My Mister Ostrich

Chapter 3

“Oh!”

The two kids put on their backpacks. Leaving the ugly snowman behind, they walked back to the Golden Compound.

When they arrived, they ran into Gu Guoxiang, who had just finished work.

He parked his bike(?) in the bike shed, and was heading out with his briefcase, when he saw Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi who had just come in.

“Dad.”

“Uncle.”

The two kids shouted to him, and Gu Guoxiang walked calmly over to them. He reached out and gave Gu Mingxi’s shoulder a pat, “Finished school?”

“Mm,” Gu Mingxi nodded, and walked up with his dad.

Gu Guoxiang was 38 years old this year. Tall and thin, with a handsome face and a head full of dark hair, and wearing glasses, he was the very image of an intellectual.

Walking through the corridor, Gu Mingxi walked in front, with Gu Guoxiang in the middle, and Pang Qian in the rear. From the first floor all the way to the fifth, Gu Mingxi and Gu Guoxiang didn’t say anything to each other. Gu Mingxi’s steps were particularly steady, two empty sleeves hanging at his sides. He wasn’t at all like he usually was with Pang Qian, hopping up the steps.

Pang Qian knew that Gu Mingxi was a bit scared of his father. Although in Pang Qian’s eyes, Gu Guoxiang was a very warm and courteous person. He never shouted, and never scolded and beat like her parents did to her when she was naughty. Moreover, Gu Guoxiang was payed higher wages. Gu Mingxi’s food, clothes, and toys were all better than hers. Pang Qian envied Gu Mingxi for having such an outstanding father, so she didn’t understand why Gu Mingxi was so reserved around him.

She always felt that you should be able to act wildly in front of your own father.

When they arrived on the fifth floor, Gu Guoxiang suddenly asked, “Mingxi, why are your pants wet?”

Gu Mingxi, “…”

Scared, Pang Qian said, “Goodbye, Uncle,” before opening the door with her keys and walking inside her home.

—

Gu Guoxiang opened the door to 502. Li Han heard the sound and came out, smiling, “Hey, how did you two come in together?”

“We met downstairs.” Gu Guoxiang handed his bag to Li Han, then took off his coat. He saw his son sitting on the stool, taking off his shoes. He walked over and felt his pants. They were very wet. As he felt down, he (dad) came to his (Mingxi’s) wet and cold feet.

He lowered his voice and asked, “Did you pee your pants?”

“No!” Gu Mingxi quickly shook his head. In a low voice, he said, “Dad, this is water, snow water from outside. I was playing with Pang Qian in the snow, and got my pants wet.”

Gu Guoxiang pondered for a moment, then said, “First go change your pants. You’ll catch a cold like this.”

“Oh,” Gu Mingxi nodded and obediently followed his dad to his room. He added, “Dad, I’m sorry. I’ll pay more attention next time. Can you please not tell Mom?”

Gu Guoxiang turned to look at him. Finally, he tousled his own hair and nodded.

When it was time for dinner, Gu Mingxi sat in his chair as Li Han helped place a basin of water by his feet. He washed his feet on his own. And then Li Han gave him rice, handed him chopsticks, and went to drain the basin.

Gu Guoxiang sat at the table the whole time, his eyes watching everything with a complicated expression.

Gu Mingxi used his right foot to eat. His family’s dinner table was custom made, and was shorter than most dinner tables. Gu Mingxi rested his right foot on the table and bent his body over. His chopsticks were tucked between his toes, and he pushed the rice into his mouth. Li Han would add food into his bowl from time to time, and she even helped him get a bowl of soup.