It was the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Head-Raising Festival.
In the An family's kitchen, Lin Cuihua was up at the crack of dawn, her booming voice rousing everyone from their sleep.
Time to eat!
An Guoming stumbled in, rubbing his eyes. His shirt was buttoned wrong, and he dazedly sat down at the table.
"Mom—it's way too early for breakfast. The sun isn't even up yet."
An Guoming was exhausted.
"Just hurry up and eat. I got up to cook for all of you, so why aren't I the one complaining about being tired?"
Lin Cuihua set a bowl of two-grain porridge in front of An Guoming. "We're having company soon," she said. "I'm telling you, if you don't get up, a bunch of old gossips are going to show up and catch you still in bed."
"If you're not afraid of that, then go on back to sleep."
An Guoming's eyes snapped open. He shook his head vigorously. "No, no, no! I'm awake, I'm awake."
