Steamed Buns

"Just smell that. Doesn't that smell better than dry cold manto? Or rats?" demanded Xiaoqing.

The two snake spirits were standing across from a street vendor selling steamed buns in the market square. A tower of bamboo steamers gave off a cloud of tantalizing smells, full of the sweet fragrance of meat.

They watched on in rapt fascination as a woman with two small children stopped in front of the stall. The vendor lifted the lid and a tray of plump white baos appeared, wreathed in steam. The aroma grew overwhelming as one of the children tore a hot bun apart and nibbled gingerly at the juicy pieces of meat inside.

Xiaoqing's stomach rumbled. She chewed her lip moodily. "Look at that spoilt boy eat a second bao. Such fat cheeks and still eating so greedily. What a brat. I should chew those chubby cheeks off him and see if he can still eat so much."

Bai frowned disapprovingly at her. "He is merely a child. Why do you have to become so belligerent? Just listen to yourself." She drew back slightly.

Xiaoqing stroked her chin meditatively, absently tracing its pointed tip. "Don't mind me, sister. I know these mortals well and exactly how much they're worth. Never fear; we'll be feasting on the rest of those baos soon enough."

She grabbed Bai's arm. "Now Sister, you mustn't get angry at me, just bear with it for a moment!"

As they approached the vendor, Xiaoqing reached up and deftly snatched the wide brimmed straw hat from Bai's head. The veil fluttered in the air and passerbys stopped momentarily to stare at the beautiful face which emerged. Startled, Bai whirled round. The cloud of steam from the baos stung at her eyes and she stumbled, blinking. A vegetable seller gawked and chortled to the stray dog sitting beside him, "Meiren ah! A beauty!"

"Ah, watch your step, my lady! Be careful! Someone, catch her, quickly, please! For the love of Heaven and all the gods, save my lady!"

With this piercing shriek, Xiaoqing gave Bai a hard push, propelling her towards the bao seller. At the same time, she knocked the top two steamers over. In one movement she swooped down on the baos as they flew through the air, catching them neatly with the straw hat; and the next moment the steamer was back in its place.

Bai recovered her balance and sprang backwards as the bao seller eagerly held out his arms to support her. Ruffled, she held a hand out, keeping him away. "Thank you. I am fine."

She turned sharply to Xiaoqing but the latter had already fallen to her knees before her. "Forgive me, my lady, I did not take good care of you! Are you hurt? Did you tear your gown?" she lamented noisily without a pause as she anxiously smoothed the white robes, not giving Bai a breathing space to speak. "Aiya, the crowds here are terrible. Let us go home quickly, my lady, come I'll support you--"

Grasping Bai's elbow, she hissed, "I got the baos. Let's go."

Xiaoqing turned back to the vendor and bowed excessively. "Thank you, sir, thank you for saving my lady from a fall. May Heaven bless you for your kindness." She made an extra low bow in order to adroitly scoop a last fallen bao from the floor into the hat.

As they made their way to the outskirts of town, Bai finally found her voice. "You little trickster!"

Xiaoqing reached inside the hat and plucked out a hot bao with a flourish. "Here you go, sister. Didn't I tell you, I can be useful to you?"

Bai looked narrowly at her from the corners of her eyes. "I am not sure if you've convinced me. If you try that again with me, I will knock the teeth out of your head so you no longer have a single one to eat bao with again. Give me my hat."

Xiaoqing pouted. "You have not even eaten the bao yet. Try it. You won't be so angry when you've tasted it!" She bit vigorously into one and gave a sigh of enjoyment. Chewing steadily, she continued talking with her mouth full. "Oh well, if you're not pleased I won't do that again. It is nothing; I have plenty of other ways! These mortals, they're so easily tricked. The men especially. All they have to do is see a pretty face and they are wax in my hands. Most of them, that is. Only pray I never meet a priest again, like the one who gave me into the street doctor's hands!"

She made a face and bit contemptuously into another bao. "Ah Sister, don't be angry at me. This is how Xiaoqing gets nice things to eat. I'm sharing them with you, aren't I? Just think, if they knew what we were, they would try to kill us and hunt us down. Why not take what we can from them?"

Thoughtfully, Bai studied the bao in her hand, as Xiaoqing swallowed the last bite of hers and reached for a fourth one. "And you believe all mortals are like that?"

Xiaoqing waved carelessly at the town. "All! Some more so than others, but you can never trust them. Fear and ignorance makes them cruel. I have seen so many mortals, Sister. What fools they are and yet, how evil they can be when they are angry and afraid."

She finished the last bao with a relish and only then realized Bai was still eating her first one. "Ah, forgive me, Sister. You've only had one and I finished them all! No matter. I only managed to steal one steamer this time, that's why. Next time I'll get roast duck for you; you'll like that!"

Xiaoqing thrust her face abruptly into Bai's, with a glimmering smile. "Is it delicious?" she demanded.

Teeth fastened in the soft white dough of the bao, Bai lifted her eyes to meet Xiaoqing's inquiring gaze.

"Yes, it is--little sister."

She paused. "Qingqing."

A slow smile bent her lips.