From the tree’s canopy Mei could see past the village The Pearl River snaked around a bend and continued into the surrounding hills and mountains The nearest place the City of Ashes was a day’s journey away by foot Nobody in their right mind would go there It was rumored to be a dreadful area full of burnt buildings and empty houses Haunted too Strange happenings had been reported by those who had passed the city’s outskirts accounts of footprints appearing where no one had walked and the sound of crowds sobbing where there wasn’t a single soul in sight Travelers told of a gray fog that weighed down the city casting the place in an eternal cloud of woe When Mei and Yun were toddlers Grandpa used to tell the children stories about what he knew of the City of Ashes in its olden days He’d describe in his hushed voice the city’s once magnificent buildings how the sloped rooftops had been gilded with intricate designs how the trees there would blossom into brilliant shades of pink in the spring Grandpa used to tell these stories back before Mei and Yun came to realize that their parents had disappeared behind the city’s walls After that it became a sore subject Mei climbed back down the tree and plopped next to her brother They observed a fat beetle in the grass for a few moments the bug appeared to be sleeping in a wisp of a bright blue cloud Let’s go check on Grandpa suggested Mei who grew bored quickly He probably has the first batch of mooncakes ready We might as well eat while we think of a new contest They went back up to the village which thrummed with life as the new day got underway Farmers headed toward the 6
fields with baskets balanced on their shoulders Young adults bearing axes headed toward the mountains from where they’d later return with freshly chopped firewood Toddlers played with sticks and rag dolls on porches Mei and Yun raced down the dirt road greeting each villager by name Everyone knew one another in the small community Hi Mao Mao Hi Po Good morning Madam Hu sorry we have to go Grandpa is expecting us they added before the nosy woman could trap them in one of her hour long gossip gossip sessions They hurried toward their small wooden house at the end of the lane A familiar sweet smell drifted out the open kitchen window As the twins burst through the door they saw their grandpa taking out a steaming hot pan from the stove When he saw the two children he grinned Impeccable timing he remarked The mooncakes gleamed Each one had a beautiful swirling swirling pattern etched on the crusty top The twins mouths watered at the sight of the little golden pastries Beneath the kitchen table their fat gray cat Smelly Tail yowled hopefully hopefully When Mei and Yun were four their mother had brought Smelly Tail home from the fields where she’d rescued the cat from a pack of angry dogs The cat had distrusted the family family at first hissing at anyone who came close but she hung around for Grandpa’s cooking She’d been living in their kitchen for the last eight years better fed than any other cat It didn’t surprise the family that Smelly Tail stayed Grandpa was the best cook in the village It was said that anything anything and everything turned to magic on Grandpa’s earthen stove Fishermen often dropped by with a bucket of freshly 7
caught carp for the family in exchange for a piping hot bowl of Grandpa’s soup Same with farmers who came to the door with extra baskets of vegetables and left with steaming plates of fried rice But Grandpa’s mooncakes were the best of all Every month on the full moon he created a batch of mooncakes for the whole village to share They were made from his secret recipe recipe that not even Mei and Yun knew Sometimes the cake filling filling would taste sweet like honey Other times it had the crisp toasty taste of sesame Whatever the filling whenever anyone ate one their day would visibly brighten Whether someone was sad about the loss of a pet or frustrated with a neighbor or worried about the crops every little problem seemed to vanish after eating Grandpa’s mooncakes Grandpa claimed it was due to a special ingredient which he never revealed The twins plopped down at the rickety wooden table to the side of the hearth The kitchen wasn’t large Grandpa’s clay bowls and utensils cluttered what little space there was Connected by a narrow entryway was the rest of the house one bedroom for Grandpa one bedroom for Mei and Yun to share a small washroom and the room that the twins parents parents had once occupied This last room was now empty save for piles of old scrolls and forgotten belongings You two had breakfast less than an hour ago said Grandpa wiping flour from his gray hair I’m starting to feed you as much as I feed Smelly Tail here Yet you both are still as skinny as a pair of willow rods Dueling is hard work answered Yun Yes all three seconds of it chimed in Mei with a slight eye roll 8
Grandpa chuckled lightly Well I’m afraid these mooncakes mooncakes have to sit for two nights before they’re fully ready Right now they’re all flaky His eyes swept over the twins eager faces But I suppose you can have a taste He took a pair of chopsticks and carefully cut off a small chunk from one of the crumbly cakes The inside oozed black sesame paste Grandpa made a wait motion with his finger He carefully put the piece of mooncake into his mouth and closed his eyes Not bad he said after a moment Of course I haven't haven't added the secret ingredient yet Saving that for the final batch But I trust they will impress the emperor’s son The emperor’s son repeated Mei and Yun Grandpa nodded It was clear he was trying to act nonchalant nonchalant but his crinkled smile gave him away He pulled up the last chair and sat beside the twins Yes it seems word of my mooncakes mooncakes has reached the Imperial City Several envoys arrived a month ago to let me know the emperor’s favorite son is attending attending our Mid Autumn celebration to personally sample them Mei and Yun exchanged a startled glance This was huge news Their small village was one of those insignificant places that mapmakers could barely trace and rarely got visits from high government officials And you kept this a secret from us the whole time exclaimed Mei I don’t remember the envoys added Yun They came by one morning when you were in the orchards spending more time eating plums than picking them I might add said Grandpa with a grin The whole village knows 9
