26. The Fish Feast

The script for "The Lamp Bearer" was submitted, and the results were out the very next day. Out of five scripts, they selected three, and the project team decided to interview the three screenwriters simultaneously. Zhang Tan’s script was among the chosen ones, and as he successfully advanced to the next stage, he felt a wave of relief.

To be honest, adapting a manga didn't leave much room for him to showcase his full creative potential. The plot and story were already set in stone; you couldn't make drastic changes, or it wouldn't be an adaptation—it would be a rewrite. Because it was only a matter of minor tweaks, it was impossible to claim his script was significantly better than the others. The differences lay mostly in the framework and the details—one macro, one micro—while everything else had to remain faithful to the original work.

He had been rushing to finish the script for days, busy from morning till night. Only when the work was nearly done did he realize that Xiaobai hadn't appeared. She usually visited him every single day, never failing to drop by, even if just to see him or show off her little slippers.

He had just made dinner and was about to eat when he suddenly thought of her. He put down his bowl and chopsticks, changed his shoes, went out, and headed to the activity area on the first floor.

It was six-thirty in the evening. The dazzling red glow of the sunset spilled over the courtyard, and under the scattered shadows of the trees, little insects had come out to roam. Some teachers and children were in the daycare, but not many. Zhang Tan saw Luo Zikang sliding down the slide and asked if he had seen Xiaobai. Since their fight a while back, they had apologized and appeared to have reconciled, coexisting peacefully since then.

Luo Zikang pointed toward the courtyard and said "Little Chili" was playing soccer. Judging by his aggrieved expression, he had likely tried to join in but been rejected. It seemed quite pitiful; soccer was originally a game for boys, but Xiaobai had taken it over and wouldn't let him join—it was truly unreasonable.

Zhang Tan found Xiaobai in the courtyard. She and Xiaomi were digging for sand and filling a red plastic bucket, busy and delighted. The sunset stretched their shadows long, and in the light, they looked as if they were edged in gold. As for the soccer ball, it was tossed to the side.

"What are you busy with?" Zhang Tan asked, walking up to them.

Xiaobai was squatting in the sandbox digging, while Xiaomi was in charge of filling the bucket. The two had a clear division of labor and worked with a tacit understanding; it was clear this wasn't their first time doing this. Hearing his voice, Xiaobai looked up, and upon seeing it was Zhang Tan, she said happily, "Oh ho, Uncle! Our Uncle is here!"

Xiaomi looked over at the sound and gave a shy smile, remaining silent. She wasn't as extroverted as Xiaobai and lacked her boldness. She was timid, and every time she saw Zhang Tan, she would just smile shyly without saying much. Even when asked a question, she would only give a brief, soft answer. Initially, because he had gotten close to Xiaobai so quickly, Zhang Tan thought he had great charisma, but with Xiaomi, he realized it wasn't his charisma—it was just that Xiaobai made him look like it.

Xiaomi carried the small bucket with both hands, huffing and puffing as she walked toward the other end of the sandbox. Perhaps the bucket was too full; after a few steps, she couldn't move and turned back to call out to Xiaobai in a small voice.

"The Rabbit Police is here."

Xiaobai immediately stood up, patted her little hands, and ran over. With a grunt, she grabbed the bucket with both hands and dragged it forward with great effort, beckoning Zhang Tan to hurry over.

"Do you need my help?" Zhang Tan asked, reaching out to assist.

Beads of sweat trickled down the two children's foreheads. If not for the smiles on their faces, Zhang Tan might have thought someone was forcing them to do manual labor.

"Do you look down on us kids?" Xiaobai asked, sounding a bit unhappy.

What was this? He was just offering to help out of kindness—why the attitude?

Zhang Tan replied, "I just saw you couldn't lift it. Do you want me to help you carry it?"

Xiaobai put down the sand-filled bucket, paused to catch her breath, and said, "Uncle, you look down on us kids."

What was that all about? He was being kind. Zhang Tan waved his hand, saying he didn't mean it that way, and if they didn't want his help, then never mind.

Xiaobai was satisfied with his attitude. She nodded and told him he could be a guest today. Then, she lowered her head to inspect the bucket, whispered a few things to Xiaomi—Zhang Tan caught snippets about the bucket having too much sand and being exhausting—and then the two of them joined forces to drag the bucket along.

Zhang Tan followed behind them. Seeing how busy they were, he wanted to leave, but Xiaobai wouldn't let him. She told him to follow, promising there was something good for him. Perhaps they had really dug up diamonds or something.

What "good thing"? Zhang Tan followed along with great interest.

It wasn't a diamond, but a "sumptuous" dinner! Xiaobai pointed to the delicacies on the ground, smiling like a flower, looking incredibly proud.

"Mmmm..." Zhang Tan mused, feeling full just looking at it.

"Uncle, have you eaten?" Xiaobai asked.

"Not yet."

Xiaobai immediately invited him joyfully, "Then you can eat this! Eat the food, there's even meat!"

Xiaomi stood by, smiling so happily—Zhang Tan had never seen her look so cheerful. She looked like a fox sneaking into a henhouse, her face full of anticipation.

Zhang Tan started to get a headache. This "sumptuous" dinner consisted of plates made of sand. Some were just sand mixed together, some had a couple of rocks thrown in, others were mixed with weeds, and Xiaobai’s glass jar had actually been turned into a dish!

Xiaobai grandly introduced the dish with the glass jar, claiming it was the fish's favorite. It was delicious, she insisted with overflowing enthusiasm, urging Zhang Tan to squat down and have a taste.

Zhang Tan squatted down to look. Oh my god, what "fish's favorite"? Well, it *was* the fish's favorite, because the jar contained two earthworms! Fish definitely love earthworms. They must have dug them up while playing in the sand and screamed with excitement. Xiaomi hadn't dared to touch them, but Xiaobai, being bold, had grabbed them with her bare hands and put them in the jar.

"Uncle, try it," Xiaobai urged enthusiastically.

Is this what children’s pretend play is like? It was truly mind-boggling. Zhang Tan gave a dry laugh and politely declined, saying he had already eaten.

"You're lying! You just said you hadn't eaten!"

Xiaobai clearly remembered him saying he hadn't eaten. How could he say he had eaten as soon as he saw her feast? Was he looking down on her?

Zhang Tan: -_-||

Xiaobai was very persistent, and Xiaomi was too, in a more subtle way. She produced two twigs, calling them chopsticks, and handed them to Xiaobai, who then shoved them into Zhang Tan's hand, insisting he must finish everything.

Zhang Tan held the twigs, looking at the expectant children and then at the "fish feast" in the sandbox. He couldn't bring himself to eat, so he feigned illness. "Oh, my head hurts. I've been working too hard these past few days, my head is really aching."

"Ha! Xiaobai will tap Uncle's head for you."

Such a good deal? Xiaobai had long wanted to smack Zhang Tan's head—a thought from when they were at odds. They had reconciled, but once the idea had taken root and blossomed in her mischievous heart, it was hard to extinguish. Now that she had the chance, Xiaobai didn't hold back. She ran behind him and, without hesitation, started tapping his head.

"Uncle, your head is so big."

Xiaobai suddenly blurted this out, leaving Zhang Tan wondering if it was a compliment or an insult.

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Zhang Tan finally pretended to have eaten his fill and even let out a burp.

"Alright, I'm full. I have to go back to work now. Bye-bye."

Zhang Tan dropped the twigs and tried to run, but he was too naive. Did he think eating one meal was enough? No. Xiaobai grabbed his pants, refusing to let him go, because...

"This is what Xiaobai made, and Xiaomi made this one too. It's over here."

She dragged him to the other side. Oh great, there was another sumptuous feast waiting. Xiaomi looked at him with eager eyes, waiting for him to honor her meal as well.