My Family Is Very Odd

Li Xiao Gui held out her thick cotton gloves and grasped Shen Chen’s hand between their umbrellas.

Her soft and fluffy gloves landed on his bony, porcelain white palm.

It felt soft. Shen Chen felt like he was holding a small, furry animal.

“I can’t feel it.” Li Xiao Gui said honestly, “The gloves are too thick.”

“It’s warm,” Shen Chen said. “Men’s body temperatures tend to be warmer.”

Shen Chen lowered his hand, but he didn't let go.

“Oh.” Li Xiao Gui's voice was muffled from behind her white scarf.

Behind them was a trail of large and small footprints.

They arrived at the supermarket.

Li Xiao Gui put away her little yellow umbrella, then held the handle and tapped it lightly on the ground, shaking off the snow from the canopy. She raised her chin, looked left and right at the umbrella, and then looked at Shen Chen after completing this series of actions.

Shen Chen also put away his umbrella.

There was an umbrella stand at the entrance of the supermarket. There weren't many umbrellas in it because the supermarket was relatively remote, and there weren't many residential buildings nearby. It was also close to Li Xiao Gui's house, which used to be rumored to be a haunted house.

"Sister, we'd like two original flavor cones, please." Li Xiao Gui said to the cashier. Beside the counter was a soft serve ice cream machine. Li Xiao Gui especially liked the cones from this supermarket. The ice cream had a faint milky scent, a soft and slightly sweet taste, and a crispy cone.

Sometimes, Li Xiao Gui liked to buy a cone before going in to shop.

There was only one counter and one cashier in the supermarket, but the cashier had changed many times.

"Here you go." The cashier sister handed over two cones with a kind smile on her face.

"Thank you." The two thanked her and walked in.

The supermarket had been open for many years. Although there were few customers, it had everything, and everything was clean and fresh.

Li Xiao Gui and Shen Chen each took a shopping basket.

Li Xiao Gui went straight to the fruit section.

“Strawberries, strawberries, cream strawberries!” Li Xiao Gui muttered to herself as she looked left and right, but she walked towards her destination with a clear goal! Her light brown eyes sparkled.

“Grapes, Shen Chen, Shen Chen, do these grapes look good?”

“Yes.”

“Bananas! These bananas look delicious! Let’s buy two, three, four… two? One for each of us?” Li Xiao Gui held up two fingers.

“Okay.”

…

Snack aisle.

“Shen Chen, Shen Chen, I want to buy some caramelized melon seeds!”

“Okay, buy them.”

…

Li Xiao Gui wanted to buy a lot of things, but she only took one or a little bit of each because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to carry them back.

The biscuit and candy sections were next to each other. Shen Chen was picking out biscuits, and Li Xiao Gui walked towards the candy section.

Li Xiao Gui found the shelf with her target candy and began to carefully select from it.

She quickly found her favorite White Rabbit candy and plum candy and put them in her basket.

"You like candy too?" A thin shadow suddenly stood beside Li Xiao Gui and whispered.

It wasn't too close or too far away. When it spoke, its voice carried a chill and the smell of dust.

It had no human life force.

But the black energy on its body was pure, not muddy, very ordinary, the kind that belonged to a ghost that hadn't harmed anyone yet.

Li Xiao Gui turned sideways and saw a thin, tall, middle-aged male ghost.

The ghost wore black-rimmed glasses, its two black eye sockets staring at Li Xiao Gui. It had a pale face and wore a white shirt and black trousers. A lot of dirt kept falling from its body.

"My daughter also likes to eat candy."

"Every time I came home, I would buy her this candy." The ghost said beside her, pointing to a bag of candy on the second shelf. The bag of candy floated out of the shelf.

"It's delicious. Do you want to buy some too?" The voice recommended.

Li Xiao Gui hesitated for a moment and asked, "What flavor is that?"

"Orange."

The middle-aged male ghost's mouth twitched into a slight smile, and grains of sand continued to fall from the corners of its cracked lips.

"Then I'll try it. Thank you, Uncle." Li Xiao Gui's eyes curved into a smile, and she reached out to take the bag of candy and put it in her basket.

"You're the child from that haunted house, right?" The middle-aged male ghost said kindly.

Every ghost in the neighborhood knew that the haunted house had taken in a human little girl.

"Yes." Li Xiao Gui nodded and smiled with narrowed eyes, "Do you know my mom and dad?"

The middle-aged male ghost shook its head. "No, I've only heard of them. I envy them."

After the middle-aged male ghost finished speaking, it slowly disappeared.

Li Xiao Gui had some understanding of why it was sad. It was because of its daughter. Li Xiao Gui thought about what the middle-aged male ghost had just said, but she didn't know what to say.

This was not something that could be comforted.

Li Xiao Gui looked at the candy in her hand and turned to find Shen Chen.

Shen Chen was in the aisle behind her.

Li Xiao Gui shuffled up to Shen Chen and held up the candy, "Shen Chen, Shen Chen, I bought these three bags of candy!"

Shen Chen: "Okay. Have you bought everything? Let's go back."

Li Xiao Gui nodded.

Shen Chen carried a bag in each hand. Li Xiao Gui was holding their umbrellas, and her chick backpack was also filled with snacks and fruits.

She had stuffed all the hard and heavy things inside, and the chick's belly was bulging out.

No one was on the road back home. On the snow-covered path, there were only Li Xiao Gui and Shen Chen.

Li Xiao Gui walked ahead of Shen Chen, took out her phone, and asked, "Shen Chen, Shen Chen, do you want to listen to music? How about I sing for you?"

Shen Chen: "Okay."

After getting his affirmation, Li Xiao Gui clicked on the music player, playing a song and singing along. Her eyes were focused on the lyrics, and her little head swayed from side to side.

Shen Chen followed behind her, watching her.

After singing two lines, Li Xiao Gui suddenly turned her head again and said, "When we get back, I'll make some desserts. I'll be in charge of the New Year's desserts."

Shen Chen: "Okay."

When Li Xiao Gui returned, the New Year's charms and spring couplets had been pasted up.

"I'm back!" Li Xiao Gui shouted.

Before she could push the door open, the two bags in Shen Chen's hands suddenly flew up and entered the house before them.

By the time Shen Chen and Li Xiao Gui entered, the two bags had already come down from the second floor, scattered and arranged one by one on the shelves and in the refrigerator.

When they returned, the Burly Ghost had already prepared lunch: three dishes and a soup.

The chestnut chicken soup was fragrant and rich. The chestnuts had been cooked until they split open, soft and tender at the bottom of the soup. The chicken was smooth and tender, emitting the aroma of chicken and the fresh scent of chestnuts.

The sweet and sour ribs were evenly coated in sauce and were the best parts of the ribs. They were neatly arranged on a plate, drizzled with an appetizing red sauce.

The shredded carrots were delicate, and the steamed fish was sprinkled with a layer of red chili peppers. It smelled delicious.

Li Xiao Gui took a picture and sent it to Chen Yuanyuan, who had to stay home and help out today and couldn't come over. She would tease her with the picture.

Ghost Grandpa: "Let's eat."

As usual, the dining table was clearly divided into two extremes, one dark and one colorful.

But the five ghosts looked at Li Xiao Gui on the colorful side, all showing satisfied smiles.

After lunch, Li Xiao Gui and the Burly Ghost made desserts in the kitchen to eat while watching the fireworks at night. Li Xiao Gui wanted to make them herself, so the Burly Ghost helped out by handing her things.

Li Xiao Gui's dream was to be a pastry chef!

Li Xiao Gui measured the ingredients, poured in cornstarch and glutinous rice flour, sifted them, added water, mixed them well, sifted them again, and steamed them.

Next step… Li Xiao Gui looked up at the book the Burly Ghost was holding for her and continued.

Fry the flour and set aside. Then take out the steamed glutinous rice skin, add butter while it’s still hot, and mix well.

"Ahhhhh, Brother, Brother, ah, my sleeve is going to fall off!" Li Xiao Gui cried out in surprise as she raised her hand and stretched it out in front of the Burly Ghost.

"Coming, coming!" An invisible wind gently lifted Li Xiao Gui's falling sleeve.

"Thank you, Brother!"

Li Xiao Gui smiled sweetly and continued to make the glutinous rice skin. After making each piece, she sprinkled cooked flour on them and stacked them together.

Then she started making the cream.

The cream was whipped until it formed stiff peaks. Li Xiao Gui picked up a dollop with her chopsticks and tasted it.

The Burly Ghost watched Li Xiao Gui with wide eyes, more expectant than when it was making its own dishes. "How is it?"

Li Xiao Gui grinned, "Delicious!"

Hearing this, the Burly Ghost excitedly scooped up a spoonful of cream and stuffed it into its mouth.

It couldn't taste the sweetness of the cream, nor could it feel the smooth and creamy texture as it melted on its tongue. The cream entered its mouth in whatever state it was in and remained in that state until it was finally swallowed by darkness.

It tasted like sand, bland and tasteless. But at that moment, looking at Li Xiao Gui, the Burly Ghost felt from the bottom of its heart, "Super delicious! Little Gui is amazing!"

Even if it was sand, it was the best sand it had ever eaten.

Li Xiao Gui and the Burly Ghost were in the kitchen making desserts for the fireworks display that night. Shen Chen didn't know why, but he ended up having a snowball fight with the Young Ghost.

Snowball fights were a naturally advantageous game for ghosts. As long as the Young Ghost wanted, the snowballs could pass right through its body without hitting it.

After being hit twice, Shen Chen silently learned to wrap his snowballs with spiritual energy.

The Young Ghost, caught off guard, was hit squarely in the face by a spiritual energy snowball. It straightened up, the corner of its mouth curved into a cold smile, and said, "Very well. Interesting."

In an instant, the two began to frantically throw snowballs at each other, dodging frantically.

By the time Li Xiao Gui finally came out of the kitchen, she found both her dad and Shen Chen sitting expressionlessly on the sofa. Shen Chen had even changed his clothes.

The two sat at opposite ends of the sofa, a galaxy seemingly separating them.

Li Xiao Gui asked Ghost Grandma, "Grandma, what's wrong?"

Ghost Grandma covered her mouth and said, "Oh, they were having a snowball fight just now. They're resting now."

Hearing about the snowball fight, Li Xiao Gui's eyes lit up, and she looked enviously at Shen Chen and the Young Ghost.

However, if Li Xiao Gui had seen how "crazy" their snowball fight was, she probably wouldn't have been so envious.

The time after dinner was the most fun and exciting time.

Two hours after dinner, at eight o'clock in the evening, Li Xiao Gui's desserts were laid out on the table: mousse, mochi, egg tarts, cream puffs, a fruit platter, and some snacks and drinks they had bought in the morning.

The egg tarts and cream puffs were made by Li Xiao Gui an hour ago using the ingredients she had prepared at noon so that they would be warm to eat.

Li Xiao Gui took an egg tart and ran to show her ghost family.

"Mom, Mom, I made this. Doesn’t it look good?”

The Female Ghost nodded and reached out to take a bite.

Li Xiao Gui withdrew her hand. "Don't eat it, it's not tasty. This is human food, Mom. Have you forgotten?"

Li Xiao Gui said, but she was still very happy. She proudly raised her head. "I made this egg tart. I'm going to take it to Grandpa!"

After Li Xiao Gui finished speaking, she ran towards Grandpa with her thick scarf wrapped around her.

The Female Ghost stood there and yawned, then walked towards the long table beside her. Then, stealthily, she pinched a bit of the egg tart crust and licked it into her mouth.

She savored the taste carefully.

Yes, it really was like sand.

The Female Ghost thought to herself and pinched another bit. Then, from a bit, it became a piece, half, a whole.

After finishing an egg tart, the Female Ghost thought she would try a cream puff. She took the egg tart and stealthily walked to the right, then she saw the Young Ghost at the cream puffs.

The two ghosts looked at each other, each holding an egg tart and a cream puff in their hands: "…"

Music played from the speakers, and snow began to fall from the sky again.

After making her rounds, she was looking for Shen Chen with a cream puff in her hand.

She hadn't let him try the desserts she made yet.

Li Xiao Gui's shoulders were narrow, and as she ran around, one end of her scarf had slipped off her shoulder.

Li Xiao Gui wondered where Shen Chen had gone. Was he still in the house…?

A hand reached out from behind, grabbed Li Xiao Gui's shoulder, and turned her around. The other hand picked up the end of the scarf that had fallen off and wrapped it back around her neck, tying it in a knot.

Li Xiao Gui's eyes lit up, and she raised her chubby arm, holding the cream puff up to his chin. "Shen Chen!"

Shen Chen bent down slightly, his fingers pressing on her scarf. "Keep your scarf on. It's cold."

Li Xiao Gui nodded obediently and said, "Try this, it's delicious."

Shen Chen leaned over and took a bite from Li Xiao Gui's hand before taking the cream puff.

Li Xiao Gui was stunned for a moment. It felt a little strange, yet also very normal.

Li Xiao Gui blinked, quickly pushing the thought aside, and asked, "Is it good?"

Shen Chen: "Delicious."

Li Xiao Gui laughed heartily, her slightly red lips puffing out white mist from under her scarf.

Suddenly, fireworks exploded in the distance. Li Xiao Gui exclaimed "Wow" and looked over, captivated. "So beautiful!"

Shen Chen lowered his head and saw the reflection of the fireworks in Li Xiao Gui's eyes.

The Burly Ghost shouted, "Little Gui, let's set off some fireworks too!"

Li Xiao Gui turned her head. "Okay!"

Soon, fireworks lit up the sky above the haunted house.

Under the falling sparks of the fireworks, Shen Chen took out a sparkler from his pocket.

Shen Chen: "Here you go."

Li Xiao Gui took the sparkler, her eyes shining as she watched it bloom into red flowers in her hand.

She ran around in the dark, drawing circles with the sparkling sparkler.

"Dad, Dad, fireworks!" Li Xiao Gui excitedly ran up to the Young Ghost. "Look at me!"

Li Xiao Gui drew a heart in the air with the sparkler.

The Young Ghost raised an eyebrow and also found a few sparklers to play with. After casually drawing a few lines, it flew up into the sky with the sparklers and quickly drew a little person.

A little person with two buns on its head, curved eyes, and a big smile.

Li Xiao Gui burst into laughter. "So ugly!"

The Young Ghost: "Just like you."

Li Xiao Gui loudly retorted with a smile, "No way!"

Then she quickly ran to the Female Ghost to complain, "Mom, Mom, Dad said I'm ugly!"

The Young Ghost: "You said it yourself."

The Female Ghost didn't care and picked up a snowball to throw.

But somehow, as they were throwing snowballs, they dragged Shen Chen into it again, and a new round of snowball fights began.

Amidst the chaos, Ghost Grandpa sat quietly in his chair at the long table, reading the newspaper, completely unfazed. Ghost Grandma, on the other hand, was watching from the sidelines while knitting a sweater.

The Burly Ghost was also watching from the rooftop while setting off fireworks.

Li Xiao Gui hid behind Shen Chen with a giggle, like playing eagle and chicks, grabbing onto Shen Chen's clothes, using him as a shield against the snowballs flying from her parents' snowball fight.

Dandelion-like snowflakes fell one by one.

A few landed on her eyelashes.

The sparkler in her hand had long since burned out, but Li Xiao Gui was still smiling, clutching the extinguished sparkler and Shen Chen's clothes.

And in the sky, fireworks continued to bloom, brightly.

Author's Notes:

The Ghost's Black Box:

Chew, chew, chew, remember, the desserts Little Gui makes taste like this sand.

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