Chapter 16: Pinching Cheeks
Huang Guokun pulled Huang Guolun back to his home, a hall filled with the charm of traditional Chinese style.
After dinner, the whole family gathered in the hall, drinking tea, chatting, and watching television. Huang Tao’s grandfather, Huang Han, his grandmother, Zhou Yunfen, and even his great-grandparents were all present. Huang Tao, holding an ice cream cone in one hand, sat blissfully on his grandfather’s lap, basking in the affection of his elders.
Huang Han was a former teacher and carried himself with a natural scholarly elegance. Despite years in business, he retained a kind of untainted air, like a lotus rising from the mud. Dressed now in a short-sleeved white shirt and linen trousers, his appearance was little changed from his teaching days two decades ago—except his clothes were finer and the wrinkles at his eyes had deepened.
Looking down at his grandson, Huang Han felt an indescribable joy. They say grandparents dote on their grandchildren, and it was certainly true for Huang Han. His treatment of Huang Tao was far more indulgent than he’d ever been with his own sons, Huang Guokun and Huang Guolun. Even when Huang Tao misbehaved, his grandfather could hardly bring himself to scold him; at most, he would patiently reason with the boy.
With the most influential grandfather in the household backing him, Huang Tao did as he pleased in the northern suburban villa, never giving Huang Guolun a second thought.
Just then, Huang Guolun entered with Huang Guokun. Noticing Huang Tao with yet another ice cream cone, Huang Guolun shot him a warning look, urging restraint. Huang Tao, however, grinned mischievously, waving the cone at him and, under his father’s annoyed gaze, licked it with great relish—utterly brazen.
Huang Guolun could only grit his teeth in silence; in front of the elders, he dared not reprimand Huang Tao. He’d have to settle this when they returned to the city.
Zhou Yunfen turned to Huang Han with a piece of gossip. “Did you hear? That chemistry teacher from No. 2 Middle School, Mr. Li—his wife won five million in the lottery last week!”
Huang Guokun blurted out, “People really do win? The odds are tiny!”
Zhou Yunfen said, “Aren’t they? Winning the lottery is less likely than being struck by lightning. I just don’t understand why so many people are obsessed with buying tickets.”
Great-grandmother chimed in, “Everyone wants to get rich.”
Huang Han smiled. “Indeed. Most people who buy lottery tickets know full well how slim their chances are.”
Huang Tao added, “But what they know even better is that their odds of making five million through their own efforts are even slimmer. That’s why they buy tickets.”
His words left the room momentarily stunned.
Huang Han smiled with admiration. “My grandson sees things so clearly.”
Huang Guokun scratched his head in confusion. “Why do I feel like my nephew is smarter than I am?”
Zhou Yunfen laughed. “You don’t just feel it—he really is!”
Basking in their praise, Huang Tao savored his ice cream even more smugly.
Huang Guolun couldn’t stand it any longer. “Tao, that’s enough. How many ice creams have you had today? Still eating! Didn’t you say no more tonight?”
Zhou Yunfen interjected, “Must you always raise your voice at the child? Our ice cream is made from organic ingredients, with very little sugar—it’s healthy.”
“Healthy or not, he shouldn’t eat so much! Look how chubby he’s gotten,” Huang Guolun reasoned with Zhou Yunfen, gesturing at Huang Tao.
Huang Han advised, “It’s fine for children to be a bit plump—it’s a sign of good fortune.”
With his grandparents backing him, Huang Tao’s confidence soared. He retorted to Huang Guolun, “My great-grandfather is eighty-five and he’s doing just fine—healthy as ever!”
Huang Guolun asked, “Is your great-grandfather healthy because he eats ice cream every day?”
“Of course not,” Huang Tao sniffed. “It’s because my great-grandfather never meddles in other people’s business.”
K—O!
Huang Tao’s retort landed a direct hit on Huang Guolun.
Laughter erupted from the great-grandparents, Huang Han, and Huang Guokun.
Only Zhou Yunfen noticed the simmering frustration in Huang Guolun’s heart. Worried he might take it out on Huang Tao later, she quickly intervened. “Little Tao, don’t talk back to your dad so much—he’s only thinking of your own good.”
“I know. So am I,” Huang Tao replied, leaving everyone speechless.
“See how spoiled he is now?” Huang Guolun complained to his parents.
Huang Han, dignified without anger, replied, “Spoiled how? I think he’s wonderful—our little Tao is the cutest.”
“Grandpa, you understand me best!” Huang Tao said, nestling closer to his grandfather.
Zhou Yunfen called out, “That’s enough, stop clinging to your grandpa. Finish the ice cream in your left hand and come tell your great-grandparents how you did at kindergarten this week.”
Great-grandmother asked kindly, “Little Tao, how many red stars did you earn this week?”
Huang Tao quickly finished his ice cream, sucked his fingers clean, held up three fingers, and announced proudly, “I did better than last week—three days in a row I earned red stars!”
“What good deeds did you do to earn three red stars?” Huang Guokun, charmed, delayed taking Huang Guolun to review films. He grabbed a shiny red apple from the table, took a bite, and asked Huang Tao.
Huang Guolun explained to everyone, “What good deeds? His standards are lower than other kids. As long as he isn’t naughty, the teacher gives him a red star.”
Huang Han smiled at Huang Tao, “So that means you were naughty the other two days?”
“Hehe.” Huang Tao grinned mischievously. “Grandpa, I’m a good child—I won’t lie to you. Actually, I was naughty every day. I only got red stars on the three days Miss Li didn’t catch me.”
“My nephew really is smarter than I am. When I was in kindergarten, I got caught every time,” Huang Guokun laughed.
“Just keep it up—you’ll get caught sooner or later,” Huang Guolun scolded.
“I’ve noticed that too. That’s why now I only act up at noon—it’s harder for the teacher to catch me then.”
“You—!” Huang Guolun was about to blow his top.
“Tao, tell grandpa how you were naughty this week.”
“It wasn’t much—I was just learning from Dad.”
“Nonsense! Don’t blame me,” Huang Guolun protested.
“How did you learn from your dad?” Huang Han asked, smiling.
“Dad always complains to Grandma about getting tired of eating at home, and every few days insists on eating out. I thought he had a point. So on Monday morning, at kindergarten breakfast, I complained to Miss Li that eating in the cafeteria was boring, and I wanted to eat out every few days.”
Huang Guolun felt awkward—it really did sound like him.
“Did your teacher agree?” Huang Guokun, big-brotherly, munched his apple and asked, intrigued.
“At first, she didn’t. But then I threw a tantrum, rolling and crying until she gave in. She moved my little chair and table outside the cafeteria and let me eat outside.”
Huang Guokun burst out laughing. “So that counts as eating out?”
The elders were all amused.
Huang Tao, delighted with himself, said, “It was great! No teacher watching me—I could eat snacks whenever I wanted. Total freedom!”
Huang Guolun scolded, “That’s just being clever!”
Zhou Yunfen objected, “Don’t call our Tao clever—that’s real intelligence, not just slyness. Most kids aren’t this smart.”
To prove her point, she prompted Huang Tao, “Go on, Tao, tell your great-grandparents about the experiment Miss Li did with you all on Wednesday.”
Huang Tao took a few licks of his ice cream before answering, “Oh, that experiment was interesting. Miss Li filled a bottle with small stones, then with sand, and when it looked full, she poured in half a bottle of water—amazing! She said it taught us that there’s no end to learning.”
Zhou Yunfen nodded in satisfaction—her grandson was indeed a promising child!
But Huang Tao went on, “Later, I thought about it and realized that besides teaching us about endless learning, the experiment had an even more important lesson.”
“What more important lesson?” Zhou Yunfen asked, curious.
“It taught us that at a buffet, you should never drink your beverage first—save it for last if you want to eat the most!”
At last, Zhou Yunfen was left speechless.
Seeing his mother deflated, Huang Guolun secretly exulted. See, this is what happens when you spoil him—he’ll outsmart you all!
Huang Guokun was in stitches. Tossing the apple core away and wiping his hands, he reached out to pinch Huang Tao’s chubby cheeks. “My nephew is just too clever!”
Huang Tao dodged nimbly, turning his head and announcing seriously, “Uncle, don’t pinch my cheeks anymore. From now on, I won’t let anyone pinch them—not even myself.”
Huang Guolun scoffed, “What, worried your face will get bigger?”
Ignoring his father, Huang Tao addressed the room. “Now I know—pinching cheeks is a terrible thing.”
Huang Han asked with a smile, “Why is that?”
“The other day at noon, our kindergarten gave us a special treat—no nap, eat whatever we wanted, play however we liked.”
“Really?” Zhou Yunfen was surprised.
“We had such a good time! Everyone was eating ice cream. Li Yaxin even gave me hers. When she smiles, she gets the cutest dimples—so pretty. She watched me eat ice cream with this adoring look. After I’d eaten my tenth, she blushed and said, ‘Tao, you can eat ten ice creams in one go—amazing! I really like you! When I grow up, I’ll marry you!’”
Huang Guolun was skeptical. “You’re making this up—Li Yaxin said that?”
“It’s hard to believe, right? I was so happy I could hardly believe she liked me enough to want to marry me someday. I told her I didn’t believe it. She said, ‘You don’t? Then pinch your own cheeks and see.’ So I did...” Huang Tao trailed off.
“And then?” Huang Guokun was eager to know.
“And then... I woke up! From that moment on, I swore no one would ever pinch my cheeks again—not even me. Such a happy moment, gone in an instant because of a pinch. Pinching cheeks is truly terrible!”