The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao and Dao Yin rode the boat and moved through the skies. The two enjoyed the scenery a lot. Holding each other in arms, after they understood the meaning behind why they were being sent to the village of the mortals, things became harmonious.

It was their nature to unveil the meaning behind anything, or the two people would feel restless. After a couple of hours, the two people reached a valley. They did not control the boat, just let it fly on the clouds as it wished.

The reason? Everything that comes from dao will return to dao. They came to stand among the immortals from the realm of mortals, so now they will return to the mortals. This was the reason. It was like a river naturally following the slope and flowing to the ocean.

The boat descended from the clouds and Yang Dao and Dao Yin found themselves in a valley, surrounded by sky-high mountains. They saw in the center of the valley a small group of houses. It just so happen that in front of the village was a pond, and the whole place was surrounded by trees.

The boat landed on the ground and Yang Dao jumped off, then he held Dao Yin's hand, letting the girl come down. The two people took the spirit boat back to the space ring and walked up to the entrance of the village.

An old man was sitting at the entrance, he was basically dozing off. Yang Dao and Dao Yin stood in front of him but they did not say anything. They waited for a few minutes and Yang Dao asked, "Hello Grandpa, can you tell us if it is okay to go inside the village?"

The old man opened his eyes calmly and yawned, then he said, "It is fine to go in. We old people can use some of your vigor."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "Thank you, grandpa. My name is Yang Dao and this is my companion, Dao Yin."

Dao Yin understood the reason Yang Dao did not address the person as Elder but grandpa. She bowed her head and said, "I have seen, Grandpa."

The old man nodded and with a faint smile, he said, "Go in. You are in time for lunch."

The two people nodded and moved in, the old man had a good impression of these youngsters, they did not idolize them like an immortal god but addressed him like a mortal. The old man said, "You two can call me Grandpa Gatekeeper. I will introduce you to the others."

Then followed an integration ceremony. Suddenly a loud voice interrupted the happy smiles on the faces of these old men and women. A fat old man came over slowly holding his cane and said, "Old gatekeeper, your wife said she will cook for us all. Please rescue us from this horrible fate."

The old man shivered and said, "I wish for a heavenly tribulation, please heavens take away that old lady."

Yang Dao and Dao Yin smiled and the latter asked, "Grandpa, what is the matter?"

The old man sighed exasperatedly and said, "My wife, this lady spent all her life in the kitchen yet she does not know sugar from salt. Every other day we all eat such delicacies that make us vomit for the week. You tell me, what do I do, after all, she cooks with such passion for all of us."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "Can I help grandma to cook?"

Dao Yin said, "I will help too."

The old man's eyes suddenly shone with great light, and he said, "Yes, come with me. You can distract her. We will fix what she messed up."

The people all nodded and then led them to the house in the center of the village. They could hear the gentle hum of the lady coming from the house. Just as the people crossed the threshold, the humming stopped and a voice sounded, "Are you back?"

The old gatekeeper said, "Yes, look we have guests."

The voice sounded again and the lady said, "Well, I am cooking, you can invite them inside. I would like to meet them."

The old man beckoned the two teenagers to follow him. Yang Dao and Dao Yin curiously looked at the house made from mud and hay. They followed inside and found the temperature to be cooler than the outside. The old man took them to the kitchen. He waved the two people to stop outside and waved his hands, indicating that he will send the old lady out.

Yang Dao and Dao Yin exchanged a glance and smiled. Then they nodded, the old man went inside and voices sounded, the first one to speak was the old lady, "Oh, where are the guests?"

The old man said, "How can I call them inside the kitchen, it is hot, plus you have been in here for so long, are you not tired? Look the food is almost done, let me help you see it and you go to see the two children."

The old lady exclaimed, "Children, you say?"

She seemed to be excited but then she calmed down and said, "How can I leave my duties as a host. I will go out when I have done cooking and bring them good food."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "Yin do you smell it?"

Dao Yin smiled brightly and followed his act, "Yes, it seems something delicious."

Yang Dao said, "Let us go and take a look."

Dao Yin pretended to act frightened, "What if grandma did not like us barging into her kitchen?"

"We can ask her first. She will not dislike it then, she can tell us yes or no." said the young man.

Yang Dao walked ahead and peeked inside the kitchen he asked, "Hello Grandma, can I come inside to taste your cooking?"

Inside the kitchen, a genial old lady stood with her hair tied with a scarf and an apron. She turned around and with a surprised look, she said, "Oh my, such a charming boy. Come on in, let grandma have a good look at you. Also, bring in the girl with you."

Yang Dao nodded and holding Dao Yin's hand came inside the kitchen. The old lady was charmed by Dao Yin, she was just like a doll. A doll made out of jade, women loved pretty things.

Dao Yin introduced herself and Yang Dao to the old lady while the old man held his face in his palm. His plan failed, these two brats did not cooperate.

Yang Dao saw this and said, "Grandma, can I taste some of your cooking?"

The old lady nodded and Yang Dao walked over to the big pot set over an earthen stove, with firewood stalking it. He picked up the ladle and after blowing on the curry he poured a few drops on his palm before tasting it.

The boy frowned a bit and then smiled. The old lady asked, "What happened? Was it not good?"

Her face was covered with anxiety, Yang Dao could tell that she cared greatly for her cooking. The boy said, "It is missing some spiciness. The rest is fine. Can I add them?"

The old lady was stunned, Yang Dao moved around the kitchen before she could say anything and with a merry smile on his face, the boy added condiments to the curry. Then he said, "Grandpa, you can taste it now."

Yang Dao confidently picked up the ladle after giving the curry a great stir and after blowing on it he poured some for the old man in a bowl. The old man was skeptical, Dao Yin said, "Grandma, you know, Yang is a very good cook. Do you want to try his skill tomorrow?"

The old lady caressed Dao Yin's head and asked, "What do you mean tomorrow, did he not make this today?"

Yang Dao shook his head and said, "I merely added a pinch of this and that, it was all your cooking grandma. Do you not think to create a strong building one needs a strong foundation. You gave this dish the foundation."

The old lady smiled and then nodded, she said, "Okay, I will let you use my kitchen tomorrow. Now let us take this outside, for the villagers to feed."

The two youth nodded and they poured everything into small vessels and took the food out. The rice was relatively easier to cook, and since it was to be served hot, they cooked it on the earthen stove in the front lawn.

The villagers all lined up in the discipline and Dao Yin and Yang Dao took it upon themselves to serve the people. Old people saw their smiles and thought that the plan worked completely fine. They ate the food, and just after one bite, they all began to praise the old lady. The old lady was so happy that she blushed.

Throughout the scene, Yang Dao and Dao Yin did not use any of their powers. The art of cooking was something Yang Dao learned in his past life. Dao Yin said, "Yang, is this the joy mortals feel? It seems to be much higher than the immortals."

Yang Dao smiled and said, "Silly, the joy is what makes the mortals outdo immortals. No?"

Dao Yin smiled and said, "You are so smart."

Yang Dao replied, "All your influence my sweet heart."

...

In the heavenly dao palace, another wave of imitation and balancing the cringe was set off.