"Mom, look what goodies I brought back!" Shen Qiqi carried the bulging shopping bag like she was presenting a treasure, her tone as excited as if she had won the lottery.

"Dangdangdang! I guarantee it will be an eye-opener for you!"

As she spoke, she took out the things in the bag one by one and placed them on the somewhat old wooden table.

Colorful paints, various brushes, snow-white drawing paper, and even a set of carving tools...

The dazzling array of items instantly added a touch of bright color to the slightly dim room.

The other members of the Lu family also gathered around curiously, their eyes fixed on these novelties.

Mrs. Lu's originally stern face showed some doubts at this moment, but she quickly returned to her seriousness.

"Qiqi, you are... wasting money again, aren't you? What's the use of these fancy things? Can they be eaten or worn as clothes?" The old lady couldn't help but mutter, with a tone of strong dissatisfaction.

She picked up a paintbrush and looked at it over and over. "What can I do with this long, thin thing? It's too soft to even scrub a pot!"

There was a tense atmosphere in the air, but Shen Qiqi was not discouraged at all.

She picked up a box of paint and, like a magic trick, picked out a piece of bright red with a knife, then dipped her finger in it and lightly spread it on the white paper.

"Mom, look!" Shen Qiqi showed the drawing paper to the old lady, "This is not ordinary paint, this is paint that can be used for painting! It can draw beautiful pictures!"

Old Mrs. Lu narrowed her eyes, took a closer look, and continued to mutter, "What's the point of painting? It's a waste of time and money! I might as well make a few more pairs of shoe soles..."

Shen Qiqi didn't refute, but just smiled mysteriously: "Mom, just wait and see! I will let you know how powerful the power of art is!" She turned her head to look at Lu Qing, her eyes moving with a hint of cunning, "Brother Qing, don't you agree?"

Lu Qing's son, whose nickname was Shitou, didn't seem interested in the colorful paints and brushes. He just glanced at them curiously, curled his lips, and turned around to slip away.

"What's so fun about this? I might as well go catch crickets in the backyard." The little guy muttered and was about to leave with a step forward.

The smile on Shen Qiqi's face froze instantly, just like a carefully prepared stage play, but the audience left en masse.

There was awkwardness in the air, and the atmosphere suddenly became extremely cold.

She felt as if her enthusiasm had been poured with a bucket of cold water, chilling her from head to toe.

Lu Qing was quick-witted and grabbed his son's arm. "Shi Tou, don't be in a hurry to leave. Look at the treasure your mother has prepared for you!" He used his eyes to signal Shen Qiqi not to lose heart, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a comforting smile.

Shen Qiqi took a deep breath and calmed down.

She took out a small harmonica from a pile of "treasures". The silver shell shone faintly in the dim room.

She put the harmonica to her lips and blew gently.

"Do~Re~Mi~"

The crisp notes, like crystal beads, jumped out of the harmonica, breaking the previous dullness.

Although it is just a few simple scales, it is like a clear spring, slowly flowing into everyone's heart.

Shitou, who was about to leave, stopped and stared at the harmonica in Shen Qiqi's hand with wide eyes, curiously.

The boredom and disdain on his little face were instantly replaced by surprise and curiosity.

A pair of little ears also stood up, listening carefully to the new sound, the corners of his mouth slowly lifted up, and a bright smile bloomed on his face, as if he had discovered a new world.

A cheerful atmosphere began to spread in the room, like a spring breeze blowing across the earth, dispelling the previous haze.

Old Mrs. Lu's drooping eyelids also lifted slightly, with a barely perceptible surprise in her eyes. She didn't expect that this little thing could make such a beautiful sound.

"This...what is this?" The old lady asked with a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Shen Qiqi was secretly happy when she saw her son was attracted by the harmonica. It seemed that the seed of art had been planted.

She didn't answer the old lady immediately, but handed the harmonica to Shi Tou, "Son, do you want to try it?"

Shitou stretched out his little hand, carefully took the harmonica, put it to his lips, and started playing it, imitating Shen Qiqi's behavior.

“Puff, puff, puff…”

The discordant notes sounded intermittently, but they were full of childishness and immaturity, causing everyone to laugh.

"It seems that art is not so boring after all." Shen Qiqi said meaningfully, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a sly smile, while Lu Qing stood aside, his eyes full of doting, watching everything in front of him with a smile.

Shen Qiqi watched Shi Tou blowing vigorously, her little face flushed red, like a trumpet player, and she couldn't help laughing out loud.

Lu Qing looked at the mother and daughter with a smile, his eyes full of happiness, as if the whole world had melted in this warm atmosphere.

Even Mrs. Lu's originally tense mouth corners slightly raised, and her eyes became less harsh and more gentle.

"How is it, Mom? The charm of art is magical, isn't it?" Shen Qiqi struck while the iron was hot and looked at Mrs. Lu with a smile.

Although the old lady didn't say anything, the expression on her face said it all.

Shen Qiqi knew that she had cracked a crack in this hard bone of art.

"Come on, come on, let's play together!" Shen Qiqi greeted everyone like a kindergarten teacher, "How about we create a painting together?"

Although Mrs. Lu said "nonsense", she still sat down honestly.

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