My name is Xiao Guan, and I am six years old.
Actually, I should have a proper given name, but Mama says that having a given name means I am an adult and will go out to travel. She doesn't want me to leave, so she and Papa agreed to give me a name when I'm a little older.
When will I grow up?
Mama is called Baima. She is a beautiful and gentle person. Whenever I return from studying outside, she sits quietly by the window, embroidering. These are new clothes for Papa and me.
Papa doesn't come home often. He does hard work outside. Other uncles and aunts say it's because he violated tribal rules by marrying someone from another tribe, and he must be punished for ten years.
I don't know what it means to marry someone from another tribe, but I can count. I often count on my fingers, calculating that in three and a half more years, Papa can be home all the time!
That's great!
I like to rest on Mama's lap. It feels very warm and secure.
Mama says I am her treasure, born after ten months of pregnancy, and that Papa and I are the people she loves the most.
I really like it when Mama says that. It makes me feel like I am a real person, with flesh and blood, and that Papa and Mama truly belong only to me.
...Why would I think that? I am already the unique Xiao Guan!
Mama says she dreamed of a big tree when she gave birth to me, and she was thinking of adding the character "tree" to my given name.
I don't like it much. I want a more unique name. Mama smiles and strokes my head, saying she'll change "tree" to "light."
It's a bit plain, but I like it.
---
When I was eight years old, a cousin brought me a little black cat. He said he found it in a snowdrift outside.
The little black cat has a bad temper and often scratches him, but it calms down when it sees me.
My cousin says this little cat likes me. I like it very much too!
The cat's soft fur was all messy and sticking out. I named it Ci Mao (Prickly Fur). My cousin laughed at me for not knowing how to name things and got scratched on the face by the little cat.
I admire Cousin Haike very much, but I still didn't let him hit my little cat.
Papa will be back in two years. Mama has already piled up a basket of clothes for him.
---
This year I am ten years old, and Ci Mao has grown into a big cat!
As it grew, its fur stood up, and it felt rough to the touch. Mama praised me for giving it a good name, and I was very happy.
It has now become the family's guard, often catching monkeys on the mountain to play with me. I don't actually like monkeys, but it looks very happy, so I reluctantly keep all the monkeys.
Papa almost didn't recognize the house when he returned because it was covered in monkeys. But these monkeys are very well-behaved. Ci Mao inspects their family etiquette every day.
Papa and Mama hugged each other, crying with joy. I wanted to spend more time with them, but after a few days, Papa started to push me out, telling me to go play with my cousin.
Papa is annoying! I don't like Papa anymore!
---
When I was fifteen, I had become an adult. Mama and Papa gave me a name: Zhang Haiguang. I think they just took the second character from my cousin's name, but I don't mind.
I have my own name now!
Ci Mao is now like a leopard. None of the wolves in the tribe can defeat it. It seems to be a special breed, showing no signs of aging over the years.
The tribesmen say I am of age and should go out to travel, so I left with Ci Mao.
Papa held Mama to see me off. Mama's belly was bulging. They said that after I traveled for two years, I would have a little brother or sister. I prefer a little brother. I always feel that I should have a brother who is very much like me.
---
Perhaps I am the chosen one?
Not long after Ci Mao and I set out, the sky suddenly darkened, and a saber fell, landing in front of me.
As soon as this saber saw me, it hummed. It is a peerless good saber. I picked it up and swung it, feeling as if it was destined to belong to me.
I named it Hei Jin Gu Dao (Black Gold Ancient Saber). Ci Mao scoffed, mocking me for still not knowing how to name things.
...Anyway, I feel that my naming is quite good.
I heard that every tribesman meets their lifelong best friend during their travels. I am so looking forward to it.
What will my friend be like?