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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Qingmo woke up to find Mother Lin sitting by his bedside. Her eyes were darkened, and her face was dry and red, resembling shriveled sweet potato chips. It was a face drained of tears. "Mother," Lin Qingmo cried as he threw himself into her embrace. "I'm sorry for making you worry again."
"Foolish child, don’t say such things. It’s good that you’re awake. Who doesn’t have a headache or a fever now and then?" Mother Lin gently stroked Lin Qingmo's cheek, her calloused palm scraping against his delicate skin like a dull knife, almost breaking it. She felt even more puzzled; seeing Lin Qingmo looking so well, perhaps even too well, she asked, "Qingmo, were you scared by a dog a few days ago?"
Lin Qingmo suddenly lifted his head from his mother’s arms, looking at her timidly. After a moment, he nodded. "It was the big wolf dog from the Lin family."
"I’ve seen that wolf dog; it’s as tall as a person and even taller when it stands up. How did you escape from it? Where is the dog now?"
Mother Lin's words triggered his memories of being rescued from the fierce dog by something extraordinary at the seaside days before, and again last night when he used a pearl to save his Fat Doll. Was it a spirit or an immortal? At just six years old, he carried such a heavy secret in his heart, one that felt like it could crush him. Now that he trusted his mother enough to share this secret, he willingly lightened his burden by recounting everything that had happened by the sea and last night.
Mother Lin listened with astonishment and joy; though she tried to contain herself, a smile crept onto her lips. "Qingmo, that doll might be a spirit from the water. Our Lin Family Village has relied on the sea for generations and naturally worships the Dragon King. Although our village temple is small, it has never lacked offerings. I go to pray there during festivals. Perhaps this time you were under the Dragon King's protection. My child, while living in this world, one must understand the importance of doing good deeds."
Suddenly recalling something, Mother Lin's expression turned serious as she cautioned him, "Don’t tell anyone about this matter. People’s hearts are not what they used to be; there are always those who take crooked paths and plot mischief. If they find out, we’ll be in trouble. That little spirit helped you quietly because it likely doesn’t want others to know."
Lin Qingmo nodded in understanding, though he was only half aware of what she meant.
The next day was a scheduled day off from school. Having been sick for several days and unable to attend class, Lin Qingmo decided to find his books to review. Believing in the Dragon King's protection, Mother Lin splurged for once and bought some offerings and incense to thank the village temple.
Dressed in a tattered garment with part of the back torn away by dog teeth, Lin Qingmo bent down awkwardly under the bed searching for his school bag. The exposed skin on his back revealed much of his soft flesh. Unlike other village children who played on the beach year-round or learned fishing skills from their fathers at such a young age, he still retained the smooth white skin of a baby.
Suddenly he felt something soft and squishy sticking to his exposed skin; as he continued to explore with his hands, it wriggled like a plump caterpillar moving its numerous fine antennae. Startled, he exclaimed "Wow!" instinctively turning around quickly only to hear a thud as something fell to the ground.
Lin Qingmo was dazzled by the fleshy sight before him; upon focusing, he realized it was none other than his Fat Doll sitting there like a statue carved from white jade. A beam of sunlight streamed through the door crack as if piercing through him. The sunlight danced with fine golden dust motes floating in the air, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Lin Qingmo was small but clever; pinching the skin on his hand gently made him wince almost to tears—this wasn’t a dream after all. "Fatty?" he tentatively called out.
The Fat Doll sat on the ground biting its finger and staring at Lin Qingmo without speaking; however, from its pouting lips, it was clear that it was quite unwilling for Lin Qingmo to call it that.
"Fatty." Being just a child himself and not understanding social cues well, Lin Qingmo called out again when he saw no reaction from it.
This time Ao Yan responded; pushing himself up with both hands unsteadily, he struggled to stand due to his short stature and round body but still managed to pick up the nearby school bag and waddled toward Lin Qingmo.
"Don't come over; I'll come to you," Lin Qingmo said as he walked toward Ao Yan. The few steps felt like miles apart after such a long separation; Ao Yan dove into Lin Qingmo's embrace with joyful laughter that knocked him over.
Lin Qingmo rubbed his chest and was about to speak when Ao Yan's chubby hands grabbed his cheeks tightly; with its plump face pressing close, Lin Qingmo felt breathless as something soft and moist pressed against his mouth. His breath was cut off while his taste buds became overly sensitive; forced open was another moving object that intertwined with him—he tasted rich meatiness: it was pork belly.
Excitedly wanting to extend his tongue into Ao Yan's mouth for more tasting, he found Ao Yan's little tongue pushing against him instead. Unfortunately for Ao Yan, all the meat flavor had already been savored by Lin Qingmo; now he eagerly wanted to push into Ao Yan's mouth.
Lin Qingmo tightened his grip around Ao Yan's little waist while Ao Yan stubbornly tried hard not to lose ground against him; both held onto each other tightly as they wrestled fiercely.
Eventually giving in because Lin Qingmo couldn't breathe anymore, he pushed Ao Yan away gasping for air. He looked at Ao Yan dejectedly and said, "Fatty, you’re really strong! Having pork belly is great."
Victorious in their playful battle, Ao Yan beamed with excitement and proudly displayed his small milk teeth as he leaned closer to Lin Qingmo saying, "Pearl! Pearl!"
Lin Qingmo pouted slightly: "So you just wanted your pearl back? I thought you were inviting me for some pork belly."
But despite feeling downcast about it all, Lin Qingmo still opened his mouth for Ao Yan to retrieve the pearl. Overjoyed by this opportunity, Ao Yan nearly lost some of his few milk teeth in excitement as he rushed forward with his tongue swirling around wildly.
It ended when Lin Qingmo could no longer breathe and had to push him away again; wiping away some saliva left on his mouth he asked, "Why did it take so long? Did you get it?"
Ao Yan grinned at him like someone who had drunk too much wine—stumbling around with sparkling eyes reflecting sunlight dancing on water’s surface—and raised one hand revealing a white pearl resting in his palm.
Lin Qingmo picked up his school bag from the ground and turned back toward the bed. A gust of wind followed him that stirred up Ao Yan still lost in warm “kisses,” making him suddenly feel lonely as he gazed longingly at Lin Qingmo's retreating figure while continuing to suck on his fingers.
Sitting on the bed now, Lin Qingmo glanced at Ao Yan standing there like an awkward stone pillar in a pavilion. He patted the bed invitingly saying, “Come sit for a while.”
“Okay!” Ao Yan perked up again and quickly ran over with chubby legs swinging excitedly.
Lin Qingmo sat there feeling somewhat troubled as he watched Ao Yan run around; worried that if one foot landed wrong on their home’s floor it might create a dent or worse yet if he sat on their thin wooden bed would it collapse under him?
Lin Qingmo’s home wasn’t large—just one slightly bigger room connected to another small room—but it was sparsely furnished with only a few large items making it feel empty and shabby.
However glancing at a New Year painting hanging on the wall depicting a chubby child holding a big fish—its white flesh appearing just as firm as that of fish—made him turn back toward Ao Yan feeling an odd sense of wealth and abundance simply because of this pile of pork belly before him.
“Fatty,” said Lin Qingmo curiously, “where is your home?”
Ao Yan lunged onto him with a loud thud like a fist hitting against one’s chest causing Lin Qingmo to clutch at his heart exclaiming “Fatty! Slow down!”
With wide yellowish eyes glaring at him clearly enunciating each word Ao Yan replied: “My name is Ao Yan! Not Fatty.”
“How old are you? Fatty.” Being just a child himself with childish tendencies made Lin Qingmo uninterested in Ao Yan’s real name while fixated solely on wanting some pork belly.
Ao Yan sulked not wanting to respond but fearing that if he didn’t answer then perhaps Lin Qingmo would ignore him too paused before replying: “One year old.”
“Wow!” exclaimed Lin Qingmo dramatically stretching out each syllable “You’re still so young yet already so big! And so fat!” He poked at Ao Yan’s plump arm adding: “That pearl which healed me must be very precious?”
Ao Yan rolled his eyes solemnly nodding seriously.
Lin Qingmo wouldn’t know for now that such pearls could be found everywhere within South Sea Dragon Palace; Ao Yan merely took advantage of retrieving pearls from him.
Immortals truly differed from humans—they matured mentally much faster too.
With immense gratitude written across his face Lin Qingmo took hold of Ao Yan’s hand saying: “Thank you! I... I don’t have anything much to repay you with but next time my mother goes worshipping at Dragon King Temple I’ll go along too and bow several times.”
Scratching his head pondering what treats could entertain Ao Yan made an idea spark within him: “How about I comb your hair? I don’t have any good food here.”
He jumped off the bed retrieving Mother Lin’s sandalwood comb—a crescent-shaped tool with fine teeth—and found Ao Yan obediently lying across Lin Qingmo’s lap allowing him free reign over grooming.
The rounded tips glided gently through Ao Yan’s thick hair while moments before falling asleep he heard Lin Qingmo whisper: “Be my little brother?”
To which Ao Yan mumbled back sleepily: “You’re... my wife.”
The sun hung low in the west, casting a warm, golden light through the window. Ao Yan had not yet awakened, and Mother Lin had not returned. The door creaked open, and a small, oval head peeked in, wearing a black official hat, with a green face and neck, and a pair of drooping mustaches—it was Old Turtle.
“Come in, he’s here,” Lin Qingmo called out. Turtle Prime Minister tiptoed into the room, dressed in a deep purple official robe. The weight of his turtle shell seemed to bend his back, resembling an elderly man from the human realm. He respectfully bowed to Lin Qingmo and said softly, “I’m here to take him back. He sneaked out today.”
“Oh, so he’s been so disobedient,” Lin Qingmo remarked, pinching Ao Yan’s bottom. Ao Yan mumbled and rolled over, presenting his backside to Turtle Prime Minister. With a resigned smile, Turtle Prime Minister seemed to have acquired a small floral quilt without anyone noticing. He gently wrapped Ao Yan up and exited the room.
Once the plump and heavy Ao Yan left, the entire room felt lighter, as if it were floating in mid-air. Lin Qingmo felt an emptiness inside, an unsettling sensation. Not long after Turtle Prime Minister departed, Mother Lin returned with a bundle.
“Qingmo, who left this at the door?” she asked as she entered. Lin Qingmo shook his head. Upon opening the bundle, she found two pieces of clothing: one was a royal blue short robe adorned with vine patterns, and the other was a solid dark green short robe. There was also a black lacquered jewelry box with three small drawers. Opening it revealed the first drawer filled with small white pearls that looked like grains of rice—dazzlingly white; the second drawer contained neatly arranged red coral hairpins; and the third drawer held two pairs of earrings of different styles—one pair white like glistening teardrops and the other red like drops of blood. Additionally, there was an oil paper package that contained a large piece of fishy-smelling lean meat. Seeing the meat made Lin Qingmo realize something.
“That Fat Doll came again,” he said to his mother.
Mother Lin pondered for a moment; considering the few items, it seemed rather meager and not something one would expect from an adult but rather from a child unfamiliar with gift-giving etiquette. However, aside from the meat, these items were quite valuable according to Mother Lin's knowledge—enough for her and her son to live off for several lifetimes. Because they were too precious, she felt unworthy of accepting them and decided to keep only the meat and clothing while hiding away the jewelry box, instructing Lin Qingmo to return it if Fat Doll came again and to ask him not to send any more gifts.
However, days passed without any sign of Ao Yan's return, leaving Lin Qingmo feeling somewhat dispirited.
The weather turned cooler as days grew shorter. Lin Qingmo often walked home under the fading light of sunset. One day, school let out early because his teacher was unwell; the large round sun still hung high in the sky. As he walked along the damp beach, each wave washed away a long trail of footprints behind him. The horizon at sea appeared unusually low as if the water might swallow it whole. With his head down, he silently recited that day's lesson.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!” The low barking froze Lin Qingmo in place; his heart sank as all thoughts of his lesson vanished from his mind. Fear crept up his legs like icy seawater. When he looked up, he saw a child standing ahead with a dog on a taut iron leash; the child struggled slightly under its weight. The dog sat there with its massive black body and eerie eyes—like the ghost of a dead dog returning.
“Lin Qingmo! Where did you take my Er Hei?” The child holding onto the dog spoke up. He looked about six or seven years old but was tall for his age; he had already outgrown toddler softness.
“What Er Hei?” Lin Qingmo asked as he shifted sideways to stand on dry sand.
The child suddenly laughed. “You don’t recognize me? I’m Lin Xiao!” With thick eyebrows and big eyes on a thin face that made his eyes appear even larger, he stood tall in a bright red short robe that didn’t look like something a nouveau riche child would wear but rather like someone from an established wealthy family.
“Lin Xiao?” Lin Qingmo recalled that when they played together before, Lin Xiao had only been three years old; it was impressive that he remembered him so clearly at such a young age.
“It’s me! I’m back to study! I couldn’t get used to life in the city. From now on, we’ll attend school together,” Lin Xiao declared proudly.
Lin Xiao was one year older than Lin Qingmo; at five years old, he had been sent by his mother to live with relatives in the city where he attended school with an expensive tutor for two years before crying to return home because he missed it too much. His mother indulged him greatly and gave up her high expectations for him when she brought him back home just to keep him fed.
“Don’t come over! The dog!” As Lin Qingmo saw Lin Xiao approaching him, he quickly warned him off.
“Don’t be afraid; this is Da Hei; it won’t bite,” Lin Xiao reassured him while tugging at Da Hei’s leash before continuing, “A few days ago I sent Er Hei ahead to block you while I followed behind; how come when I arrived you disappeared along with Er Hei? Where did Er Hei go?”
Lin Qingmo remembered how Er Hei had been swept away by the waves and felt guilty but still lied: “It went mad trying to bite me so I ran into the sea; it followed me in and got swept away by a wave.”
“Oh—no worries then; it can’t swim anyway. You weren’t hurt were you?” As if taking advantage of this moment, Lin Xiao approached closer while leaving Da Hei behind.
Thus began their friendship as fixed companions. With Ao Yan absent for so long, Lin Qingmo gradually forgot about him.
By fifteen years old, school no longer held any interest for him; lacking ambitions for fame or fortune led him to take up fishing alongside adults as part of their family business. Following suit was Lin Xiao—he dropped out when Lin Qingmo did and joined him in learning how to fish despite facing storms at sea together.
Lin Xiao’s mother disapproved of her son “hanging out” with Lin Qingmo; several times she presented beautiful portraits of women for him to choose from as potential brides only for them to be torn apart by Lin Xiao who cried out that he was still young and wanted to play without being burdened by family responsibilities until eventually she relented.
One day several children gathered on boats at the beach. In June’s heat under an intense sun that scorched everything around them—the sand felt like burning coals beneath their feet—Lin Qingmo covered his feet with sand which felt almost scalding hot. On their banana-leaf-like boat there was a small patch of shade provided by an umbrella held by Lin Xiao sitting beside him—a white oil-paper umbrella adorned with red peonies that brought poetic imagery reminiscent of springtime in Jiangnan amidst the desolate sandy beach.
“Hey! Lin Qingmo! Why aren’t you a girl? If you were one then I would have married you long ago,” teased one older boy who approached them along with another boy experienced in fishing who had taken an interest in them.
Typically, it was just Lin Xiao and Lin Qingmo playing together without much interaction with other village children since they kept their distance due to class differences—Lin Xiao’s wealthy family intentionally kept them apart while casting shadows over Lin Qingmo.
After hearing what Lin Liu said, Lin Xiao shot him an annoyed glance but couldn’t help grinning widely in response while Lin Qingmo remained unfazed by their comments.
With his round yet pointed face weathered by sun and wind exposure making his skin dark and cracked—his sparse brows barely visible against such dark skin—he didn’t attract much attention despite not being handsome; however what set him apart was how well-read he appeared—a refined demeanor emanating from someone who had absorbed knowledge deeply over time.
Lin San suggested: “It’s so hot sitting here doing nothing; why don’t we go fishing at sea? We can cool off by swimming afterward.”
“Sounds good!” exclaimed Lin Xiao immediately before turning toward Lin Qingmo waiting for his approval.
Since he wanted to learn fishing techniques too naturally he agreed readily.
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