’s still enough flour. I’ll start making the dough tomorrow. Go and get that jar of candied dates; they’ll be perfect for making longevity peach filling.”
She stroked Nian'an's soft hair, "This child has been with us for almost a year. She has grown quite a bit taller and has grown two teeth."
As dawn broke, Fu Yucheng and Fu Yuanshan were already heading to the riverbank with their small buckets.
Dew dampened their trouser legs, but it couldn't stop their steps.
Fu Yuanshan was thinking about the plump snails, while Fu Yucheng was thinking about the soft and flexible material for weaving reed mats for Nian'an.
A thin mist floated on the river, and frogs croaked among the water plants, as if guiding them.
Jiang Jianhua was making mugwort sachets in the yard in the morning light. The bright green mugwort was crushed, and its fragrance mixed with the warmth of the sunlight spread out.
She slipped a dried hawthorn leaf into each of her pouches: "This will whet your appetite; Nian'an has been picky about food lately."
Song Yushuang was kneading dough, which gradually turned snow-white under her hands: "The longevity peaches should be shaped to be plump to be festive. I need to knead more dough so I can give two to each of my neighbors."
When Nian'an woke up, the courtyard was filled with the sweet aroma of longevity peach-shaped steamed buns.
He ran barefoot to the kitchen and saw rows of pink longevity peaches in the steamer, their pointed tops dotted with rouge. He immediately clapped his hands and shouted, "Peaches, eat!"
Song Yushuang tore off a piece of dough for him: "Play with this first, and when the steamed buns are cooked, you can pick the biggest one first."
Xiao Lan came carrying a basket of freshly picked cherries, and her eyes lit up when she saw the longevity peaches in the steamer: "These longevity peaches look just like the real thing!"
She poured the cherries into a plate; the purplish-red fruits still had water droplets clinging to them. "My mother said these cherries are sweet, perfect for Nian'an's birthday."
Jiang Jianhua stuffed a handful of snowflake crisps into Xiaolan's pocket: "Take these to eat on the way. When the longevity peaches ripen, I'll save two for you to take back with you."
She suddenly saw Nian'an stuffing dough into her mouth and quickly stopped her, saying, "This is raw dough, you can't eat it. Your second aunt is making you a dough figurine to play with."
As he spoke, he sculpted a small tiger, its ears and tail incredibly lifelike.
Just as the longevity peach-shaped steamed buns were ready at noon, Zhou Desheng's wife came over with a bowl of braised pork: "Add a dish for Nian'an. I added extra rock sugar because the child loves it."
She looked at the longevity peaches on the table and praised, "Aunt Song's skills are so good, it's a pity she doesn't open a steamed bun shop in town!"
Song Yushuang smiled and stuffed two longevity peaches into her pocket: "Eat them while they're hot, they won't be soft and fluffy when they get cold."
Nian'an hugged the longevity peach-shaped steamed bun, which was bigger than his face, and nibbled on it, getting the crimson peach tip all over his face.
Fu Yucheng took out a red cloth bag containing a longevity lock he had specially bought. The silver lock was engraved with the words "Peace and safety year after year": "This is a birthday gift for Nian'an. Wear it to keep her safe and sound."
Jiang Jianhua put a longevity lock on Nian'an's wrist, the silver lock jingling as it touched the tassels of the tiger's purse.
“This lock looks really nice with the purse,” she said with a smile. “In a few days, I’ll make a red cloth bib for Nian’an and sew the lock onto it so it won’t keep falling off.”
As the setting sun painted the courtyard a golden-red hue, Nian'an lay on a reed mat, holding a peach-shaped steamed bun in her arms and a longevity lock in her hand, her eyelids gradually growing heavy.
Song Yushuang sat beside her, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan, the lotus flowers on the fan swaying gently in the breeze.
Jiang Jianhua and Yun Tangyin were embroidering something under the lamp, the silver thread weaving tiny stars on the cloth.
Fu Yucheng and Fu Yuanshan sat on a stone bench, drinking newly brewed mulberry wine, the wine reflecting the sunset.
“This time next year,” Fu Yucheng took a sip of his wine, “it’ll be time to teach Nian’an to read.”
Fu Yuanshan nodded and covered Nian'an's reed mat with a thin blanket: "I'll make him a walker, a wooden one, it'll be sturdy."
The shadows of the locust tree leaves swayed on the ground, like someone gently patting the tranquility of the courtyard.
In his dream, Nian An smacked his lips, the sweetness of the longevity peach still lingering on his mouth. The silver glow of the longevity lock mingled with the moonlight, flowing into a gentle river on his chest.
This ordinary birthday, like every day at Huaiyuan, has no earth-shattering excitement, but rather a gentle, flowing warmth that slowly brews into honey over the years.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Fu Yuanshan and Fu Yucheng returned from the riverbank carrying small buckets.
The snails in the bucket were blowing bubbles, their bluish-gray shells glistening with moisture in the morning light.
"The snails are really plump today," Fu Yuanshan said, placing the bucket by the well. "If they stay in the well for a day, we can stir-fry them tonight."
Fu Yucheng carried a bundle of reeds into the courtyard, the tender green leaves still glistening with dew: "These reeds are just the right amount of toughness. I'll weave a small mat for Nian'an right now."
Song Yushuang was already busy in the kitchen, cooking millet porridge in a pot and steaming leftover longevity peach buns from last night in a steamer.
"You're back?" She poked her head out and smiled. "Go wash your hands and have some porridge."
Hearing the noise, Nian'an ran out of the house, her bare feet stepping on the bluestone slabs, and went straight to Fu Yuanshan's bucket: "Snail, snail!"
Fu Yuanshan quickly picked him up: "You can't touch this now. I'll let you try one after I've cooked it tonight."
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