Chen Xiaoqi

Biodata

History

Family and place among the siblings

Xiaoqi is the youngest Chen sibling, with four older sisters, an older brother, and an older twin sister, Chen Xiaoliu. Xiaoliu was born ten minutes before him, a distinction she regularly uses to assert her authority. Although their formal names are Chen Haisheng and Chen Xixi, the family generally calls them Xiao Qi and Xiao Liu 1 12 34.

When the family discusses changing the sisters’ names, Xiaoqi asks whether he can become “number six.” He hopes that exchanging places with Xiaoliu would make him the older brother and stop her from bullying him. His mother refuses, explaining that Xiaoliu remains older regardless of the small difference in their birth times 34 36.

Helping expose Wang Zhiwen

Chen Haichao recruits Xiaoqi to help his friends Xiaoqiang and Li Zhengjun watch Wang Zhiwen’s house. Xiaoqi’s assignment is to alert the family at the shore if Wang meets Liu Chunlan. Initially disappointed that Xiaoliu receives a mao simply for staying with their grandmother, he agrees after Haichao promises him the same reward for helping 12 13 14.

Xiaoqi follows the suspects with Xiaoqiang to the old educated youth settlement. Xiaoqiang stops him from listening further and escorts him partway toward the beach before sending him to fetch Haichao. Xiaoqi delivers the news, then holds the flashlight while Haichao carries him toward the settlement 15.

After the affair is exposed, Haichao pays him the promised mao. Xiaoqi persuades the family to let him accompany them back to the shore by promising to stay away from the water and help hold the flashlight 18.

First seafood haul

While the adults gather shrimp, Xiaoqi remains beside their sacks and picks up stranded fish, shrimp, sea snails, and shellfish. By the time they finish, he has collected twenty or thirty jin of seafood. His mother praises him and promises to cook some of his catch for him 20 21.

He also spots a large crab hiding beneath a rock and asks his brother to catch it. The following morning, he and Xiaoliu play with a crab by offering it a vegetable leaf 21 22.

Raising Xiao Ba

The twins discover a muddy, shivering cormorant chick tangled in fishing ropes. Haichao makes it a straw nest and declares himself its owner to prevent them from fighting over possession, but allows both children to raise it 30.

Xiaoqi proposes the name Xiao Ba, treating the bird as the next numbered member of their family. Xiaoliu agrees, and the twins keep the chick supplied with fish and water in Haichao’s room 31.

The children protect Xiao Ba from crowds and bring it indoors when the weather grows cold. Though reluctant to lose it, Xiaoqi agrees to wait and see what happens if its parents return 35 36.

New Year’s Eve at the shore

On New Year’s Eve, Xiaoqi follows Haichao to the shore carrying Xiao Ba’s nest. Two adult cormorants swoop at him, frightening and pecking him before settling beside the chick. Haichao identifies them as Xiao Ba’s likely parents; one subsequently brings the chick a large yellow croaker 44.

When hunting cormorants drive seafood into the shallows, Xiaoqi helps collect and sort the stranded catch. Haichao sends him for more sacks and their father’s handcart, but he meets his father already arriving with supplies 45.

Xiaoqi continues feeding Xiao Ba and cautiously offers fish to the adult bird. When asked to take the nest home, he holds on despite trembling as the adult approaches its chick 46.

His return sparks a fight with Xiaoliu, who accuses him of taking the bird and going to the beach without her. Their mother whips both children, after which their grandmother takes them away and gives them five fen for candy. Later, seeing cormorants on the family roof, Xiaoqi promises to care for both Xiao Ba and its parents 47 49.

Appearance

• Wide, round eyes, particularly noticeable when he eagerly listens to Haichao’s instructions 14.
• Rosy cheeks and old padded winter clothes; after playing and helping dry mustard greens, his clothing is heavily dirtied at the knees and sleeves 28.

Personality

Xiaoqi is affectionate and eager to please, frequently promising to behave so that adults will include him. He tells his mother that he will earn money for her when he grows up and volunteers to help with her work. Xiaoliu calls this bootlicking, while their mother considers him more obedient than his twin 12 18 37 39.

His rivalry with Xiaoliu extends to outings, rewards, chores, and possession of Xiao Ba. He enjoys being chosen to accompany Haichao when she cannot, but protests quickly when she gets the better of him. Their squabbles can escalate from teasing to physical fights 13 28 47.

Despite his promises of good behavior, Xiaoqi is restless and mischievous at bedtime. He wriggles beneath Haichao’s quilt, plays pranks, and repeatedly needs scolding before settling down. His concern for Xiao Ba is more steadfast: even when frightened by the adult cormorants, he protects the nest rather than dropping it 21 36 39 46.

Abilities & Skills

Shore gathering and sorting

Xiaoqi contributes to the family’s seafood collection while remaining on the exposed beach.

• Collects twenty or thirty jin of stranded seafood during one nighttime outing 21.
• Sorts fish, shrimp, mantis shrimp, snails, and shellfish into separate piles during the cormorant-driven haul 45.
• Works under supervision; Haichao warns him away from the water and tells him not to handle crabs because they might pinch him 18 44 45.

Errands and messages

The family entrusts him with short, practical assignments.

• Alerts Haichao after Wang Zhiwen and Liu Chunlan are caught together 15.
• Fetches Haichao with the news that Chen Sitian has passed the worker recruitment exam 38.
• Goes to obtain additional sacks and summon his father during a large seafood catch 45.

Relationships

• Chen Haichao — Older brother whom Xiaoqi admires and follows on outings. Haichao rewards his help, supervises him at the shore, and often shares his bed with him despite his restless behavior 13 18 21 30 44.
• Chen Xiaoliu / Chen Xixi — Older twin sister and constant companion. They compete over nearly everything but agree that Xiao Ba belongs in their family 12 13 31 34.
• Chen Aiguo — Father. He playfully helps Xiaoqi conceal that he escaped punishment for visiting the beach and later works alongside him during the New Year’s Eve haul 1 22 45.
• Su Hongmei — Mother. Xiaoqi seeks her approval through sweet talk and promises to help; she praises his useful work but disciplines him and Xiaoliu when they fight 1 21 37 47.
• Chen Panpan / Chen Pandi — Older sister who catches him by the collar when he nearly falls while walking home with the rescued chick 31 47.
• Chen Sitian / Chen Sidi — Older sister. Xiaoqi excitedly announces her recruitment-exam success and hopes her new wages will mean candy for him 33 38.
• Grandma Chen — Grandmother who gives the twins eggs and comforts them with candy money after their punishment 39 47.
• Xiao Ba — Rescued cormorant chick that Xiaoqi names and helps raise. He treats it as family and wants its parents to stay as well 31 49.
• Xiaoqiang and Li Zhengjun — Haichao’s friends and Xiaoqi’s companions during the stakeout. They tease him, while Xiaoqiang takes care to guide him toward the beach in the dark 14 15.

Notable Quotes

“I want to call it Xiao Ba. It’s part of our family now too.” 31

“Mom, I’m not here to collect a debt. When I grow up, I’ll earn money for you to spend.” 37