灿灿正在村口小卖部等爸爸妈妈的电话。
càn càn zhèng zài cūn kǒu xiǎo mài bù děng bà ba mā ma de diàn huà.

村口 (cūn kǒu) – village entrance
小卖部 (xiǎo mài bù) – small shop

Càncàn was waiting for his parents’ call at the small shop at the village entrance.

他找小卖部老板刘伯伯要了一把小板凳，坐到屋檐下，同时他还撑着一把很大的伞。伞面有一半在屋檐底下，一半在屋檐外头。
tā zhǎo xiǎo mài bù lǎo bǎn liú bó bo yào le yì bǎ xiǎo bǎn dèng, zuò dào wū yán xià, tóng shí tā hái chēng zhe yì bǎ hěn dà de sǎn. sǎn miàn yǒu yí bàn zài wū yán dǐ xià, yí bàn zài wū yán wài tóu.

老板 (lǎo bǎn) – boss
屋檐 (wū yán) – eaves

He asked Uncle Liu, the shop owner, for a small stool, sat under the eaves, and held a large umbrella. Half of the umbrella was under the eaves, and the other half was outside.

这把伞的伞骨有一根已经断了，耷拉在那里，伞面上还有一个小小的破洞，雨滴会顺着那个小破洞偷偷地溜进来，跳到他蓬乱像鸡窝一样的头发里。不过他不是很在意。
zhè bǎ sǎn de sǎn gǔ yǒu yì gēn yǐ jīng duàn le, dā la zài nà lǐ, sǎn miàn shàng hái yǒu yí gè xiǎo xiǎo de pò dòng, yǔ dī huì shùn zhe nà gè xiǎo pò dòng tōu tōu de liū jìn lái, tiào dào tā péng luàn xiàng jī wō yí yàng de tóu fǎ lǐ. bú guò tā bú shì hěn zài yì.

伞骨 (sǎn gǔ) – umbrella rib

耷拉(dā la) – droop; hang down
破洞 (pò dòng) – hole
蓬乱 (péng luàn) – messy

One rib of the umbrella was broken and drooping there, and the umbrella surface had a small hole. Raindrops sneaked in through the hole and landed on his messy, nest-like hair. But he didn’t mind much.

他就在那里一边慢慢地转动着伞柄，一边盯着眼前的雨帘，看着它一会儿变密，一会儿变疏，好像是不知从哪里来的调皮的风把雨帘不停地拉来拽去似的。
tā jiù zài nà lǐ yì biān màn màn de zhuàn dòng zhe sǎn bǐng, yì biān dīng zhe yǎn qián de yǔ lián, kàn zhe tā yí huì er biàn mì, yí huì er biàn shū, hǎo xiàng shì bù zhī cóng nǎ lǐ lái de tiáo pí de fēng bǎ yǔ lián bù tíng de lā lái zhuài qù shì de.

雨帘 (yǔ lián) – curtain of rain
调皮 (tiáo pí) – mischievous

He sat there, slowly spinning the umbrella handle, while staring at the rain curtain in front of him. Sometimes it became dense, and other times sparse, as if a mischievous wind was pulling and tugging at it incessantly.

因为他的那把大伞有一半在屋檐底下，过上一段时间，从屋檐上就会突然同时掉落几颗特别饱满的雨滴，砸到伞面上，发出连续几声“笃笃笃”的响声。灿灿特别喜欢听这个声音。
yīn wèi tā de nà bǎ dà sǎn yǒu yí bàn zài wū yán dǐ xià, guò shàng yí duàn shí jiān, cóng wū yán shàng jiù huì tū rán tóng shí diào luò jǐ kē tè bié bǎo mǎn de yǔ dī, zá dào sǎn miàn shàng, fā chū lián xù jǐ shēng “dū dū dū” de xiǎng shēng. càn càn tè bié xǐ huan tīng zhè ge shēng yīn.

饱满 (bǎo mǎn) – plump
连续 (lián xù) – continuous
响声 (xiǎng shēng) – sound

Since half of his big umbrella was under the eaves, every now and then, a few particularly plump raindrops would suddenly fall from the eaves onto the umbrella surface, making a series of “du-du-du” sounds. Càncàn especially liked listening to this sound.

雨这时渐渐下大了，砸到伞面上的声音也越来越响了，越来越密集了。灿灿于是把伞柄快速转动起来，把落到伞面的雨不停地甩出去。
Yǔ zhè shí jiànjiàn xià dà le, zá dào sǎn miàn shàng de shēngyīn yě yuè lái yuè xiǎng le, yuè lái yuè mìjí le. Càncàn yúshì bǎ sǎnbǐng kuàisù zhuǎndòng qǐlái, bǎ luò dào sǎnmiàn de yǔ bùtíng de shuǎi chūqù.

渐渐 (jiànjiàn) – gradually
密集 (mìjí) – dense, intensive

The rain gradually became heavier, and the sound of it hitting the umbrella grew louder and denser. Càncàn quickly rotated the umbrella handle to continuously fling off the rain falling on it.

没过多久，电话铃声又响起了，灿灿连忙回过头去，先是看了一眼墙上的钟表：10:01，紧接着又去看刘伯伯，看着他拿起话筒，说了一句：“喂。”他从刘伯伯的眼里读出了笑意，而且很快就看到刘伯伯朝自己点了点头。
Méi guò duōjiǔ, diànhuà língshēng yòu xiǎngqǐ le, Càncàn liánmáng huíguò tóu qù, xiān shì kànle yīyǎn qiáng shàng de zhōngbiǎo: shí diǎn líng yī fēn, jǐn jiēzhe yòu qù kàn Liú bóbo, kànzhe tā ná qǐ huàtǒng, shuōle yījù: “Wéi.” Tā cóng Liú bóbo de yǎn lǐ dúchūle xiàoyì, érqiě hěn kuài jiù kàndào Liú bóbo cháo zìjǐ diǎnle diǎntóu.

铃声 (língshēng) – ringtone
话筒 (huàtǒng) – microphone, receiver
笑意 (xiàoyì) – smile, expression of amusement

Before long, the phone rang again. Càncàn quickly turned his head, first glancing at the wall clock: 10:01. Then he looked at Uncle Liu, who picked up the receiver and said, “Hello.” From Uncle Liu’s eyes, Càncàn sensed amusement, and soon saw him nod toward him.

灿灿连忙从板凳上跳了起来，也没有收伞，直接扔到地上，就一个箭步冲进了小卖部，拿起了电话，果然是妈妈的声音！
Càncàn liánmáng cóng bǎndèng shàng tiàole qǐlái, yě méiyǒu shōu sǎn, zhíjiē rēng dào dì shàng, jiù yī gè jiànbù chōng jìnle xiǎomàibù, náqǐle diànhuà, guǒrán shì māmā de shēngyīn!

板凳 (bǎndèng) – bench, stool
箭步 (jiànbù) – a fast stride

Càncàn quickly jumped off the bench, didn’t bother to close the umbrella, tossed it on the ground, and dashed into the shop in a single leap. Picking up the phone, it was indeed his mother’s voice!

这时一阵风吹来，把伞吹着在地上翻滚了好几下，刘伯伯看到后连忙冲出去把雨伞抓住，收了起来，放到小卖部门口。
Zhè shí yī zhèn fēng chuī lái, bǎ sǎn chuī zhe zài dìshàng fāngǔn le hǎo jǐ xià, Liú bóbo kàndào hòu liánmáng chōng chūqù bǎ yǔsǎn zhuā zhù, shōule qǐlái, fàng dào xiǎomàibù ménkǒu.

翻滚 (fāngǔn) – roll
连忙 (liánmáng) – hastily

At this moment, a gust of wind blew, causing the umbrella to roll on the ground several times. Uncle Liu noticed and quickly rushed out to grab the umbrella, closed it, and placed it at the shop’s entrance.

妈妈告诉灿灿，因为下周六是灿灿的生日，所以爸爸妈妈会回来给他过生日，还说会给他带一个蛋糕回来。
Māmā gàosù Càncàn, yīnwèi xià zhōu liù shì Càncàn de shēngrì, suǒyǐ bàba māmā huì huílái gěi tā guò shēngrì, hái shuō huì gěi tā dài yīgè dàngāo huílái.

告诉 (gàosù) – tell
生日 (shēngrì) – birthday
蛋糕 (dàngāo) – cake

Mother told Càncàn that since next Saturday was his birthday, his parents would come back to celebrate it with him and also bring him a cake.

灿灿问：“什么是蛋糕？”
妈妈说：“就是鸡蛋做的点心。”
Càncàn wèn: “Shénme shì dàngāo?”
Māmā shuō: “Jiùshì jīdàn zuò de diǎnxīn.”

点心 (diǎnxīn) – dessert, snack

Càncàn asked, “What is a cake?”
Mother said, “It’s a pastry made from eggs.”

灿灿脑子里突然闪出一个画面，就是许许多多的鸡蛋垒在一起，摇摇晃晃的，突然一下子塌了，鸡蛋滚得到处都是。他不禁笑出声来。
Càncàn nǎozi lǐ túrán shǎnchū yīgè huàmiàn, jiùshì xǔxǔduōduō de jīdàn lěi zài yīqǐ, yáoyáohuǎnghuǎng de, túrán yīxiàzi tā le, jīdàn gǔn dé dàochù dōu shì. Tā bùjìn xiào chū shēng lái.

摇摇晃晃 (yáoyáohuǎnghuǎng) – swaying, wobbling
塌 (tā) – collapse

A picture suddenly flashed in Càncàn’s mind: a pile of eggs stacked together, wobbling unsteadily, and then suddenly collapsing, with eggs rolling everywhere. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

而且最让他开心的是，爸爸妈妈因为自己的生日，要提前回来了。按照原计划，他们应该还有两周才能回来呢。想不到再过一周他们就能回来了。
Érqiě zuì ràng tā kāixīn de shì, bàba māmā yīnwèi zìjǐ de shēngrì, yào tíqián huílái le. Ànzhào yuán jìhuà, tāmen yīnggāi hái yǒu liǎng zhōu cáinéng huílái ne. Xiǎngbùdào zài guò yī zhōu tāmen jiù néng huílái le.

提前 (tíqián) – in advance
原计划 (yuán jìhuà) – original plan

What made him happiest was that his parents would come back early because of his birthday. According to the original plan, they were supposed to return in two weeks. Unexpectedly, they would be back in just one week.

在回去的路上，他还在回味妈妈在电话里和他说的话，笑容在他的脸上就像涟漪一样，一圈一圈地荡开了，开心的花朵也在他的心里一朵一朵地绽放着。
Zài huíqù de lù shàng, tā hái zài huíwèi māmā zài diànhuà lǐ hé tā shuō de huà, xiàoróng zài tā de liǎn shàng jiù xiàng liányī yīyàng, yī quān yī quān de dàng kāile, kāixīn de huāduǒ yě zài tā de xīn lǐ yī duǒ yī duǒ de zhànfàng zhe.

回味 (huíwèi) – to savor, to recall
涟漪 (liányī) – ripple
绽放 (zhànfàng) – to bloom

On the way back, he was still savoring what his mother said on the phone. Smiles spread across his face like ripples, and happy flowers bloomed one after another in his heart.

他转着伞，蹦蹦跳跳地往奶奶家跑去。
Tā zhuànzhe sǎn, bèngbèngtiàotiào de wǎng nǎinǎi jiā pǎo qù.

蹦蹦跳跳 (bèngbèngtiàotiào) – hopping and skipping

He twirled his umbrella as he hopped and skipped toward his grandmother’s house.

等到灿灿回到奶奶家的时候，奶奶正在煎中药。整个房子都弥漫着一股中药味。
Děng dào Càncàn huídào nǎinǎi jiā de shíhòu, nǎinǎi zhèngzài jiān zhōngyào. Zhěnggè fángzi dōu mímànzhe yī gǔ zhōngyào wèi.

煎 (jiān) – to decoct (herbal medicine)
弥漫 (mímàn) – to pervade

By the time Càncàn returned to his grandmother’s house, she was boiling herbal medicine. The entire house was filled with the smell of herbs.

灿灿和奶奶说了句：“奶奶，我回来了。”
Càncàn hé nǎinǎi shuō le jù: “Nǎinǎi, wǒ huílái le.”

Càncàn said to his grandmother, “Grandma, I’m back.”

奶奶正皱着眉盯着中药罐子出神，头也没抬，只是嘴里轻轻回了一声：“好。”
Nǎinǎi zhèng zhòuzhe méi dīngzhe zhōngyào guànzi chūshén, tóu yě méi tái, zhǐshì zuǐ lǐ qīngqīng huíle yī shēng: “Hǎo.”

皱眉 (zhòuméi) – frown

Grandma, frowning, stared intently at the herbal medicine pot, not even looking up. She only softly replied, “Okay.”

要是在平常，面对奶奶这样冷淡的态度，灿灿或许会有点失落，但是今天他太开心了，没有任何事情能影响他的心情。他把脚底都是淤泥的鞋子脱在门边上，换上了一双对他而言很大的拖鞋。
Yàoshi zài píngcháng, miànduì nǎinǎi zhèyàng lěngdàn de tàidù, Càncàn huòxǔ huì yǒudiǎn shīluò, dànshì jīntiān tā tài kāixīn le, méiyǒu rènhé shìqíng néng yǐngxiǎng tā de xīnqíng. Tā bǎ jiǎodǐ dōu shì yūní de xiézi tuō zài mén biān shàng, huàn shàngle yī shuāng duì tā ér yán hěn dà de tuōxié.

冷淡 (lěngdàn) – indifferent
淤泥 (yūní) – mud

On any other day, such indifference from Grandma might have made Càncàn a little disappointed. But today, he was so happy that nothing could dampen his mood. He took off his mud-covered shoes at the door and changed into slippers that were much too large for him.

随着鞋底发出“啪叽啪叽”的声响，他已经穿过中厅，来到后厅，紧接着他就三步并作两步，快速地跑上了木制楼梯，楼梯板在他脚下发出很响的“咚咚”声。
Suízhe xiédǐ fāchū “pājī pājī” de shēngxiǎng, tā yǐjīng chuānguò zhōngtīng, láidào hòutīng, jǐn jiēzhe tā jiù sān bù bìng zuò liǎng bù, kuàisù de pǎo shàngle mùzhì lóutī, lóutī bǎn zài tā jiǎoxià fāchū hěn xiǎng de “dōngdōng” shēng.

中厅 (zhōngtīng) – central hall
木制 (mùzhì) – wooden

With the sound of “splat-splat” coming from his slippers, he passed through the central hall to the back hall. Then, taking three steps in place of two, he quickly ran up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly under his feet.

奶奶这时突然喊道：“灿灿，慢点跑！”
Nǎinǎi zhè shí túrán hǎn dào: “Càncàn, màn diǎn pǎo!”

喊 (hǎn) – shout

Grandma suddenly shouted, “Càncàn, slow down!”

一听到奶奶的话，灿灿不禁吐了下舌头，轻手轻脚地在二楼的楼板上慢慢地走了几步，可是当他快走到他房间的门口时，他又忍不住快速跑了几步，飞快地冲进房间，接着“砰”地一声关上了门，仿佛这样就能把奶奶可能发出的叫喊声关在外面了。
Yī tīng dào nǎinǎi de huà, Càncàn bùjìn tǔ le xià shétou, qīngshǒuqīngjiǎo de zài èr lóu de lóubǎn shàng mànmàn de zǒu le jǐ bù, kěshì dāng tā kuài zǒu dào tā fángjiān de ménkǒu shí, tā yòu rěnbuzhù kuàisù pǎo le jǐ bù, fēikuài de chōng jìn fángjiān, jiēzhe “pēng” de yī shēng guān shàng le mén, fǎngfú zhèyàng jiù néng bǎ nǎinǎi kěnéng fāchū de jiàohàn shēng guān zài wàimiàn le.

吐舌头 (tǔ shétou) – stick out one’s tongue
叫喊 (jiàohàn) – shouting

Hearing Grandma’s words, Càncàn stuck out his tongue and tiptoed quietly across the upstairs floor, taking a few slow steps. But as he neared his room, he couldn’t help but take a few quick steps, rushing into his room and slamming the door shut with a “bang,” as if this would block any further shouting from Grandma.

灿灿一进到房间里，就一下子跳到了床上，在上面像头小猪一样从左滚到后，又从右滚到左，滚了好几下，最后又来了一个鲤鱼打挺，坐了起来。他的眼里都是笑意，因为他正在回味妈妈在电话里和他说的话，说他们下周六就会回来给他过生日，对了，还有蛋糕呢。一想到那么多鸡蛋垒在一起的蛋糕，他不禁又笑出声来。

Càncàn yī jìn dào fángjiān lǐ, jiù yīxiàzi tiàodào le chuáng shàng, zài shàngmiàn xiàng tóu xiǎo zhū yīyàng cóng zuǒ gǔn dào hòu, yòu cóng yòu gǔn dào zuǒ, gǔn le hǎo jǐ xià, zuìhòu yòu lái le yīgè lǐ yú dǎ tǐng, zuò le qǐlái. Tā de yǎn lǐ dōu shì xiàoyì, yīnwèi tā zhèngzài huíwèi māmā zài diànhuà lǐ hé tā shuō de huà, shuō tāmen xià zhōu liù jiù huì huílái gěi tā guò shēngrì, duìle, hái yǒu dàngāo ne. Yī xiǎng dào nàme duō jī dàn lěi zài yīqǐ de dàngāo, tā bùjīn yòu xiào chū shēng lái.

进 (jìn) – enter
房间 (fángjiān) – room
一下子 (yīxiàzi) – in one go, all at once
床 (chuáng) – bed
小猪 (xiǎo zhū) – piglet
滚 (gǔn) – roll
最后 (zuìhòu) – finally
鲤鱼打挺 (lǐ yú dǎ tǐng) – a type of jump (literally “carp jump”)
眼里 (yǎn lǐ) – in one’s eyes
回味 (huíwèi) – reminisce
电话 (diànhuà) – phone
过 (guò) – celebrate (a birthday)
蛋糕 (dàngāo) – cake
想到 (xiǎng dào) – think of
不禁 (bù jīn) – cannot help but

As soon as Càncàn entered the room, he jumped onto the bed and started rolling back and forth like a little pig. He rolled several times, and then did a quick flip and sat up. His eyes were full of smiles because he was recalling what his mom had said on the phone. She told him they would come back next Saturday to celebrate his birthday, and there would be cake. Just thinking about the cake made of so many stacked eggs, he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

这时他突然听到雨滴快速猛烈敲击窗玻璃的声音，他连忙站起身来，朝着窗外看去。这时雨越下越大了，门前的那颗梨树都在那晃动起来，更不用说上面悬挂着的那些青梨了。肯定又会被雨打落好几个。远处竹林里的竹子也被风吹得一会儿往左倾斜，一会儿又往右倾斜，也不知道他们是开心地舞动，还是发了疯。

Zhè shí tā túrán tīng dào yǔ dī kuàisù měngliè qiāojī chuāng bōlí de shēngyīn, tā liánmáng zhàn qǐ shēn lái, cháo zhe chuāngwài kànqù. Zhè shí yǔ yuè xià yuè dà le, mén qián de nà kē lí shù dōu zài nà huàngdòng qǐlái, gèng bùyòng shuō shàngmiàn xuánguà zhe de nàxiē qīng lí le. Kěndìng yòu huì bèi yǔ dǎ luò hǎo jǐ gè. Yuǎnchù zhúlín lǐ de zhúzi yě bèi fēng chuī de yī huìr wǎng zuǒ qīngxié, yī huìr yòu wǎng yòu qīngxié, yě bù zhīdào tāmen shì kāixīn de wǔdòng, háishì fā le fēng.

突然 (tūrán) – suddenly
听到 (tīng dào) – hear
快速 (kuàisù) – quick
猛烈 (měngliè) – fierce
敲击 (qiāojī) – knock
窗 (chuāng) – window
站 (zhàn) – stand
朝 (cháo) – toward
看 (kàn) – look
大 (dà) – big, large
晃动 (huàngdòng) – shake
悬挂 (xuánguà) – hang
青梨 (qīng lí) – green pear
肯定 (kěndìng) – definitely
打落 (dǎ luò) – knock off
竹林 (zhúlín) – bamboo forest
吹 (chuī) – blow
倾斜 (qīngxié) – tilt
开心 (kāixīn) – happy
舞动 (wǔdòng) – dance
发疯 (fā fēng) – go crazy

At that moment, he suddenly heard the rapid, fierce sound of raindrops hitting the window glass. He quickly stood up and looked outside. The rain had gotten heavier, and the pear tree in front of the door was swaying. Not to mention the green pears hanging on it, which were sure to be knocked off by the rain. The bamboo in the distance was also being blown by the wind, tilting first to the left and then to the right. It was hard to tell whether the bamboo was happily swaying or going mad.

竹林外有一片很大的溪滩，外面当然是一条小溪。灿灿的思绪不自觉地飘到了小溪上空，他似乎看到了小鱼们看到从天而降的这么多雨滴，也兴奋地从水里探出头来。似乎在进行着一场什么仪式。

Zhúlín wài yǒu yī piàn hěn dà de xī tàn, wàimiàn dāngrán shì yītiáo xiǎo xī. Càncàn de sīxù bù zìjué de piāo dào le xiǎo xī shàngkōng, tā shìhuī kàn dào le xiǎo yú men kàn dào cóng tiān ér jiàng de zhème duō yǔ dī, yě xīngfèn de cóng shuǐ lǐ tàn chū tóu lái. Shìhuī zài jìnxíngzhe yī chǎng shénme yíshì.

外 (wài) – outside
很 (hěn) – very
大 (dà) – big
溪滩 (xī tàn) – streambed
小溪 (xiǎo xī) – small stream
思绪 (sīxù) – thoughts
不自觉 (bù zìjué) – unconsciously
飘 (piāo) – float
上空 (shàngkōng) – in the air
似乎 (shìhuī) – seem
看到 (kàn dào) – see
鱼 (yú) – fish
兴奋 (xīngfèn) – excited
水 (shuǐ) – water
探 (tàn) – probe
头 (tóu) – head
进行 (jìnxíng) – carry out
仪式 (yíshì) – ceremony

Outside the bamboo forest was a large streambed, and of course, there was a small stream. Càncàn’s thoughts drifted unconsciously above the stream, and he seemed to see the little fish excitedly popping their heads out of the water, as if they were performing some sort of ceremony in response to the rain falling from the sky.

不过很快，他的视线便模糊了，因为雨实在太大了，玻璃上已经形成了许许多多条不断斜着往下流的“小河”。风声也越来越大了。窗框也被吹得发出“哐当哐当”的声音。

Bùguò hěn kuài, tā de shìxiàn biàn móhú le, yīnwèi yǔ shízài tài dà le, bōlí shàng yǐjīng xíngchéng le xǔxǔ duō duō tiáo bùduàn xiézhe wǎng xià liú de “xiǎo hé.” Fēng shēng yě yuè lái yuè dà le. Chuāng kuāng yě bèi chuī de fāchū “kuāng dāng kuāng dāng” de shēngyīn.

视线 (shìxiàn) – line of sight
模糊 (móhú) – blurry
实在 (shízài) – really
形成 (xíngchéng) – form
许多 (xǔduō) – many
不断 (bùduàn) – continuously
斜着 (xiézhe) – slanted
风声 (fēng shēng) – sound of wind
窗框 (chuāng kuāng) – window frame
吹 (chuī) – blow
发出 (fāchū) – emit, produce
声音 (shēngyīn) – sound

But soon, his line of sight became blurry, because the rain was really heavy. The glass had already formed many small streams of water flowing down at an angle. The sound of the wind grew louder, and the window frame was blown, making a “clang, clang” noise.

奶奶家在这个村子的上村，只有四五户人家。这是一块突出周边的地方。门前往外走是竹林、溪滩和小溪，而屋后则是大片的农田，现在正是水稻变绿的季节。在风狂雨骤之中，这个上村就象是绿色波涛中一座孤独的岛屿。

Nǎinai jiā zài zhège cūnzi de shàng cūn, zhǐ yǒu sì wǔ hù rén jiā. Zhè shì yī kuài túchū zhōubiān de dìfāng. Mén qián wǎng wài zǒu shì zhúlín, xī tàn hé xiǎo xī, ér wū hòu zé shì dàpiàn de nóngtián, xiànzài zhèng shì shuǐdào biàn lǜ de jìjié. Zài fēng kuáng yǔ zhòu zhī zhōng, zhège shàng cūn jiù xiàng shì lǜsè bōtāo zhōng yīzuò gūdú de dǎo yǔ.

奶奶 (nǎinai) – grandmother
村子 (cūnzi) – village
户 (hù) – household
突出 (tūchū) – prominent
周边 (zhōubiān) – surrounding
地方 (dìfāng) – place
门前 (mén qián) – in front of the door
竹林 (zhúlín) – bamboo forest
溪滩 (xī tàn) – streambed
屋后 (wū hòu) – behind the house
大片 (dà piàn) – large area
农田 (nóngtián) – farmland
水稻 (shuǐdào) – rice paddies
变绿 (biàn lǜ) – turn green
季节 (jìjié) – season
风狂 (fēng kuáng) – wild wind
雨骤 (yǔ zhòu) – sudden rain
孤独 (gūdú) – lonely
岛屿 (dǎo yǔ) – island

Grandma’s house is in the upper village of this town, with only four or five households. This is a place that stands out from the surrounding areas. In front of the house is the bamboo forest, streambed, and small stream, while behind the house is a large area of farmland, where the rice paddies are turning green. Amidst the wild wind and sudden rain, this upper village seems like a lonely island in a sea of green waves.

这时灿灿突然听到房间外有什么东西快速跑过去的声音。
可能是老鼠吧。灿灿心里想。
他也没在意。天越来越暗了。整个房间似乎都被昏暗吞没了。灿灿连忙找到了电灯线，拉了一下。黄色的暖光瞬间照亮了房间，把被昏暗吞没的领地重新夺了回来。

Zhè shí Càncàn túrán tīng dào fángjiān wài yǒu shénme dōngxī kuàisù pǎo guòqù de shēngyīn.
Kěnéng shì lǎoshǔ ba. Càncàn xīn lǐ xiǎng.
Tā yě méi zài yì. Tiān yuè lái yuè àn le. Zhěnggè fángjiān shìhū dōu bèi hūn àn tūn mò le. Càncàn liánmáng zhǎo dào le diàndēng xiàn, lā le yīxià. Huángsè de nuǎn guāng shùnjiān zhàoliàng le fángjiān, bǎ bèi hūn àn tūn mò de lǐngdì chóngxīn duó le huílái.

突然 (tūrán) – suddenly
听到 (tīng dào) – hear
快速 (kuàisù) – quick
跑 (pǎo) – run
可能 (kěnéng) – possibly
老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) – mouse
在意 (zài yì) – care about
天 (tiān) – sky, day
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) – more and more
暗 (àn) – dark
整个 (zhěnggè) – whole
似乎 (shìhū) – seem
昏暗 (hūn àn) – dim
吞没 (tūn mò) – swallow up
电灯 (diàndēng) – electric light
线 (xiàn) – wire
拉 (lā) – pull
暖光 (nuǎn guāng) – warm light
瞬间 (shùnjiān) – in an instant
照亮 (zhàoliàng) – illuminate
领地 (lǐngdì) – territory
重新 (chóngxīn) – again
夺 (duó) – take, seize

At this moment, Càncàn suddenly heard the sound of something quickly running past outside the room.
It might be a mouse, Càncàn thought.
He didn’t care much about it. The sky was getting darker. The whole room seemed to be swallowed by the dimness. Càncàn quickly found the light switch and pulled it. The warm yellow light immediately lit up the room, reclaiming the space that had been overtaken by the darkness.

这个房间原本是爷爷的书房，可是去年爷爷出车祸死了。爷爷以前常常把灿灿抱在腿上，在这个房间给他讲一些稀奇古怪的故事，什么花精啦、狐狸精啦、蛇精啦、老鼠精啦、当然还有神龙。

Zhège fángjiān yuánběn shì yéye de shūfáng, kěshì qùnián yéye chū chēhuò sǐ le. Yéye yǐqián chángcháng bǎ Càncàn bào zài tuǐ shàng, zài zhège fángjiān gěi tā jiǎng yīxiē xīqí gǔguài de gùshì, shénme huā jīng la, húli jīng la, shé jīng la, lǎoshǔ jīng la, dāngrán hái yǒu shén lóng.

原本 (yuánběn) – originally
爷爷 (yéye) – grandfather
书房 (shūfáng) – study room
去年 (qùnián) – last year
车祸 (chēhuò) – car accident
死 (sǐ) – die
常常 (chángcháng) – often
抱 (bào) – hold
腿 (tuǐ) – leg
讲 (jiǎng) – tell
稀奇 (xīqí) – strange, rare
古怪 (gǔguài) – odd, bizarre
花精 (huā jīng) – flower spirit
狐狸精 (húli jīng) – fox spirit
蛇精 (shé jīng) – snake spirit
老鼠精 (lǎoshǔ jīng) – mouse spirit
神龙 (shén lóng) – divine dragon

This room used to be Grandpa’s study, but last year, Grandpa died in a car accident. Grandpa used to often hold Càncàn on his lap and tell him strange and bizarre stories in this room, like stories about flower spirits, fox spirits, snake spirits, mouse spirits, and of course, the divine dragon.

听爷爷在讲这些故事的时候，灿灿会产生一种错觉，仿佛这些东西都是真实存在的。

Tīng yéye zài jiǎng zhèxiē gùshì de shíhòu, Càncàn huì chǎnshēng yī zhǒng cuòjué, fǎngfú zhèxiē dōngxī dōu shì zhēnshí cúnzài de.

讲 (jiǎng) – tell
故事 (gùshì) – story
产生 (chǎnshēng) – produce
错觉 (cuòjué) – illusion
仿佛 (fǎngfú) – as if
真实 (zhēnshí) – real
存在 (cúnzài) – exist

When Grandpa told these stories, Càncàn would have an illusion, as if these things truly existed.

在这个象是夜晚的白天里，灿灿突然特别想听这样的故事了，虽然他知道他再也没法听爷爷讲故事了。但是仿佛这个房间里其实漂浮着许许多多这样的故事，是那种像蒲公英一样淡蓝色的故事，只要灿灿伸手去够，他们就都会轻轻飘落到他的手掌心上。

Zài zhège xiàng shì yèwǎn de báitiān lǐ, Càncàn túrán tèbié xiǎng tīng zhèyàng de gùshì le, suīrán tā zhīdào tā zài yě méi fǎ tīng yéye jiǎng gùshì le. Dànshì fǎngfú zhège fángjiān lǐ qíshí piāofú zhe xǔxǔ duō duō zhèyàng de gùshì, shì nà zhǒng xiàng púgōngyīng yīyàng dàn lán sè de gùshì, zhǐyào Càncàn shēn shǒu qù gòu, tāmen jiù dōu huì qīngqīng piāo luò dào tā de shǒuzhǎng xīn shàng.

象是 (xiàng shì) – like
夜晚 (yèwǎn) – night
白天 (báitiān) – daytime
突然 (tūrán) – suddenly
特别 (tèbié) – especially
再也 (zài yě) – no longer
没法 (méi fǎ) – cannot
讲 (jiǎng) – tell
房间 (fángjiān) – room
其实 (qíshí) – actually
漂浮 (piāofú) – float
许多 (xǔduō) – many
蒲公英 (púgōngyīng) – dandelion
淡蓝色 (dàn lán sè) – light blue
伸手 (shēn shǒu) – reach out
够 (gòu) – reach
轻轻 (qīngqīng) – gently
飘落 (piāo luò) – fall softly
手掌心 (shǒu zhǎng xīn) – palm of the hand

In this daytime that felt like night, Càncàn suddenly really wanted to hear these kinds of stories, even though he knew that he could never hear Grandpa tell stories again. But it was as if this room was floating with many such stories, stories that were like light blue dandelions, and as soon as Càncàn reached out his hands, they would gently fall into his palms.

这时灿灿躺在床上，闭上了眼睛，伸出双手去够，突然他够到了一个故事。是一个关于神龙的故事！

Zhè shí Càncàn tǎng zài chuáng shàng, bì shàng le yǎnjīng, shēn chū shuāng shǒu qù gòu, túrán tā gòu dào le yī gè gùshì. Shì yī gè guānyú shén lóng de gùshì!

躺 (tǎng) – lie down
床 (chuáng) – bed
闭上 (bì shàng) – close
眼睛 (yǎnjīng) – eyes
伸出 (shēn chū) – stretch out
双手 (shuāng shǒu) – both hands
突然 (tūrán) – suddenly
够到 (gòu dào) – reach
关于 (guānyú) – about
神龙 (shén lóng) – divine dragon

At this moment, Càncàn lay on the bed, closed his eyes, stretched out both hands to reach, and suddenly he touched a story. It was a story about the divine dragon!

他满意地进入了那个故事。在那个故事里，爷爷还活着，作为一个群众演员活着。他看到灿灿，朝他招了招手，灿灿开开心心地朝爷爷跑去。

Tā mǎnyì de jìnrù le nàgè gùshì. Zài nàgè gùshì lǐ, yéye hái huózhe, zuòwéi yīgè qúnzhòng yǎnyuán huózhe. Tā kàn dào Càncàn, zhāo tā zhāo le zhāo shǒu, Càncàn kāi kāi xīn xīn de zhāo yéye pǎo qù.

满意 (mǎnyì) – satisfied
进入 (jìnrù) – enter
故事 (gùshì) – story
活着 (huózhe) – alive
群众 (qúnzhòng) – crowd
演员 (yǎnyuán) – actor
看到 (kàn dào) – see
招 (zhāo) – wave
开开心心 (kāi kāi xīn xīn) – happily
跑 (pǎo) – run

He happily entered that story. In that story, Grandpa was still alive, living as an extra. He saw Càncàn and waved at him. Càncàn happily ran toward Grandpa.

就在这时，灿灿听到了轻轻的敲门声，象是小猫咪在用爪子在模仿人在那敲门。灿灿很好奇，不禁站起身来，走过去把门打开。

Jiù zài zhè shí, Càncàn tīng dào le qīngqīng de qiāo mén shēng, xiàng shì xiǎo māo mī zài yòng zhuǎzi zài mófǎng rén zài nà qiāo mén. Càncàn hěn hǎoqí, bùjīn zhàn qǐ shēn lái, zǒu guòqù bǎ mén dǎkāi.

这时 (zhè shí) – at this moment
轻轻 (qīngqīng) – gently
敲门 (qiāo mén) – knock on the door
象是 (xiàng shì) – like
小猫咪 (xiǎo māomī) – kitten
爪子 (zhuǎzi) – paw
模仿 (mófǎng) – imitate
不禁 (bùjīn) – cannot help
站起 (zhàn qǐ) – stand up
走过去 (zǒu guòqù) – walk over
打开 (dǎkāi) – open

At that moment, Càncàn heard a soft knocking sound, like a little kitten using its paw to imitate a human knocking on the door. Càncàn was very curious, and couldn’t help but stand up and walk over to open the door.

这时突然一个黑乎乎的东西钻进了房间，不一会儿就顺着桌腿，爬到了书桌上，留下了一张纸条，就又走了。

Zhè shí túrán yī gè hēi hū hū de dōngxī zuān jìn le fángjiān, bù yī huì ér jiù shùn zhe zhuō tuǐ, pá dào le shūzhuō shàng, liúxià le yī zhāng zhǐ tiáo, jiù yòu zǒu le.

突然 (tūrán) – suddenly
黑乎乎 (hēi hū hū) – dark
东西 (dōngxī) – thing
钻进 (zuān jìn) – drill into
房间 (fángjiān) – room
不一会儿 (bù yī huì ér) – in a short while
顺着 (shùn zhe) – along
桌腿 (zhuō tuǐ) – table leg
爬 (pá) – crawl
书桌 (shūzhuō) – desk
留下 (liúxià) – leave
纸条 (zhǐ tiáo) – note
走 (zǒu) – leave

Suddenly, a dark thing drilled into the room, and in a short while, it crawled up the table leg, reached the desk, left a note, and then left again.

灿灿太吃惊了，都没看清楚这是什么东西。看着不象是什么动物。大概有老鼠那么大吧，也有四条腿，但是都特别细。

Càncàn tài chījīng le, dōu méi kàn qīngchǔ zhè shì shénme dōngxī. Kànzhe bù xiàng shì shénme dòngwù. Dàgài yǒu lǎoshǔ nàme dà ba, yě yǒu sì tiáo tuǐ, dànshì dōu tèbié xì.

吃惊 (chījīng) – shocked
看清楚 (kàn qīngchǔ) – make out
象 (xiàng) – resemble
动物 (dòngwù) – animal
大概 (dàgài) – probably
老鼠 (lǎoshǔ) – mouse
那么大 (nàme dà) – as big as
四条腿 (sì tiáo tuǐ) – four legs
特别 (tèbié) – especially
细 (xì) – thin

Càncàn was so shocked that he didn’t even see clearly what the thing was. It didn’t seem like an animal. It was probably as big as a mouse, with four legs, but they were all very thin.

这时，灿灿又听到了更多的细碎的脚步声。但是他更好奇的是，那个东西给他的那张纸条上，上面究竟有什么呢。

Zhè shí, Càncàn yòu tīng dào le gèng duō de xì suì de jiǎobù shēng. Dànshì tā gèng hǎoqí de shì, nàgè dōngxī gěi tā de nà zhāng zhǐ tiáo shàng, shàngmiàn jiùjìng yǒu shénme ne.

细碎 (xì suì) – delicate
脚步声 (jiǎobù shēng) – footsteps
更 (gèng) – more
好奇 (hàoqí) – curious
究竟 (jiùjìng) – exactly

At this point, Càncàn heard even more delicate footsteps. But what he was more curious about was what exactly was on the note that the thing had left for him.

他拿起卷好的纸条，打开一看，上面写着几个似乎是用小墨点组成的字：“暴风雨要来了，快叫醒宅龙”。

Tā ná qǐ juǎn hǎo de zhǐ tiáo, dǎkāi yī kàn, shàngmiàn xiě zhe jǐ gè sìhū shì yòng xiǎo mò diǎn zǔchéng de zì: “Bàofēngyǔ yào lái le, kuài jiàoxǐng zháilóng.”

拿起 (ná qǐ) – pick up
卷好 (juǎn hǎo) – rolled up
打开 (dǎkāi) – open
似乎 (sìhū) – seems
小墨点 (xiǎo mò diǎn) – small ink dot
组成 (zǔchéng) – form
字 (zì) – character
暴风雨 (bàofēngyǔ) – storm
叫醒 (jiàoxǐng) – wake up

He picked up the rolled-up note, opened it, and saw that it had several characters that seemed to be made from small ink dots: “The storm is coming, quickly wake up Zhàilóng.”

灿灿整个人都呆住了。“暴风雨？还有宅龙？什么是宅龙？还要叫醒他？什么意思啊？”

Càncàn zhěng gè rén dōu dāi zhù le. “Bàofēngyǔ? Hái yǒu zhàilóng? Shénme shì zhàilóng? Hái yào jiàoxǐng tā? Shénme yìsi a?”

整个人 (zhěng gè rén) – the whole person
呆住 (dāi zhù) – stunned
暴风雨 (bàofēngyǔ) – storm
叫醒 (jiàoxǐng) – wake up
什么意思 (shénme yìsi) – what does it mean

Càncàn was completely stunned. “A storm? And Zhàilóng? What is Zhàilóng? And why do I need to wake him up? What does this mean?”

他连忙走出房门，透过房间照出的灯光四下看了看，但是连一个影子都没看见。

Tā liánmáng zǒu chū fángmén, tòuguò fángjiān zhào chū de dēngguāng sìxià kàn le kàn, dànshì lián yīgè yǐngzi dōu méi kànjiàn.

连忙 (liánmáng) – hurriedly
走出 (zǒu chū) – walk out
房门 (fángmén) – door
透过 (tòuguò) – through
照出 (zhào chū) – cast (light)
灯光 (dēngguāng) – light
四下 (sìxià) – around
影子 (yǐngzi) – shadow
看见 (kànjiàn) – see

He hurriedly walked out the door and, through the light cast from the room, looked around, but he didn’t see a single shadow.