A Pretty Little Dumpling on a Seventies Island

Meng Ling was born in 1969. Her parents had only one child.

But she also had four older sisters who shared neither parent with her: Zhong Hongyan, Xu Zhuying, Xu Xueying, and Qiao Xi.

When Zhong Hongyan was a child, she loved watching planes in the sky. Later, she taught Meng Ling how to fly model airplanes.

Xu Zhuying loved singing, while Xu Xueying loved dancing. They later took Meng Ling onto a stage to perform group exercises and win a certificate.

Qiao Xi loved making clothes with her mother, so Meng Ling often received outfits Qiao Xi had made for her cloth doll. And yes, Qiao Xi made the doll, too.

Later, Meng Ling and the others grew up year by year on Coconut Island. Every day, they went crabbing and caught little fish, living carefree lives.

Meng Ling would seek out the others to learn new things, then lead her sisters in skipping class. Unsurprisingly, Zhong Siy an's mother, who was their teacher, would stop them and send them back to class.

Each of the sisters' parents had their own personalities, too.

For example, Xu's parents loved picking coconuts for the children and making coconut jelly for them.

Qiao's mother made all their clothes as they grew up, while Qiao's father wrote them storybooks, supposedly to preserve their childhood and let their dreams soar.

Zhong's father was busy, working every day at the commune on Coconut Island. But he always brought back tasty snacks from the depot, as well as homemade seaweed, salted dried fish, swimming crabs, and yellow peach jam from the commune.

The five kids were practically drooling with anticipation.

Meng Ling thought her own mother was pretty great, too. She knew how to make all kinds of delicious food and taught Meng Ling all sorts of lessons. When Meng Ling wouldn't listen, she made Meng's father demonstrate in person.

Meng's mother said, "Lingling, didn't you want to see someone smash a rock on his chest? Look at your dad, that's chest-smashing for you. And those five words teach us that it's fine to take risks, but don't be an idiot."

Meng Ling said, "I think... I understand a little."

Meng's mother said gently, "Lingling is so clever."

Meng's father pleaded miserably, "Honey, how much longer do I have to keep smashing rocks on my chest? Please let me off."

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