Bingfan Promptober - Day 6: Moon
The brightest pearl hung in the sky, the lantern of night illuminating the earth, its curve perfectly round. Qing Jing embodied serenity. The Mid-Autumn Festival was right around the corner, so the disciples were busy as honeybees preparing for the celebration.
Ming Fan coordinated much of the event.
Luo Binghe’s talent in the kitchen was a new discovery by Shen Qingqiu, who requested that he be responsible for much of the culinary aspect. Ming Fan had his objections, but he decided not to bring it up.
Luo Binghe thought his fragility on the subject was shameless. Shouldn’t he raise any grievances? To yield to their shizun, regardless of his health, was a beautiful display of weakness. Not to be presumptuous, but he acted in Shen Qingqiu’s best interest; Shen Qingqiu wanted his disciples to be independent and capable, to resist him as needed. However, he deeply admired the trust their shizun placed in him to handle the task.
While making mooncakes, Ming Fan had entered the kitchen to observe.
“Is everything to Da-shixiong’s expectations?” Luo Binghe asked, sly. Everything was perfect. The kitchen was his domain, and mooncakes were relatively procedural and rote after a while. Mechanically, he carved intricate designs into the soft flesh, imagining Shizun’s prideful grace as he nibbled on a finished mooncake.
“...Yes. Surprisingly…” Ming Fan said. He drew a line through the flour. In an instant, he passed over the rows of mooncakes, examining them. “Although… Luo-shidi made too many. Who’s going to eat all of these?”
Luo Binghe… didn’t actually know, so he came up with an answer. “Everyone.”
Ming Fan paused. “Really?”
“Who else?” Luo Binghe looked over his treats with false ambivalence. “And of course, Da-shixiong will get to have his fair share.” He assumed Ming Fan’s tastes aligned with Qing Jing’s: light, with conservative seasoning, and mostly vegetal, preferring freshness and delicate sweetness.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Ming Fan looked askance, “I’d rather not overindulge in mediocre pastries.”
A vein throbbed in Luo Binghe’s temple. “Is that so? Is Da-shixiong trying to maintain his figure?” As if he was anything impressive.
He scoffed. “Nothing you make can be that good.”
“Try one and we’ll see who’s right.”
“Are they even baked? Trying to get me to choke down a mooncake that isn’t even done? No thanks.”
Luo Binghe held out a pillow-soft pastry with a silky smooth smile. Ming Fan pursed his lips, furrowed his brows, and stepped outside the kitchen. He grumbled, “I’ll pass.”
The day had just begun, so the moon lingered in the sky, outshone by the sun.