Synopsis

Mr.Qihasadaughter!Whatevershesaysseemstocometrue.Ifshesaysitwon’train,theskiesstaydry.Ifshesaysitwon’tbewindy,notabreezestirs.Herwordsfeelalmostmagical.Oneday,Manbaospotsantsmovingtheirnest.“Grandpa,it’sgoingtorain!”sheannounces.Mr.QiSr.shakeshishead.“Manbao,mydear,it’sharvesttime.Itshouldn’train.”Manbaopouts.“Finethen,I’llgotalktoGrandpaJadeEmperor.”Sureenough,onharvestdaytheskydarkens,thunderrumbles,andlightningcracks—butnotasingledropofrainfalls.Later,whenit’stimetosellthegrain,ManbaotugsatGrandma’ssleeve.“Grandma,don’tsellit.We’llneeditforthejourney.”“Thejourney?”TheQifamilyispuzzled.Manbaotiltsherhead.“Yes…ajourney.Manypeoplewillbetravelingtogether,dressedinrags,asthinasfirewoodsticks.”“Wait—fleeingfamine?!”TheQifamilyisstunned.Howcouldfaminecomewhenlifeseemssogood?Thethoughtisterrifying.Butwhenthetimecomesandtheyreallydohavetoflee,theQifamilydiscovers…RunningfromfaminewithManbaoisn’tsobadafterall!“WhydoestheQifamilyalwayshavemeatintheirpot?”VillagerAsniffstheair.“IheardrabbitsthrowthemselvesrightintoManbao’sarms,”VillagerBwhispersenviously.“IfonlymyfamilyhadaManbaotoo…”TheQifamilycanonlyrolltheireyes.“Dreamon.”Meanwhile,Manbaohappilymunchesonarabbitleg,hercheekssmearedwithgrease.“Heehee!HeavenlyGrandpasaidI’mstillgrowing.IfIdon’teatwell,I’llnevergettall!”