Chapter 115: Making Hairpins by Yourself

"Look, but are you satisfied?"

In a moment, Qin Xiangnuan moved aside to allow Qin Xiangsong to see the adorable snowman who had been reborn. Qin Xiangsong rubbed his eyes, ran over in amazement, opened his arms and hugged the snowman, not afraid of the cold, and turned around to praise him sincerely, "Big sister is really amazing!"

"Okay, it's time to go back. Otherwise, Third Aunt will probably scold us too."

Qin Feng urged, and Qin Xiangsong's expression changed slightly when he mentioned the Qi family. He was already old enough to understand many things, and he could tell that his parents' relationship hadn't been as harmonious as before. Seeing Qin Feng's face fall, Qin Xiangnuan thought for a moment, then swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. Firstly, she had no interest in meddling in other people's family affairs; after all, it's hard to judge a case. Secondly, this might be a good opportunity for Qin Xiangsong to grow.

"Mom, we're back."

Qin Xiangnuan returned to the courtyard and saw Liu. She took out a small snowman she had made from her bosom and handed it to her like a treasure. "Is it beautiful? This is all made by Nuannuan. I carved it according to mother's appearance, but I can't imitate mother's spirit. I can only imitate the appearance. If daddy were here, he would definitely be able to do better than Nuannuan."

"It's really beautiful, worthy of being called Nuan Nuan."

Liu took the snowman and placed it beside her, her eyes lingering over it. A smile curved her lips as she said, "Your father is clumsy. Let alone the snowman. When I first married into the mansion, he wasn't a general yet. His family was just ordinary farmers. He went to the market and saw other husbands buying hairpins for their wives, so he wanted to buy one for me too."

"But when I asked, the price was too expensive."

Liu recalled the past, a past that even the original owner didn't know about.

Zou sat down beside them, also listening with great interest. "Given Big Brother's personality, he'll definitely go out and find some work to earn some money to buy you back, right?" Zou chimed in. "Big Brother is the most caring person I've ever met."

"At the time, our family was in financial difficulty. Mother wasn't in good health, and she needed medicine that year. The third son also wanted to take the imperial examination, which also required money. He naturally couldn't afford it, and he wasn't rich. I said I didn't like it, but he wouldn't believe me..." Liu fiddled with the handkerchief in her hand, folded it neatly, and tucked it away in her bosom. "One night, I heard rustling noises in the yard. I thought it was a mouse running in, so I was terrified. I wanted to ask him to go out and check, but he wasn't even by my side. I mustered up my courage, took a candle, and went out. I saw him sweating profusely in the yard, a saw blade in his hand."

Liu couldn't help but burst out laughing when she thought of the past. She looked at Qin Xiangnuan with affection in her eyes, "That idiot found a peach tree from somewhere and was about to chop it down. He brought it back and is now pruning it bit by bit."

"Madam, although I can't afford to buy a hairpin outside, I can make one for you myself."

Liu imitated Qin Guang's tone, making Qin Xiangnuan and Zou laugh. They said in unison, "It seems like something Dad (eldest brother) would do." Zou tilted her head in confusion, "But it's just a hairpin. Why would you need so many peach branches?"

"That's what I asked. I was so moved by him at the time that I wanted to help him, but as soon as I walked in, I knew the reason." Liu lowered her eyes. "His hands are clumsy, and he can't remember the appearance of a woman's hairpin. He can only try them one by one."

Liu didn't know when Qin Guang started making them, but by dawn, the ground was already piled ankle-deep with scraps, all of varying thicknesses, crooked and defective. Qin Xiangnuan didn't know why, but suddenly, her heart warmed with envy. To have someone so attentively make a humble gift for you. That kind of thought was enough to melt her heart.

"Later, he finally made one he was satisfied with and gave it to me. I've been wearing it to this day, but unfortunately, when my family was confiscated and I was exiled... I lost it on the way." Liu's eyes flashed with regret, and she felt very distressed. Qin Xiangnuan's eyes widened in shock, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she asked, "So that day on Phoenix Mountain, mother was reluctant to come down, was it because she wanted to find that hairpin?"

Liu nodded.

A few days ago, when Jiang Lin led his men to the cave on Phoenix Mountain and ordered the secret guards to bring everyone out, Liu Shi refused to leave. Qin Xiangnuan was unconscious that day, so she didn't know anything. She only heard from Qin Feng: "I don't know what happened to my aunt. Normally, she would be the first to leave, but at that time, she was circling the cave... We thought she was worried about you, but no matter what we asked, she refused to say. In the end, she left..."

"I thought it was an omen."

Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief, her voice choking. "I've heard from the elders that when a loving couple is injured or on the verge of death, there are always mysterious signs. I hadn't heard from Qin Guang for over two weeks, and then I lost the hairpin. I didn't dare tell anyone, fearing my mother would not be able to bear it." She went through a very difficult time.

It was not until Jiang Lin brought Qin Guang's letter and she saw the familiar handwriting and knew that he was safe that Liu finally felt relieved.

"When I see Dad again, he and I will make a hairpin for Mom." Qin Xiangnuan held Liu's hand and said with a smile on her lips. Liu looked at her with a lingering look in her eyes and nodded in agreement, "Okay." Zou was moved by what she heard. A woman's jealousy surged up. She turned around and looked at the dumbfounded Qin Yi, complaining to her sister-in-law, "Big brother really does everything well, he doesn't seem like the second child."

Zou glared fiercely and sighed, "Even if I asked for a hairpin, he would probably just buy me the ugliest one at the market! Over the years, nothing he bought has caught my eye!" Her words reminded Qin Xiangnuan of the red and green dress her second uncle had given her in the original owner's memory. She nodded in agreement, "That's right, my second uncle's taste is truly amazing..."

"Cough cough..." Qin Yi just came out of the house. For some reason, his ears felt hot and he sneezed twice.

The three women, two adults and one child, shrank their necks and looked at each other and laughed out loud. Qin Yi turned around in confusion, took a look, and silently asked Zou, "What's wrong?" Zou shook her head, cursed him softly, and stood up, walked to his side, and helped him straighten his clothes.

Qin Xiangnuan looked at them and always felt that it would be nice if the years were so peaceful.