The next day, the rain cleared and the sky turned bright.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo~"
Early that morning, an exuberant crow rose and fell from Yang Ge's backyard.
Clatter.
Yang Ge pushed open his door and walked straight into the brilliant morning sunshine.
He squinted at the golden sun on the horizon, scratched his bird's-nest bedhead like a big monkey, then stood in the sunlight, opened his mouth wide, and stretched at length. "Aaaah..."
"Whine, whine, whine."
Little Yellow crawled out of the doghouse, ears swept back and tail wagging, and sidled up with a sly little look to rub against Yang Ge's trouser leg.
Yang Ge bent down to stroke that round head. For no particular reason, he felt wonderfully refreshed, and asked with a chuckle, "My good boy, what do you want for breakfast?"
At that familiar question, the smile on Little Yellow's face grew even more obvious.
Yang Ge asked, "Century egg and pork congee?"
Little Yellow's windmill of a tail slowed down.
Yang Ge asked, "Egg noodles, then?"
Little Yellow's tail drooped and dragged on the ground.
Exasperated, Yang Ge grabbed the dog's head and rubbed it vigorously. "You just want big meat buns, don't you?"
"Whine, whine, whine."
Little Yellow grinned and strained to lick his palm, tail wagging so hard that the dog's whole backside swung along with it.
"It's already this late..."
Yang Ge glanced hesitantly at the sun, wondering whether it was a little late to start steaming buns now.
He did have all the ingredients at home. He had even brought back a slab of fresh pork belly last night, and there were fresh scallions and cabbages in the backyard vegetable patch. Big buns filled with cabbage, scallions, and half-fat, half-lean pork, oozing juices the moment you broke them open...
"Slurp!"
Yang Ge sucked