Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUA’ER

As the siblings settled around the wooden dining table, their father emerged from the kitchen carrying a glazed earthenware bowl adorned with dancing cranes. Steam rose like morning mist from the wild mushroom and chicken soup within, carrying with it the earthy fragrance of fungi gathered from the forest.

Following behind him was their mother, who held a large bamboo steamer basket lined with lotus leaves. Within lay rows of carefully folded jiaozi, their wrappers as thin as autumn frost, betraying the shadows of minced herbs and meat beneath. Each dumpling was pleated with eighteen precise folds—a number of good fortune—and arranged in a pattern that resembling floating clouds.

“Wowwww…” The siblings breathed in unison, their eyes wide as saucers at the feast laid before them.

Li Hua felt her brothers’ excitement radiating from either side of her, but something was different about her place—unlike her brothers, she didn’t have the customary small bowl of rice before her. Seeing her questioning look, their mother disappeared into the kitchen. When she returned, she carried something that made Li Hua’s breath catch—a special, crimson-glazed bowl decorated with golden phoenixes. She placed it before Li Hua with the gentle care one might use to handle a precious treasure.

Li Hua’s eyes widened at the contents within. A nest of longevity noodles, hand-pulled until they were as thin as silk threads, coiled like dancing dragons in a clear broth that sparkled with tiny droplets of golden oil. The noodles were crowned with sprigs of emerald green vegetables and delicate threads of ginger, each strand stretching unbroken in endless loops—a symbol of long life and eternal blessings. Nestled beside the noodles sat a tea-stained egg, its marble-brown shell bearing intricate patterns like an ancient map, promising the rich golden yolk within that symbolized the warmth of the rising sun and the fullness of prosperity to come.

The special meal could mean only one thing.

“Happy Birthday, my precious Hua’er,” her mother said softly.

“Happy Birthday, Little Sister!” Li Hao practically shouted, bouncing in his seat with excitement.

“Happy Birthday, Hua’er,” Li Wei added with a gentle smile, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Her father’s eyes crinkled warmly as he reached across the table to pat her head. “Happy Birthday, my clever little poppy.”

Something inside Li Hua’s chest tightened unexpectedly. In her previous life, birthdays had been nothing more than markers of time passed—days spent alone in shadow-filled corridors, training until her hands bled. No celebrations, no special meals, no family gathered around her with loving smiles. The weight of decades of lonely birthdays pressed against her heart, making this simple moment feel almost overwhelming in its warmth.

Before she could stop them, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks in great, rolling drops. Her family’s expressions shifted from joy to alarm as her little face scrunched up, turning red with emotion.

“Hua’er?” her mother asked, voice tight with concern. “What’s wrong, precious one?”

“I’m-so-happy!” Li Hua burst out in one rushed breath before dissolving into loud, hiccupping wails. Her face was a mess of tears and emotions, her tiny shoulders shaking as she alternated between trying to speak and crying even harder. For all her past life’s training in stealth and composure, she had transformed into the very picture of an overwhelmed child, complete with running nose and hitching breaths.

Her brothers exchanged panicked looks before simultaneously wrapping their arms around her from both sides. “Don’t cry, Little Sister!” Li Hao pleaded, though he was fighting back tears himself. Li Wei, trying to be the mature older brother, awkwardly patted her head while looking desperately at their parents for help.

Their parents hurried around the table, their mother scooping Li Hua into her arms while their father wiped at her tears with his sleeve, both of them failing to hide their amused smiles at their usually composed daughter’s complete emotional meltdown. Perhaps this was the real gift of her second chance—not just surviving, not just existing, but being able to truly live and cry ugly, honest tears of joy in the arms of people who loved her, hiccups and all.

After roughly an incense stick passed by with all her parents’ soothing and comforting words, Li Hua’s wails finally subsided into occasional hiccups. Her mother produced an embroidered cotton handkerchief, gently dabbing away the tears and smoothing back the strands of hair that had stuck to her damp cheeks. Her brothers remained close, holding her hands and offering quiet comfort.

“Let’s eat,” her father said softly, his eyes crinkling with affection. Though her eyes were still slightly puffy, Li Hua found herself embraced by the gentle comfort of her family as they settled around the table together.

Li Hua carefully gathered a small bundle of gossamer-thin noodles, their strands glistening with golden droplets of broth and placed it into her mouth.

“Delicious, very delicious,” she said softly, her eyes cast down as a small smile tugged at her lips.

The flavors overwhelmed her practiced restraint and soon she found herself slurping up the noodles with growing enthusiasm. Her tiny cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s as she tried to fit too many noodles in her mouth at once, earning delighted laughter from her family.

“Slow down, Hua’er!” her mother said through her giggles, while her father’s shoulders shook with gentle mirth. Her brothers exchanged tender looks—their usually composed little sister rarely showed such uninhibited joy. Li Wei reached over to wipe a drop of soup from her chin with his sleeve, the simple gesture of care making her pause mid-slurp. Such casual displays of affection were still new to her, each one a precious reminder of how different this life was. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she continued eating, savoring not just the noodles, but the blessed feeling of being surrounded by family.

The rest of dinner passed in comfortable joy, filled with the gentle clinking of chopsticks and soft conversation. When the meal concluded, everyone pitched in to clean up. Their mother moved gracefully around the table, wiping down its wooden surface with practiced care, while Li Hua followed behind her with a small cloth, diligently helping to dry. At the washing basin, her brothers worked in tandem—Li Wei carefully washing each dish while Li Hao rinsed—as their father dried them with methodical precision.

Once the kitchen was spotless, their father gathered the siblings with a gentle smile. “My little warriors,” he said, “come with me. Let’s begin your lessons.” He led them to the back of the courtyard where their small plum tree stood, its branches casting delicate shadows in the afternoon light. There sat five cushions—worn but clean and clearly placed there with purpose. Though the cushions weren’t new, their presence in this familiar training spot was novel, promising something different from their earlier exercises.

“Sit,” their father said, his eyes twinkling with the promise of knowledge to come. Li Hua settled onto the middle cushion, her brothers taking their places on either side of her, their faces bright with curiosity about what their father might teach them today.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS
Vangyy

Hello wonderful readers!

I think it’s about time you all get to properly know more about me!

I’m juggling quite a few hats these days – proud single mom, full-time professional, and graduate student pursuing my Master’s degree. Between racing to school pickup, tackling work projects, and burning the midnight oil with textbooks, I somehow managed to carve out time for my true passion: writing.

You might wonder why I add “author” to my already full plate. The answer is simple – writing isn’t just another task on my to-do list. It’s my escape, my creative outlet, and honestly, my form of self-care. When I sit down at my keyboard, all the day’s chaos melts away, and these stories just flow onto the page.

And let me assure you – while my days are packed, my dedication to this story and to you, my amazing readers, never wavers. No matter how hectic life gets, I’ll keep the chapters coming because this journey we’re on together means everything to me. You can count on that!

I can’t thank you enough for joining me on this adventure. Your support means the world to this tea-fueled, dream-chasing mom who’s trying to show her kids that it’s never too late to pursue what you love!