Chapter 58: It Called You A Baddie
“Silence means consent! You didn’t say anything just now!” Mama Li countered.
Li Yanmo was frustrated. His mom had become so good at twisting words, just like Ning Tiantian.
That was not all, though. Before their parents left, Ning Tiantian made sure to part with these words: “There’s so much fried food overseas. I hope you guys put on loads of weight!”
The two moms didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but one thing was certain; this little lass would definitely bear grudges.
Tiantian hadn’t realized that she would be the first to put on weight. Silly Tiantian…
They took the morning flight to Zhangjiajie. Although Tiantian was a little disappointed that she couldn’t go overseas, her mood brightened considerably at the sight of the picturesque scenery.
“Let’s go look for Grandpa!” Tiantian happily grabbed Li Yanmo’s hand, humming a little tune as she ran forward.
Grandpa’s guesthouse was twenty minutes away by car. The guesthouse had a vintage feel about it, and was pleasantly quiet, with plenty of flowers and birds.
It was said that Grandpa had already been a very successful businessman in his younger days. After his wife passed away, he passed the business to Li Yanmo’s father and chose to head back to his ancestral home. He then set up a little guesthouse, keeping his wife company, year after year.
Every year, the Li family would pick up Grandpa from the ancestral home. This was the first time that Tiantian had ever been to Grandpa’s house.
“The baddie is here, the baddie is here…” They were greeted by the parrot as they walked in.
Ning Tiantian’s eyes widened in wonder. “Inky, it called you a baddie!”
“I’m not deaf,” said Li Yanmo flatly, as he stared at the parrot.
“But why is it calling you a baddie?” Ning Tiantian asked with her eyes wide. Her Inky was great. There was no way she would allow a bird to badmouth him like that.
Ning Tiantian ran toward the parrot and tapped the birdcage, shouting, “Inky is not a baddie!”
“You’re a baddie too, baddie! You’re all baddies,” the parrot screeched in response.
At this moment, a kindly old man walked out of the guesthouse, dressed in a Zhongshan suit. His face was framed by white sideburns, and his dark brown eyes reflected the vicissitudes of life.
“Grandpa Li!” Ning Tiantian turned around and shouted.
“Grandpa has been waiting so long for the both of you,” laughed Grandpa Li. His eyes fell on the noisy parrot. “When Yanmo was little, he almost barbequed Xiao Er; that’s why Xiao Er remembers him.”
Xiao Er was the parrot who had been calling Li Yanmo a baddie.
“Wow!” exclaimed Ning Tiantian in surprise. “You’re so awesome, Inky!”
Li Yanmo was speechless. Wouldn’t the average person think he had been naughty?
“Baddie! Baddie!” the parrot screeched even louder.
“Are you hungry, my granddaughter-in-law? Grandpa will make you something good,” said Grandpa, as he led them into the guesthouse.
“I’m famished!” Ning Tiantian had been starving for ages. She rattled off a list of dishes she wanted, “I want mala fish head, spiced beef, steamed crab, eight treasures cuttlefish, roast char siew…”
“Sure, Grandpa will prepare a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast for you.”
None of the dishes she had mentioned was on the menu for a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, Li Yanmo reminded his grandpa.
“Stop calling her out,” Grandpa Li rolled his eyes at his grandson, then smiled at Tiantian. “Grandpa is going to cook now, so take a seat here with the rascal.”
“Okay, Grandpa,” Tiantian nodded sweetly. Grandpa Li was fond of Tiantian; she was much easier on the eyes than his own grandson.