Chapter 3 - Master Meng (1/2)

Chapter 3: Master Meng

Translator: Xie Ziwei

“I’m back, Uncle! Why such a long face? Look at your dumplings. They look so funny! They’re just as ugly as you are!” Returning to the lobby, he glanced furtively at the cold faces of everyone. So he walked over anxiously and took a jab at Zhao San, trying to find out if he was still angry.

“If you can make dumplings, you do it! The dumpling that I make is called the General Dumpling. Your oldest uncle is always slavering to my General Dumpling every year. How dare you laugh at my General Dumplings! You need to be taught a lesson!”

Zhang Meng took the bait. Immediately, he began to make one and said, “I will make a General Dumpling much better than yours!” But he put too much filling in it and the dumpling leaked. In the end, Zhang Meng had to use three or four pieces of dumpling wrappings to stop the leak. His “General Dumpling” was “better” in a sense that it looked much clumsier than Zhao San’s dumpling.

“Ha-ha! A’Meng, you are clueless! You call that a dumpling?! It’s a brick! Let you eldest uncle taste it and see if he dares to swallow ‘the brick’.”

Zhao San laughed loudly which irritated Zhang Meng. He sneaked a handful of flour into Zhao San’s pipe. After making several dumplings, Zhao San took his pipe and smoked out of habit. Of course, he was almost choked to death by the flour.

“I’ll kill you little bastard!”

The whole kitchen became a huge mess! The dumplings therefore had to wait for a couple more hours. Afterwards, Zhang Meng moved a stool to sit outside Shui Yue Xuan. He looked nervous. Every year, he would wait for his father in front of Shui Yue Xuan. Over the years, the only thing he ever got was disappointment.

It was getting dark. Looking at the lonely Zhang Meng, Zhao San also fell into a sulky mood.

“You have to blame Master Ye. After so many years, is it so hard to come home?” sighed Cripple Chan, shaking his head.

“…”

“Well… I’ll stop. Anyway, I’m used to it!” Zhang Meng said to himself. He moved the stool back to his room and cleaned up for a little bit. He was going to take the dumplings to his uncle’s home under an umbrella.

At that moment, a servant hurried in with a weird look and said to Zhang Meng, “Boss! Thank heavens, you haven’t left yet! Just now, someone was sneaking around Shui Yue Xuan, asking for you. I caught him red-handed. When I was about to ask him what he knew, he told me that he had news from your father.”

“What?! He has news from my father? Show him in quickly. And remember: be polite!” said Zhang Meng, anxiously. Cripple Chan, Sick Ghost, and Zhao San stopped working immediately with their eyes gleaming with excitement. After so many years, they’re finally getting news from Master Ye! Is he coming home soon?

The servant came back with a man from the Mainland. Travel-worn and weary, he looked like he had a long journey.

“Who is Zhang Meng?”

“I… I am”, said Zhang Meng nervously.

Wearing an odd expression, the mainlander looked at Zhang Meng with some uncertainty and took out a watch.

“That’s my father’s watch! Why is it here?”

Zhang Meng was shocked, his eyes opened wide. He raised his wrist, revealing his watch which was almost the same as the watch held by the mainlander. Seeing the watch, the mainlander looked relieved and said softly, “I have found you at last. Son, I’m so sorry to inform you that your father had passed away. He entrusted me to bring you this watch.”

“What! My father… died?”