The Blind and the Deaf - Chapter 6

Mr. Miao rarely speaks in front of strangers. A few years ago, he often tried to speak. But because of the problem of his hearing aids going out of tune, the words came out strangely, and people said they couldn’t understand him. After a while, he didn’t want to talk anymore.

Recently, Mr. Miao replaced his hearing aid with a good quality one, and sometimes he talks to the girl who looks after the store, and the effect is still quite obvious. It’s just that it’s been too long since he’s spoken, and now it’s a bit difficult just to speak.

Mr. Miao was preparing dinner in the bakery when the 86th guy – I think his name was Xiao Zhang – arrived. Now that the guests were here, and it was a rare mid-autumn holiday, Mr. Miao also let the little girl go home first, and a sign of closure was hung up early at the entrance of the store. He picked up the half-prepared dishes, opened the back door of the bakery, and led Xiao Zhang to his home.

Xiao Zhang sniffed, and Mr. Miao’s home had a very nostalgic smell. It was the scent of a life truly being lived, the smell of home. Clubhouse dormitories were different in the end. He listened with his side ear, and in the house, besides the two of them, there were a few very light, almost inaudible footsteps.

Chang was in the middle of recognizing those kinds of footsteps when his leg was brushed by the coffee that followed closely behind. He was on his feet, unable to recognize what exactly he had come across. Mr. Miao said slowly, “No …… bite. It wants to, to make out with you.”
The coffee tilted its face up and meowed at the strange visitor.

A smile appeared on Xiao Zhang’s confused face and he said uncertainly, “Is it a cat?”
“Well. Touch …… touch it.”

Xiao Zhang squatted down and pawed at it. The fingertips touched a warm furry living thing.
“Ah ……” he sighed, so cats are such a soft and cute species. Boldly, he tried to touch Coffee’s spine, then its head, and two triangular ears. Then touching its limbs and feeling its shape. The cat sat itself down to enjoy the petting, licking his hand back. Xiao Zhang’s face reddened – he was thin-skinned and had to blush with shyness, as well as with excitement. He stroked it a few times and stood up reluctantly.

“It’s called …… Coffee. The other …… is called, Milk Tea.” Mr. Miao retook Chang’s hand and led him to the sofa in the small living room.
“Sit,” he said, “I’ll, uh, cook dinner.”
Xiao Zhang wanted to ask if he wanted to help, but he was afraid that people would resent him for helping more and more, so he nodded meekly. Mr. Miao made him a cup of tea, turned on the radio, and then, took a cat into his arms.

“Coffee?”
“Milk tea,” Mr. Miao said, “Milk tea is lazy and doesn’t like to move. You hold it and it’s fine.”

Milk Tea was fatter than Coffee, and was fleshy to the touch. Xiao Zhang was so afraid of scaring the cat away that he never dared to study it too closely as he sat there. The creature called a cat lay very meekly on his lap without moving. He waited for about half an hour before Mr. Miao came to invite him to the table.

Mr. Miao estimated Xiao Zhang’s appetite and gave him a bowl of rice and a bowl of vegetables. During the meal, the two men talked about each other’s life experiences and both had some feelings.

The meal was a good conversation for Xiao Zhang, but the eating was tough. Before he came over, the boss had treated them to a meal. Seeing that we are all disabled people who come out to work, Xiao Zhang is very focused on the friendship between each other, and the meal is a must go to eat. Only halfway through the meal, he said hello again and rushed to Mr. Miao’s house. When he came, his stomach was already very full. However, the goodwill of others can not be wasted. Xiao Zhang ate all the food that was served for him with a stiff upper lip. He was really a bit full and finally revealed a difficult look when Mr. Miao offered to help him serve another bowl.

“Ah ……” Mr. Miao asked hesitantly, “Not to your liking?” It was the first time he’d ever seen someone show such an expression when they ate his food.

When Xiao Zhang heard this, he hurriedly argued, “No, no, it’s especially delicious, it’s just that I have a small appetite ……” He paused, and when he saw that Mr. Miao didn’t answer, he regretted a little again. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Then …… I still want to eat half a bowl, can I?”

“Well.”
Mr. Miao answered happily.