Chapter 51

Yin Xiaoxiao and Mo Laoda stopped when they were still several hundred meters from Yin Xiaoxiao’s family’s cave. Yin Xiaoxiao again turned to Mo Laoda to confirm, “Heitan, you’re sure that you want to come with me?”

Mo Laoda’s reply was to turn so the back of his head faced Yin Xiaoxiao.

Yin Xiaoxiao: “…”

Seeing that Yin Xiaoxiao had no desire to move, Mo Laoda used his head to nudge Yin Xiaoxiao’s body, then he slithered off, taking the lead in their pilgrimage to Yin Xiaoxiao’s family’s cave. Mo Laoda hadn’t told Yin Xiaoxiao that, the evening of the first time that the two of them met, he had followed Yin Xiaoxiao home. As a result, even though Yin Xiaoxiao didn’t guide Mo Laoda, Mo Laoda still knew where Yin Xiaoxiao’s family lived. Seeing Mo Laoda move away, Yin Xiaoxiao grudgingly swung his tail as he followed Mo Laoda.

By no means was Yin Xiaoxiao the first snake to return home. Compared to a young snake who was far from home, finding everything interesting and not thinking of Shu ¹ , Hua Xiaohua was consumed with worry about the young snakes so Hua Xiaohua rushed to return to the cave very early. Yin Dabai, naturally, also followed Hua Xiaohua back. Hua Xiaohua’s return was very unexpected. Xiaoyi, Xiaoer, Xiaosan, Xiaosi, Xiaowu not being in the cave was quite normal. But after Hua Xiaohua had waited for four or five days and still had not seen Yin Xiaoxiao, Hua Xiaohua went to Hei Aban’s home only to find that Hei Aban and Lu Xiaohuang hadn’t seen Yin Xiaoxiao for several months. Hua Xiaohua had a bad feeling. He knew that his youngest son who was lazy enough to absolutely make a snake boil with rage ² , so why would he have left for the better part of half a year?

It couldn’t be said that Hua Xiaohua wasn’t, to some extent, telling the truth. If Yin Xiaoxiao’s days hadn’t constantly been interrupted by Lan Yiyi, then Yin Xiaoxiao would very likely not have run away that very night. Originally, Yin Xiaoxiao had been prepared to stay out for a certain period of time and then return to the cave. Unfortunately before that could happen, he was caught by Mo Laoda. Thus, Yin Xiaoxiao’s return became far off in the interminable future.

Hua Xiaohua thought, ‘Was it possible that our family’s Xiaoxiao was already living with Lan Yiyi?’ At this, he specially went to Lan Yiyi’s family’s home to take a quick look, but ultimately there didn’t appear to be any snakes in Lan Yiyi’s family’s home and there seemingly hadn’t been any snakes living there for months. Well, no snake would tell Hua Xiaohua that Lan Yiyi had gone covering the mountains and the plains ³ to look for Yin Xiaoxiao. Having gone and looked, and after not having found Yin Xiaoxiao, Hua Xiaohua had no choice but to listen to Yin Dabai’s words and to wait responsibly in the cave for Yin Xiaoxiao and the other young snakes.

After Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai’s return, the next ones to arrive were Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan. Under Hua Xiaohua’s rapid-fire interrogation, it was found that ⁴ the two snakes hadn’t found suitable partners. The next to return was Yin Xiaoyi, still a single snake.

Hua Xiaohua was very disappointed. This entire year, why hadn’t these paper children ⁵ still hadn’t found the right people? — Hey, hey! They still have quite a while to go before reaching adulthood! Why are you so anxious?!

This time, Hua Xiaohua placed all his hopes on the remaining three snakes.

The day that Yin Xiaoxiao returned home was a very nice day. Overhead, the sun shone, and the flowers smiled at the snakes ⁶ . Only unfortunately, Yin Xiaoxiao’s smile was stiff as he stood in the mouth of the cave. While Yin Xiaoxiao had persuaded Mo Laoda ⁷ , Mo Laoda had reluctantly agreed to allow Yin Xiaoxiao to first enter and wait until Yin Xiaoxiao called for Mo Laoda, when Mo Laoda would enter.

For a very long time, Yin Xiaoxiao stood in the mouth of the cave, psyching himself up. By happenstance, Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan came out with their tails entwined and were very pleasantly surprised to see Yin Xiaoxiao. And then, without waiting for Yin Xiaoxiao to say anything, Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan ran back into the cave, each striving to outdo the other.

“Pop!”

“Dad!”

Yin Xiaoxiao: “…”

Now Yin Xiaoxiao didn’t need to psych himself up; he couldn’t not go in. Head half-drooping, Yin Xiaoxiao followed Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan into the cave, lagging behind them.

Hiding not far away, Mo Laoda grunted. The Little Idiot had finally entered.

Because of Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan’s shouting, Yin Dabai and Hua Xiaohua appeared. They glanced over and then saw, at last, Yin Xiaoxiao following behind Hua Xiaoer and Hua Xiaosan.

Pleasantly surprised, Hua Xiaohua welcomed, “Xiaoxiao has returned! Hurry up and let you Pop look at you. Yes, this year you grew a lot.”

Yin Xiaoxiao said, “Fortunately. But actually a lot is fat.”

Yin Dabai also moved close to face Yin Xiaoxiao. “Fat is good. It seems that life, this year, isn’t bad outside.”

“Eh, it’s okay.” Yin Xiaoxiao felt a little guilty. Growing large and growing fat wasn’t his because of his doing; it was purely because of Heitan feeding him!

Hua Xiaohua looked behind Yin Xiaoxiao. “Xiaoxiao, you didn’t come with Lan Yiyi?”

“Lan Yiyi? I haven’t.” Yin Xiaoxiao could still remember that time he was forced to leave because of Lan Yiyi. Why would he possibly come with Lan Yiyi?

Hua Xiaohua forced a smile. Hua Xiaohua still believed that Yin Xiaoxiao and Lan Yiyi had left together, since both Yin Xiaoxiao and Lan Yiyi had been absent.

Yin Dabai proceeded to ask, “Then, this year you lived by yourself?” He also couldn’t see how Xiaoxiao could live on his own. How had Xiaoxiao been able to light a fire? How had Xiaoxiao been able to eat the foods he liked? How could he grow fat?

“Ah, not really. I’ve been living with another snake.”

“Another snake?” Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai looked at each other. Hua Xiaohua asked, “A new acquaintance? What are they called?”

Yin Xiaoxiao didn’t directly reply to Hua Xiaohua’s question, rather he said, “Dad, Pop, this snake is my friend, a good friend! Yes, this year they’ve been looking after me very well. It was all because of their actions that I was able to grow fat! They are also very formidable! But towards me, they are also particularly nice!”

Hua Xiaohua impatiently nodded his head. “Okay, okay. And, finally: who are they?”

On the other side, Yin Dabai didn’t speak. Yin Dabai, in his mind, mulled over Yin Xiaoxiao’s words. In general, he felt that there was something not right.

“This one, they, they’re called…” Yin Xiaoxiao did his best to stall for time, “You could call that one…”

“You’re with a Mo snake, of course,” said a voice from the entrance. All the snakes present simultaneously turned to look towards the entrance of the cave. Yin Xiaosi stood there with an ill-disposed expression. At this side was Lan Sansan.

“Mo snake?” Hua Xiaohua repeated. Finally, he became aware of a sense of wrongness. Unconsciously, he turned to look at Yin Xiaoxiao. And at that moment, Yin Xiaoxiao’s guilty conscience was spread across his whole face. Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai’s pupils suddenly shrank. Could it be that Yin Xiaosi was speaking the truth?

“Xiaoxiao, is it like this?” Yin Dabai asked, voice heavy.

“No need to ask Xiaoxiao when you can ask me.” The sound of Mo Laoda’s voice preceded him slithering into the cave. After Yin Xiaoxiao entered the cave, Mo Laoda had, at first, been innocently standing at the mouth of the cave and eavesdropping when Yin Xiaosi, who had returned with Lan Sansan, saw Mo Laoda in front of the entrance. At the same time, from inside the cave, he also heard Yin Xiaoxiao’s conversation with Yin Dabai and Hua Xiaohua. Practically in a flash, Yin Xiaosi knew who this Mo snake in front of the cave was, and then he recalled that time he’d run into Yin Xiaoxiao several months ago. Even then it had seemed that Yin Xiaoxiao had been worried and guilty, but still together with Lan Yiyi. Now he feared that, at that time, he’d already been together with this Mo snake in front of him. For a moment, Yin Xiaosi unleashed a killing intent on Mo Laoda before he led Lan Sansan into the cave and took the words out of Yin Xiaoxiao’s mouth.

Yin Xiaoxiao saw Mo Laoda enter and clearly let out a sigh of relief, provoking a glower from Hua Xiaohua. To prove that his sigh of relief was absolutely not caused by this snake, Yin Xiaoxiao promptly raised his head, straightened his chest and looked ahead.

Mo Laoda saw Yin Xiaoxiao’s display, lightly hmmm’ed and, in a deep voice, spoke to Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai, “Regardless of whether or not you agree, Yin Xiaoxiao will be my future partner.”

Yin Xiaoxiao was worried. What partner?! He absolutely hadn’t promised that, okay?! After the last time, when Mo Laoda said this to Mo Laoer, he had repeatedly stressed that they were only friends! Why did he speak of his “partner” business again now? Yin Xiaoxiao hastily wanted to refute this but was intimidated by the glance that Mo Laoda sent him ⁸ . Although a glance can’t talk and can’t kill, at the ruthless and bloodthirsty emotions showing in Mo Laoda’s eyes at this very moment, Mo Laoda ⁹ seemed to be saying that if what Yin Xiaoxiao ¹⁰ said didn’t conform to Mo Laoda’s kind intentions, Mo Laoda absolutely wouldn’t mind killing. Suddenly, Yin Xiaoxiao trembled all over and, ultimately, held back his words.

“Wasn’t it said that you were “good friends”? How did that become “partners”?” Yin Dabai’s voice had also deepened. Demanding Xiaoxiao become the partner to a Mo snake, this was impossible! Anyway, Yin Dabai and Hua Xiaohua both would not agree.

“It’s “partner”, not “good friend”,” Yin Dabai said in a measured tone as he glanced at Yin Xiaoxiao.

“Out of the question! I absolutely will not agree!”  This time, Hua Xiaohua rushed to speak before Yin Dabai could open his mouth. “Our Yin snake will absolutely not become a partner to a Mo snake.”

“I don’t need your approval.” Mo Laoda again opened his mouth, “Xiaoxiao and I can pair off, this matter won’t change.”

Hua Xiaohua still wanted to speak but was stopped by Yin Dabai. Yin Dabai thought deeply for a moment, turned to Mo Laoda and said, “If you can make the Mo snake clan agree to you and Xiaoxiao becoming partners, I’ll consider agreeing.”

Mo Laoda said, “Good. Then it’s agreed.”

After he stopped speaking, Mo Laoda, as fast as a peal of thunder which leaves no time for one to cover one’s ears ¹¹ , took Yin Xiaoxiao and pulled him behind him. “Then, Xiaoxiao and I will leave first.” In the blink of an eye, Mo Laoda led Yin Xiaoxiao out of the cave. Because of Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai’s speed, they decided not to chase after Mo Laoda even though Mo Laoda had Yin Xiaoxiao with him.

Hua Xiaohua’s complexion looked very unsightly. “You already agreed like this to this business with Xiaoxiao and that Mo snake? You must know how the Mo snake clan rejects other vipers!”

Yin Dabai’s complexion also didn’t look anywhere near good. Yin Dabai stared at the mouth of the cave. His voice was heavy. “I didn’t promise. You also said that the Mo snakes reject other vipers. Furthermore, you also saw how pure this Mo snake’s coloration was. Like that, do you really think that the Mo snakes would let this Mo snake successfully form a pair off with Xiaoxiao? There is absolutely no way that Mo snake will become Xiaoxiao’s partner! Even if that Mo snake makes the Mo snakes promise, I also only said that I would consider it but I didn’t say that I would agree.”

Hua Xiaohua listened to Yin Dabai’s words and also turned his matter over in his thoughts, carefully. With difficulty, he suppressed the anger and unhappiness in his heart.

Having finally caught the small female snake, Hua Xiaowu very happily set foot in the cave. “Dad, Pop! I have a partner!” After he stopped speaking, he swung his tail and held his head high, waiting for Hua Xiaohua and Yin Dabai’s praise.

…After a long time.

Hua Xiaowu: “…”

……After an even longer time.

Hua Xiaowu: “Hey, hey! Why isn’t anyone speaking?!”

………After an even longer long time.

Yin Dabai’s face was still gloomy. Hua Xiaohua was still lost in thought.

Hua Xiaowu: “Eh? Xiaoxiao still hasn’t returned?”

Yin Dabai and Hua Xiaohua’s eyes shot like knives towards Hua Xiaowu. Hua Xiaowu felt wronged. ‘I hadn’t even asked why Xiaoxiao hadn’t returned! Dad and Pop were so cruel to me!!’

T/N:

Footnotes

<ol>乐不思蜀: idiom meaning to have a good time and not think of home 发指: to make very angry 漫山遍野: idiom meaning all over added for clarity 孩纸们: slang for children except for the bit about the snakes, this is a quote from a children’s song 《上学歌》 ; here’s the youtube video added for clarity added for clarity added for clarity added for clarity 迅雷不及掩耳: an idiom which means as fast as lightning</ol>