Sleeping Caterpillars
睡着的毛毛虫
One morning Li Minmin was in front of her house collecting fallen willow catkins and placing them in an empty instant noodle bucket.
“Are you collecting willow catkins to add to you porridge?” said a man’s voice.
Minmin looked up and saw a thin old man with long gray hair and gray beard, looking down and smiling at her. The old man was seated on a yak, which had long black hair, and was also looking at Minmin.
“No,” replied Minmin, “I wanted to collect wooly caterpillars, because last night my mom read to me a story about how they turn into butterflies, so I wanted to get some and watch them turn into butterflies.”
“Mm,” said the old man, “It’s a good idea.”
“But I couldn’t find any caterpillars, so I’m collecting these because they look like caterpillars.”
“Are you sure they’re not caterpillars?” said the old man, as he dismounted his yak, bent over and looked into Minmin’s noodle bucket.
“Well, they’re not moving,” replied Minmin.
“Hm,” said the old man, “may I see?”
Minmin handed the old man the paper bucket, and watched him hold it close to his chest and close his eyes. The old man then started chanting – words that Minmin did not understand – and three times he gave the bucket a strong shake. He then handed the bucket back to Minmin.
“I think they were just sleeping,” said the old man.
Minmin’s eyes grew wide when she saw several wooly caterpillars crawling around in her bucket.
“Wa!” she said. “Grandfather, what’s your name?” she asked, looking up at the old man.
“You can call me Maoniu,” replied the old man.
“But that’s a maoniu,” said Minmin, pointing at the yak.
“Yes,” said Maoniu, “and it’s also my name.”
“Grandpa Maoniu,” said Minmin, “would like to come in and have some tea?”
“That would be very nice, thank you,” said Maoniu, “And what is your name?”
“Li Minmin,” replied Minmin.
“It’s a nice name,” said Maoniu, “but because you like caterpillars, may I call you Maochong?”
Minmin laughed; she liked this game of taking animal names – Maoniu and Maochong. She took hold the old man’s hand and led him to her house.
“Mama!” called Minmin as she and Maoniu entered the courtyard. “I found a lot of caterpillars!”
Minmin’s mother came out of the house and glanced at Maoniu, who smiled and greeted her. She then peered into her daughter’s upraised noodle bucket.
“Sweetheart, those are just willow catkins,” said her mother. “Shushu,” she then said to Maoniu, “your journey has certainly made you tired. Please come in and rest and have some tea.” Maoniu smiled and nodded.
After Minmin’s mother returned to the house, Maoniu saw that Minmin was gazing dejectedly at the willow catkins in her noodle bucket. He leaned over and raised a finger in front of his lips.
“Shh,” he whispered to Minmin, “They’ve gone back to sleep. Let’s not wake them.”
Minmin’s face brightened. “OK,” she whispered. She then placed her noodle bucket in a shaded place beside the house, so that the sun wouldn’t harm her sleeping caterpillars.