哪吒からのバレンタインチョコ。

―――とある異国の港町の中華街。
華やかな大通りからはずれた細い路地。
ひっそりとその菓子工房は在る。

店を構えるは長年連れ添った老夫婦。
それと３匹の猫。
数年前につてを頼り、親族の若夫婦が国からやってきた。
最初は大きな失敗もあった。喧嘩もした。
それでも若夫婦の働きぶりは真剣だった。
乾いた失望は、やがて暖かな期待と安堵へと変わった。

今年もまた旧正月が間近に迫った。
華人たちの祝い事には欠かせない伝統的な菓子作りで、店は多忙を極める。
そんな折にふらりと、その注文は舞い込んだ。
情人節、巧克力。じんりんちえ、ちゃおけーりー。
バレンタインデーの細工菓子をご所望らしい。
以前は腕を買われ、大きな店にも作品を卸していたが、近頃は目が弱くなり遠ざかっていた。
断りたかったが相手は旧知の依頼主で悩ましい。
ただ、情人節に蓮花とは珍しいと、ふと思った。

街の廟への参拝が店主の朝の日課だ。
手を合わせながら、昨夜、若夫婦があらたまった様子で切り出した話が胸をよぎる
子供を授かった。名付け親になってほしいと。
蓮花は子宝と安産祈願の象徴だ。
熟考の末、店主は依頼を受けることにした。

Valentine's chocolate from Nezha.

In a Chinatown in a port city located of a foreign land, a back alley away from the bustling main streets will lead you to a confectionary shop.

The shop owners are an aging man and his wife. And three cats.
A few years back, a young couple related to the aging shop owners traveled to this land.
In the beginning, there were many problems. There were even fights.
But the young couple worked hard and earnestly.
Their disappointments eventually gave way to hope and security.

Lunar New Year is coming once again.
The shop gets quite busy, making traditional confectionary that is essential to every Chinese person living abroad.
And it was then that a certain order came in.
"Qíngrénjié. Qiǎokèlì." Valentine's Day. Chocolate.
It appears the order is for a crafted confectionary for Valentine's Day.
In the past, the shop owners made their famous confections and delivered them to large shops, but their weakened eyesight forced them to stop.
They wanted to refuse the order, but it came from an old friend.
But requesting a lotus flower confectionary for Valentine's Day is an odd choice, they thought.

Every morning, the shop owners visit the town shrine. While praying, they recalled the discussion with the young couple.
They are with child, and they want the aging couple to think of a name for their unborn child.
A lotus flower is a symbol of children and a prayer for safe childbirth.
After some thought, the shop owners decide to accept the order.