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Wind howls through skeletal trees and sets snowflakes whirling in the air. The fog of the Cloud Recesses trades itself for a powdery dusting of snow. Snowdrifts form in teetering piles and gleam under moonlight. There is no movement except for drifting snow, too cold for activity outside. The darkness of the night competes with the moonlight, the stars, and the warm glow leaking from buildings.
The silence of the world outside cannot compare to the noise inside one of the main buildings—the kitchens. Three men and a child huddle around a stove. Steam curls lazily to the ceiling as one of the men and the child tussle.
“Xian-gege, no!” A-Yuan whines. His tiny hands slap ineffectually at Xian-gege’s closed fistful of chili. Red powder floats in the air, escaping through the gaps of Xian-gege’s right hand.
Xian-gege laughs, a red-white flash of a chili-red mouth and bone-white teeth. It is a warm sound, like the crackle of fire when Xian-gege’s scribbles fail and it gets too cold in the cave.
Rich-gege’s hand joins A-Yuan’s to cover Xian-gege’s fist. “Wei Ying,” Rich-gege says. His voice is a deep rumble, pressed up against A-Yuan’s back. Rich-gege’s other hand steadies A-Yuan when he begins to squirm impatiently. Xian-gege is always too tricky!
A-Yuan whines inarticulately when Xian-gege tries kissing Rich-gege over his head. A-Yuan has eyes! Sneaky Xian-gege trying to get out of trouble! He’s so annoyed that he can’t help the way his cheeks puff up with air. He becomes even more annoyed when a finger pokes at his cheeks. It’s Xian-gege’s, of course!
“Wei Ying, do not tease,” Rich-gege says.
Xian-gege laughs. “Ah, Lan Zhan, how can I resist? Our A-Yuan is too cute!”
A-Yuan puffs out his cheeks again. He crosses his arms and looks away from the pair. He looks at Ning-gege, to the left of him. A-Yuan raises his arms and squirms away from Rich-gege and Poor-gege.
Ning-gege is a very good big boy because he picks up A-Yuan. A-Yuan tucks his head in the crook of Ning-gege’s neck. It is nice and cold against his hot face.
“Wei Ying,” Ning-gege says softly.
Xian-gege pouts but it’s all fake, of course. “Ah, everybody is so mean to poor XianXian,” he wails. “All I’m trying to do is make good food for my family!”
A short huff escapes Rich-gege’s mouth. It’s the closest he gets to laughter. Xian-gege is good for that—laughing. Xian-gege is very silly. It doesn’t make sense how Xian-gege gets to be called a big boy but A-Yuan is still a baby! Xian-gege is the baby.
A-Yuan clenches his fists in Ning-gege’s robes. “Xian-gege is a big liar!” he says. “Not good!”
Ning-gege runs a big soothing hand down A-Yuan’s back. It doesn’t really help with being annoyed at Xian-gege but A-Yuan still likes it. It makes him feel all warm inside, like when his face ends up above the pot and it’s all steamy and hot but it still feels really nice.
“Please stop trying to add chili to the pot,” Ning-gege says firmly.
Finally, Rich-gege manages to get rid of the chili in Xian-gege’s hand.
“Betrayed by both of my husbands and my son,” Xian-gege says. He shakes his head with a fake sadness. His mouth curves down. He holds his right hand close to his chest, as if he’s been hurt. Once again, Xian-gege is a big liar but he makes Ning-gege laugh (and maybe A-Yuan wants to laugh too).
A-Yuan listens to Ning-gege laugh and heaves a big sigh into Ning-gege’s neck. He tugs at Ning-gege’s hair and says, “Give Xian-gege a kissy.”
“A-Yuan?” Ning-gege says.
A-Yuan doesn’t know how but Ning-gege’s gray skin turns pink. All of his dads are very silly. Good thing they have A-Yuan! So, A-Yuan sighs again and explains, “A-Ling likes kissies and he’s a baby and Xian-gege is a baby too.”
“XianXian is not a baby,” Xian-gege says.
It convinces no one.
But it’s Rich-gege who gives Xian-gege a kissy first! A-Yuan turns his head away and hides his face in Ning-gege’s neck. A-Yuan meant a cheek kissy! Not mouth! Yuck. Imagine finding food in Xian-gege’s mouth. Sometimes food gets stuck in A-Yuan’s teeth. Rich-gege is too brave.
Ning-gege starts walking forwards to Xian-gege. Ning-gege is the best because when A-Yuan peeks up, Ning-gege only kisses Xian-gege’s cheek.
Xian-gege laughs. He points a finger at his mouth.
“Not in front of A-Yuan,” Ning-gege says.
A-Yuan nods his head quickly. “Mn!” he agrees for extra assurance. Definitely not in front of A-Yuan!
The tips of Rich-gege’s ears turn pink.
Xian-gege laughs again. “Aiyah, what is the world coming to? My Lan Zhan is the most shameless!” he says. Then, he turns his back on them to stir the pot, as if he isn’t the creator of all of today’s problems. It’s Xian-gege who has no shame.
“I want Rich-gege to hold me now,” A-Yuan says. He wants to see if Rich-gege’s ears are hot to the touch! They look hot, pink turning into red.
Rich-gege makes a slight pained sound.
Xian-gege, of course, laughs again. “Haha, A-Yuan is the most shameless. Calling your baba ‘Rich-gege’.”
A-Yuan pouts. “Rich-gege is Rich-gege,” he argues. Rich-gege is the richest! He buys A-Yuan all the toys he could ever want, especially when Xian-gege teases him. Xian-gege is also Poor-gege. Ning-gege is probably also a Poor-gege but Ning-gege is the nicest and smartest so it’s Xian-gege who gets called Poor-gege.
“Oh, of course,” Xian-gege says, all fox-like and lilting.
“Xian-gege is also Poor-gege,” A-Yuan says.
Xian-gege stirs the pot with a lot more force.
“A-Yuan,” Rich-gege says. There is a warning in his voice but he still comes up to Ning-gege to hold A-Yuan. He gives Ning-gege a quick cheek kissy because all of A-Yuan’s dads are awful like that. (A-Yuan wants a cheek kissy! Not fair!)
A-Yuan reaches up with his fingers to touch Rich-gege’s ears. They’re not hot! Only a little bit warm.
Rich-gege catches A-Yuan’s hands in his own.
“Rich-gege,” A-Yuan says seriously. He looks Rich-gege straight in the eyes.
Rich-gege looks down, his face all serious but his mouth isn’t entirely flat. He hums lightly.
“Your ears aren’t hot,” A-Yuan says. It’s a good thing to know. Rich-gege is very smart so he must have thought about it before too. But it’s always good to have another person “ver-i-fy” the same fact. It’s what makes you a good “cul-ti-va-tor” and Rich-gege is the best—well, one of the best. Ning-gege is strong too! And Xian-gege plays the dizi so well that all the monsters run away!
Anyways, finally Xian-gege takes the pot off the stove. Ning-gege helps Xian-gege pour the food into bowls. Rich-gege’s hands are too busy playing with A-Yuan’s hands!
They sit down but Rich-gege makes A-Yuan sit in his lap. A-Yuan squirms in Rich-gege’s lap. He’s a big boy. He can sit by himself but sometimes Rich-gege likes holding him close so sometimes A-Yuan’s squirming is just for show in the same way Xian-gege fake cries to get everybody’s eyes on him. Rich-gege can be very shy, like a new bunny in the bunny field that doesn’t know that A-Yuan is a very good boy and so the bunny keeps on hiding by the tree even though A-Yuan would treat the bunny right because Rich-gege and Ning-gege told him he had to be very, very careful and to hold the bunny like this.
Rich-gege is a bunny. It must be why his ears show a lot of emotion. A-Yuan wonders if Rich-gege has a tail but those sort of thoughts should be thought of again later because Rich-gege is holding out a spoon for A-Yuan. A-Yuan is a good boy so he eats the spoonful. But then he pushes Rich-gege’s hand away because sometimes Rich-gege thinks he is too much of a baby when he isn’t.
“Rich-gege,” A-Yuan says, ignoring Rich-gege’s low protests at the name, “I can eat by myself. I’m a big boy!”
“Ha, you hear that, Lan Zhan. Our little radish is a big boy!” Xian-gege says.
Xian-gege is probably being mean because Ning-gege smiles at A-Yuan as if to say that Xian-gege is just being silly.
“Bigger than Xian-gege,” A-Yuan mutters. He watches as Ning-gege feeds Xian-gege from one of the side dishes and then as Xian-gege feeds Ning-gege something too red in return.
Rich-gege pauses in eating to pat A-Yuan’s head. “Mn,” he says.
Even though the spoon is a little too big, A-Yuan still eats without making a mess of himself. A-Ling can’t even do that because he’s a baby! Xian-gege is also a baby and that’s why Ning-gege feeds him. It all makes sense! Though Ning-gege isn’t a baby so A-Yuan doesn’t know why Xian-gege feeds him back. Maybe it’s like when A-Ling needs to nap but won’t nap unless A-Yuan naps too. Ning-gege is a very good boy then because that’s what Xian-gege’s big sister says when A-Yuan pretends to sleep in front of A-Ling. Ning-gege’s big sister also says that A-Yuan is a good boy too! And so does Rich-gege’s big brother! Hmm...why doesn’t A-Yuan have a big brother or sister? Maybe A-Yuan is the big brother. A-Ling is family too…
“Are you alright, A-Yuan?” Rich-gege says in a low voice. He pats A-Yuan’s head again.
Rich-gege is a worrier and so A-Yuan says, “Mn!” and goes back to eating. He listens quietly as Xian-gege and Ning-gege talk. Rich-gege and A-Yuan don’t speak because they are the bestest boys who know that speaking is not allowed during eating. It’s why Rich-gege’s uncle likes A-Yuan the best! Rich-gege comes second, then it’s Ning-gege, and it’ll never be Xian-gege because Xian-gege makes him turn purple.
Finally, they finish eating and they start heading back to the jingshi. Ever since, Xian-gege set a pot on fire, they haven’t been allowed to cook in the jingshi, so that’s why they had to cook in the main kitchens.
“Alright,” Xian-gege says loudly, “who do you want to carry you, A-Yuan?”
“Wei Ying,” Rich-gege says.
Shouting is not allowed in the Cloud Recesses!
“A-Yuan can walk by himself,” A-Yuan says primly.
“Ah, A-Yuan...” Ning-gege says, “it would make us feel better if you let us carry you.” Ning-gege has big bunny eyes!
A-Yuan is a good boy and so he doesn’t sigh. He just looks at Ning-gege and raises his arms. Ning-gege holds A-Yuan close and Xian-gege comes close. He gives A-Yuan’s cheek a big sloppy kissy and A-Yuan has to rub at his skin! Xian-gege even pinches A-Yuan’s other cheek.
A-Yuan whines wordlessly but then Rich-gege only kisses A-Yuan’s pinched cheek, as if that’s supposed to help. They’re lucky Rich-gege uncle isn’t here because his face gets all pinched when Rich-gege acts like this with them. Rich-gege’s uncle likes to say “Shameless” under his breath all the time.
Finally, they go outside into the snow. Fat flakes settle in their hair and every step they take, the snow crunches slightly. It’s so quiet except for their footsteps. Even Xian-gege is quiet, walking next to Ning-gege with Rich-gege on the other side. It’s been a long day and so A-Yuan just closes his eyes for a bit and tightens his arms around Ning-gege’s neck.
The cold soon disappears and all A-Yuan can feel is warmth. He hears the crackle of a fire and the rustle of clothing. Then Ning-gege drops A-Yuan on the big bed.
“Time to get ready for sleep,” Ning-gege reminds A-Yuan.
A-Yuan nods and works on taking off his clothing to trade them for sleepwear.
After all four of them get changed, they all go to bed. A-Yuan has his own bed but this time he slides into the gap between Rich-gege’s and Xian-gege’s bodies. They are the warmest and so are the best during winter. During summer, A-Yuan likes sleeping in between Rich-gege and Ning-gege.
A-Yuan cuddles close and closes his eyes. Before he drifts off to sleep, he hears Xian-gege talk.
“Did A-Yuan like cooking with us today?” Xian-gege asks. Xian-gege is silly like that—asking questions when the answer is obvious.
Still, A-Yuan can’t help the way he huddles deeper into Rich-gege’s chest. He says shyly, “A-Yuan liked.”
“Mn. Sleep,” Rich-gege says.
Ning-gege’s hand reaches over Xian-gege to stroke the hair off of A-Yuan’s forehead.
A-Yuan is so sleepy that he misses what Ning-gege says but that’s alright. The four of them would still be there in the morning to wake up together.