Light filters through the willow trees outside Ming Ran's window; his eyes blink open slowly. Sheets rustled as Ming Ran yawned and sat slowly up. He opened the windows a little further, allowing more light to shine in and took in the view. The Thirteenth Mountain is filled with lush plant life and dense forestry. Yesterday, Cang Yuan had given him the full tour, prolonging the reunion between him and Wei Ning. Ming Ran wilted, it was hard to believe that he was going to be able to see his siblings again. The idea of sharing the dinner table with them again seemed odd. He remembered his times with them, but it almost felt like another life. The idea of being completely unable to communicate with them, to speak and share thoughts, made him feel depressed. Everyone back at the Honglu Clan was able to use sigh language, or at least enough people had learnt it so that they could speak with him. The forest was very different from the grasslands, the morning air was cold and frigid while mornings-- even in the wintertime-- in the plains was dewy and refreshing. It was like comparing a winter mint to a sweet mint smell.
Ming Ran shook his head, clearing out the feeling of longing and made his way out of bed. He stepped out of the room, looking around for some sign of life, and found instead emptiness. He found the kitchen and peaked inside, no one was here, and there didn't seem to be any sign of life in the bedrooms. Ming Ran sighed, pulling his sleeve up and quickly tying his hair back. He found some food stored away and began to prep the ingredients. His knife skills had flourished in his time in the Honglu Clan. The very first time he went to help out in the kitchen he had moved so slowly while cutting the green onions that Meng bumped him aside with her hip-- her pregnant belly bouncing-- and cut all the green onions in seconds. Ming Ran had watched in shock, and this had become a moment that made him tinge with shame. Now, however, he felt himself smiling gently as he thought back to how different the shapes between Meng's green onion slices and his own. The difference in size was obvious. Ming Ran's onions were put in a separate, special bowl and given to Cang Mu during supper. Meng gave him little teasing shoves with her elbow as she announced that those onions were done by his "adorable, little wife". Ming Ran had made a huge effort in learning how to chop quickly so that he never got teased for that again, however, he always had some sort adventure in playing housewife. The time he did the laundry where all the clothes ended ten miles down the river, Cang Mu had been livid that day because by the time he found Ming Ran he was already sick from "playing in the water" (swimming in the river to catch all of the clothes). There was also the time that he had gone gathering with the others and ended up provoking a mama boar. That one ended okay because he ended up leading it into a hunting trap. The clan ate well that night.
Ming Ran smiled, remembering all of this, as he soaked the pork in ginger and soy sauce. He threw in some peppers, onions, and garlic. He began to prep some bok choy and other greens before turning to wash some white rice. A while later a face poked inside the kitchen, drawn in by the smell.
"Ah. You're finally up." Meng Yu opens the door all the way and crosses his arms, "Figured you'd sleep in until noon." He looks at Ming Ran with disdain. "Practice starts at dawn, by the way. Since you're here, make sure you put in some effort." He swiveled and walked off, leaving Ming Ran to stand with his mouth gaping. He's... already late on the first morning?! He sighs, and continues to cook. The memory of his move circling around his head...
...
The day does not get easier as time goes on. Whether it was sword techniques, stretches, exercises, or spells, Ming Ran is unable to do any of them. The books take a while to understand and Meng Yu constantly grumbles about having to "dumb things down for him". Ming Ran slowly begins to understand something only to be completely lost again in the next minute. He was unable to keep up with his shixiong during their afternoon run, and is put to shame during the exercises. As for the sword, Wei Ning was overly concerned about teaching him anything, coddling him while Meng Yu snorted and rolled his eyes. Wei Ning constantly tries to help Ming Ran through everything, his behavior similar to a mother hen. Ming Ran had no time to himself. Finally, as dinnertime drew near, Ming Ran found his way to the bath. Prep work was all done, and all he needed to do was put the food over the fire. He sighed and melted into the spring water. A soak in the hot spring was just what he needed to calm down. He looked up at the sky, still blue and wondered if everyone was gathering together after hunting right now. He closed his eyes and felt a slight pain in his chest. Suddenly, a hand pressed against his forehead.
"Oh, give it a rest! He isn't going to come under any harm in the bath!" Meng Yu growled. Ming Ran startled and looked up at Wei Ning.
"Are you hurt?" he asked. He tilted his head and looked at him with worried eyes. Ming Ran lifted his hands, but quickly let them drop. He could only smile and shake his head. Wei Ning got into the water along with Meng Yu. "...I don't like that person coming over here." he said. Ming Ran looked over, confused. Meng Yu looked away, annoyance evident on his face.
"And? Does it really matter what you think?" Meng Yu sneered, "Shizun invited him over. Besides, your annoying friends are coming over too, aren't they?" Ming Ran felt some panic hearing that, he lifted his hands and began signing, forgetting that neither of them could understand him.
"But, they are harmless." Wei Ning looked towards Ming Ran and reached out to pet his hair.
"Ah, are you... cheating on me, wife?"
...
An hour later found Ming Ran at a life crisis. He had known that introducing your lover to your in-laws was awful, how many times had Elle watched tv shows that proved how awful it was? However, this was much, much worse. Cang Mu wasn't even trying to leave a good impression. Ming Ran sat hunched over the table, stirring the food in his bowl with anxious energy. Cang Mu had pushed his cushion right up against Ming Ran, claiming his territory for everyone to see. Wei Ning would have claimed the spot next to him if not for Cang Yuan's interference. Instead, Ming Quan sat next to him, glaring daggers at Cang Mu.
Ming Quan had grown in almost every way except for his childishness. He tried serving his long lost little brother every sort of food, only to have Cang Mu steal it out of his bowl, and feed Ming Ran by hand. Meng Yu, a look of awkward disgust evident on his face, finally got up and brought his dinner elsewhere. The atmosphere was a ticking time bomb waiting for one specific conversation topic to turn things nuclear. Ming Ran sighed,
Can't you at least try to be civil? he signed. Cang Mu smiled,
"I don't think being civil is going to work here." Ming Ran pinched him, fed up. Cang Mu chuckled, making Gong June's jaw drop open in shock. Cang Mu pinched Ming Ran's cheek playfully.
"Who the hell is this fucker?" Gong June muttered in disbelief. Fa Lin looked at Cang Mu like he was already dead, and Wen Quinn's face had turned a shade of red that Ming Ran had never witnessed before.
Please, can we just eat dinner? Ming Ran asked, looking at Cang Mu with puppy-dog eyes.
"If you want to eat in peace, should we head back to your room?" Cang Mu grinned, kissing him on the cheek. There was a loud bang as Ming Cheng stood up, ready to fight.
"Get your hands off of him." he growled.
"And if I don't?" Ming Cheng drew his sword and pointed it at him.
"I'll cut off the offending hand."
"There are a few other places that need to be chopped off." Fa Lin said coldly.
Everyone calm down. Ming Ran was pulled to the side by Ming Quan.
"Come over here, little one. It's safer." Ming Ran shook his head, trying to move back to where Cang Mu was. Cang Mu drew his own blade, swatting away Ming Chengs. Ming Ran paled; in all of the tv shows he had watched about disastrous meetings with in-laws in his past life, none had ever mentioned drawing weapons on each other during dinner..!