Birthmark

In front of the door Tang He took the full bucket from his head and placed it down for now.

Taking a breather, he remarked:

'This is much easier that yesterday! I got stronger!'

'Thank you, demon Frank!'

When Frank heard this, it pulled him out of his thoughts and rolling his imaginary eyes he remarked:

< Why do you still call me a demon? >

< I am a human, just like you. It is very rude calling others like that? >

< Also, don't believe everything you hear! Especially demons or gods will most likely never appear in your life, as they probably don't exist. >

After his rant Frank calmed down a bit.

Hearing this, Tang He looked around and remarked with compassion:

'You are a human? But I can't see you anywhere. Don't lie to me! My mama said demons exist and one needs to be very careful around them!'

< Hmm… I guess I should say I was human… I lived a long and happy life and then I died pretty strangely, huuh…>

< … Those trees… >

< Wait, I remember seeing a very similar pattern… >

Agitated Frank implored:

< Ahhh… Your birthmark! Please roll up your shirt! I need to look at your stomach! >

When he remembered seeing it with Tang He's eyes he got very emotional. This was the only hint so far as on what had happened to him. The first and only supernatural thing that he witnessed killed him as well and now that he woke up this body seemed to have something similar on it.

A bit confused about everything Tang He did as Frank told him and rolled up his shirt which also had seen better days. Slightly below his navel a round shape could be seen. When Frank concentrated on it, it reminded him a lot on how those trees in his backyard where arranged and on the shape the branches made.

It was different though! The longer he looked into the dark spot on the skin the more Frank could see. First rings and then he saw four cloverleaves wiggling in-between them. But before he was able to analyse it any further, his head started hurting like crazy.

< Arrrrrr!! >

'Ahhh, it hurts.'

Suddenly Both of them felt dizzy and extremely tired. This was the first time Frank felt pain in this body. Somehow even when Tang He was screaming in his head about the pain, he felt nothing.

But now it was totally different: A kind of pain he never felt before, it was as if someone had taken his mind and twisted and teared it and put it back afterwards.

'Arrrgg, what did you do? Didn't you say you won't think that much anymore? I'll tell my mother everything!'

Panting, Tang He was lying on the floor almost crying. Tears had already formed in his eyes. I was already a miracle He hadn't started shouting out yet. Or maybe actually he wasn't able to because of the pain.

Strangely the moment the boy took his eyes off his birthmark his pain immediately receded and his head started getting better.

< It wasn't me! When I saw that clover, everything started spinning and my head felt like it was getting ripped apart! >

'Which clover are you talking about? I only saw the mark spinning suddenly.'

Startled Frank repeated.

< There were four cloverleaves. Wait you didn't see anything? >

Before they could further their conversation a female voice came from inside:

"He'er, are you alright? Did you fall? Let mommy look at you!"

Hearing this voice, Tang He finally calmed down and noticed his situation.

He was still lying on the floor, holding his head between his palms. His mother must have heard him place the bucket down and fall to the floor.

Happy to hear her concern for him he slowly stood up and after taking the bucket he proceeded inside with wide steps.

"Mommy look. I bbrought a full bbucket!" Tang He exclaimed excitedly.

When Tang Mei saw the heavy bucket she started to berate him:

"He'er I told you, don't try to carry a full bucket. You are always spilling half on the way here anyway…"

As she noticed the amount of water inside, she stopped mid-sentence.

"How did you…?"

She stopped again, when she noticed what she heard a moment before.

"You spoke? ..."

With an excited voice she exclaimed:

"He'er you spoke! You said a whole sentence! Are you feeling well? Come in, sit down…"

Taking the bucket out of He's hands Tang Mei led the boy to the still empty kitchen table.

Not too far from him stood a rather big bed. It was big, at least if you compared it to Tang He's bed. Frank could smell vegetables cooking on a fireplace in a corner of the room. It was a big cooking pot made from some kind of dark metal. On the kitchen-table lied half a loaf of bread which already looked rather dry and hard. Surely it was not freshly baked.

Tang He sat on a stool next to the table and Frank was able to see the mother of this boy, Tang Mei:

Dark brown-blackish hair was bound together behind her head into a hair knot. She had a concerned look as she examined the boy closely. Her green irises with a tinge of blue around it danced around as they were trying to find any harm that could have occurred to Tang He. Albeit her stature was rather thin, she still looked very healthy and robust.

"Mmama, I brought full bbucket!"

Already forgetting the pain he had felt a minute before Tang He was extremely ecstatic. Showing his prowess in talking to his beloved mother made him feel very content.

"I ddddidddnnn't s-s-spill!"

"Yes! Good boy, you did very well! Are you hurt?"

Tang He shook his head cheerfully.

"That is good then! I was worried when I heard you fall. Be more careful please! You will not always have others that can help you! …"

Frank noticed how He was listening very carefully to his mother and nodding sometimes when she made a major point. This went on for a while and made the old man remember his youth when his parents were still alive.

Melancholically Frank watched as the woman finished preparing the food and served it into 7 wooden bowls, each of them even having an egg inside. Sadly because of a conflict with a couple of families in the village she couldn't trade for goatmilk, as mother Mei explained in length. Ranting on about cooperation, working together and shameless people she went on and on.

Tang He never got tired of that and listened eagerly to his mother. But he wasn't the only other person in the household and when the other members came running in smelling the food. Tang Mei stopped fuming about it.

When everyone arrived at the table and sat down they started eating. As Tang Rong was used to eating in silence there were no table discussions, which Frank found slightly odd, but after asking Tang He about it he found out that Tang Rong's father was very strict about that and enforced it with hard punishments and even after he died 8 years ago they didn't change this habit as to remember him and not be disrespectful to his spirit.

Frank even learnt that he was over 60 when he perished and that that would be a pretty decent achievement in the village. Sadly, most families in the village stopped being too respectful to the Tangs afterwards. Frank couldn't hear the reason why as Tang He didn't know himself.

Everyone ate the soup with gusto and even savoured the taste of the cooked eggs in their mouths which Frank found slightly amusing. In his opinion the soup was way too watery and unseasoned but the egg was passable as most fresh eggs would taste fine. The bread too was very hard to chew and only with a lot of soup you could swallow it down.

Here the old gourmet wasn't too picky and understood it to be lucky that no wood shavings could be found inside. It seems the backer had a rather good relationship with the Tang family and didn't save grain on them.

< … On the other hand, I'd always try to be on good ties with my supplier. >

'Hmm?'

< Ah, yeah don't forget to ask your mother if you can come with her today. >

'Mhhh!'

After everyone finished eating the plan for today was described:

"He'er, Ah'er help your brothers and father on the field today. I am going into the village to talk with village chief Su. It seems the stone Guo'er found could be very valuable."

Just as everyone wanted to stand up and get to work. Tang He's timid voice rang out:

"Mama, ccan I ccome wwith youu?"

Stunned everyone turned around to see who said that. When they found out who it was everyone stared wide-eyed at He. Not used to all that attention, Tang He winced back and tried to make himself smaller. He started sweating more and not even Franks calming voice could pacify him.

His father awoke first from his stupor and replied:

"Good job boy, you spoke a full sentence in you first try! But you see… yesterday we couldn't finish the work still, so we need more help today and even though …. "

Tang Mei stopped him and interjected:

"Dear, why not let the boy come with me. Afterwards I'll go the Bai's and buy some bread, I could use some help…"

After some smaller discussions it was decided that Tang He would help out tomorrow instead and go with Tang Mei now.

After a short time, everyone left the house and went his way. Tang He walked to the village together with his mother and everyone else went to the fields by the river.

Frank was very entertained as he watched how Tang He was almost hopping in joy next to his mother as they headed in the direction of the sun. Even though the boy would almost have to make twice as many steps as his mother, he kept up with her without any troubles.

Here Frank saw his chance in finding out more about the world he found himself in. Talking to an adult should give him a lot more information…