Chapter Text
“I was born in the summer. I guess? Or at least that was what I remembered of my childhood…”
Xiao Xingchen had gone quiet after that. It took a long while before he finally asked, “When in summer?”
That was how Xiao Xingchen came to know of their nameless housemate’s birthday. It would be in less than a month’s time. Surely he had to prepare something. The man deserved something good, for all that he had done for them — taking care of the groceries and mending the house from time to time.
...but what could he, a mere poor Taoist priest afford?
“Why don’t we just let the people of Yi City get the gifts instead?” A-Qing suggested. “Surely they have to give Daozhang face, since Daozhang and that Bad Egg[1] has been helping them with the exorcism!” She added, “I know! We can make it a week-long celebration! And and...just prepare some food for the visitors while they provide us with gifts!”
“But we don’t have that much food for everyone.” Xiao Xingchen said.
“We could...erm…” A-Qing pondered for a while, “A-ha! Perhaps Daozhang could ask for some meat at the farm nearby? And uh...the grains...Hmm…” A-Qing paced around the house, “I remember hearing that Bad Egg bickering with you about them owing us payment for the exorcism?”
“I cannot accept money from—”
“Yaya! But it’s different. We are not taking money from them. Just...well, take it as a ‘favour’?”
Xiao Xingchen contemplated for a while, “Hmm...perhaps I could try.”
With that, Xiao Xingchen headed off towards the pig farm.
A-Qing let out a sigh of relief. It was frustrating to see Daozhang so deep in his own thoughts lately. He almost even burnt their porridge. It wasn’t until that Bad Egg came and saved the day. Ugh...A-Qing never liked that Bad Egg ; but Daozhang seemed to be very fond of the man.
Just as the Daozhang left, the door to their house opened and in came the Bad Egg.
“Little Blind, where is Daozhang going? Why does he look so...nervous when we bumped into each other just now?”
A-Qing stuck out her tongue, “It’s none of your business. Also, what’s taking you so long just to get some groceries?! I’m hungry!”
“You just ate this morning and now you are hungry?! Tsk, at this rate we are going to go broke from you eating like a pig!”
“Y-you! You! You are the pig! Who’s the one eating the most rice, huh? A small weak girl like me couldn’t have eaten that much! It must be you!”
Meanwhile, Xiao Xingchen who was blissfully unaware of the bickering happening at home finally reached the pig farm. He felt worried as he paced about the outside of the house, trying to think of what to ask...