Chapter 220 I'll make him a new schoolbag

Fu Yuanshan put down the axe, took the red silk bellyband from Song Yu's hands, and carefully opened the chicken coop.

The little chick seemed to have sensed something and shrank into the corner of the cage, chirping.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I'll put some warm clothes on you." He coaxed softly, pinched the wings of a chick, and clumsily put a bellyband on it.

But the little chick was not obedient. It flapped its wings and the red silk cloth kept slipping around and could not be tied.

Jiang Jianhua came out of the kitchen carrying a sieve. Seeing how he was frantic, he walked over with a smile and said, "Let me do it. You're so clumsy, don't hurt the little chicken."

She deftly passed her fingers through the bellyband straps and tied a small knot on the chicken drumstick, her movements quick and steady.

The other chick was also obediently put on a bellyband. The tender yellow fluff and bright red silk cloth made them look like two festive little Fuwa.

Nian An lay beside the cage, his eyes fixed on the chicken. He poked the chick's bellyband gently through the bamboo sticks and said, "It looks nice and warm."

Song Yushuang smiled and patted his head: "Our Nian'an knows how to care for the chicks. When the weather gets colder, grandma will make them a cotton nest."

At this time, Yun Tangyin stood at the door, holding onto the door frame, looking at the scene in the yard and laughing: "You are raising chickens as children."

Fu Yucheng came back from fetching water from the well and said, "Nian An likes it, right? He even said yesterday that he wanted to sleep with the chicken."

When Nian An heard this, he nodded vigorously, his little head shaking like a rattle.

After breakfast, Fu Yuanshan went to the back mountain to cut bamboo, saying that he wanted to make a small desk for Nian An.

Song Yushuang and Jiang Jianhua were busy in the kitchen, one kneading dough to make date paste buns, and the other washing the dried hawthorn slices.

The dough in the basin gradually became smooth under Song Yu's hands. She pinched out a small piece of dough, kneaded it into a round ball, made a hole in the middle, filled it with sweet date paste, and then pinched it into the shape of a little rabbit. She cut out ears with scissors and used red beans as eyes, making it come alive.

"Aunt, your cooking skills are amazing," Jiang Jianhua praised as he cut hawthorns. "I'm afraid Nian'an wouldn't be able to bear to eat these little rabbit buns."

Song Yushuang smiled and said, "Let him play with it for a while after it's steamed. I'll heat it up for you later. Oh, and pass me that can of osmanthus sugar. I'll sprinkle some on the jujube paste buns later. They'll be even more fragrant."

Jiang Jianhua handed over the osmanthus candy jar and opened the lid. The sweet fragrance of osmanthus immediately filled the air.

She took a deep breath and said, "If we make some sweet-scented osmanthus cakes, they will definitely be better than those in the pastry shops in town." Song Yushuang nodded and said, "Once we're done with this, we'll make some and give some to the neighbors to try."

Near noon, Xiaolan came running with Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang, holding a bamboo basket filled with freshly picked cucumbers.

"Aunt, my mother asked me to send some young cucumbers to Nian'an. She said she could make cucumber puree for him to eat." Xiaolan tiptoed into the yard and peeked. "Where's Nian'an? I brought him some newly woven straw frogs to play with."

"They're playing with the chickens in the house," Jiang Jianhua took the cucumber and washed it with well water. "Eat a cucumber to quench your thirst first. I'll let Nian'an go play with you in the yard later."

Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang picked up cucumbers and ate them, the crisp juice dripping down the corners of their mouths. Xiaolan squatted in front of the chicken coop, counting the red bellybands of the chickens: "These bellybands are so beautiful, who made them?"

"Your second aunt and grandma made this together," Song Yushuang came out of the house, holding a freshly steamed bun with a bunny in her hand. "Come, try the jujube paste bun made by grandma."

Xiaolan took the steamed bun and took a careful bite. The sweetness of the jujube paste spread in her mouth, and her eyes lit up: "It's delicious! It's sweeter than the sugar buns my mother makes."

As he was talking, Nian'an ran out of the house holding a straw grasshopper. Seeing the steamed bun in Xiaolan's hand, he pointed at it and shouted, "Rabbit, eat it."

Song Yushuang quickly brought another one from the kitchen to him. Nian An held the steamed bun and nibbled it in small bites. The sugar juice flowed down the corners of his mouth. He licked it with his tongue and smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits.

In the afternoon, Fu Yuanshan came back carrying a few bamboos, put them in the yard and started chopping them.

Nian An came over and squatted beside him to watch him work. His little hand wanted to touch the sharp machete from time to time, but Fu Yuanshan stopped him in time: "Don't touch it, it's very sharp and you will cut your hand."

He pulled out a small bamboo gadget from his pocket and handed it to Nian An: "Here, this is a bamboo dragonfly. It can fly when it spins."

Nian An took the bamboo dragonfly and rubbed it with his hands like Fu Yuanshan did. The bamboo dragonfly really flew up. Although it didn't fly far, it made him laugh.

Xiaolan, Zhou Ming and Zhou Liang also came over, clamoring for bamboo dragonflies. Fu Yuanshan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll make one for each of you when I finish the desk."

By evening, the small desk was finally finished. Fu Yuanshan moved it under the eaves, carefully polished it with sandpaper, and then applied a layer of varnish.

"Look at this desk, it's sturdy and beautiful," he patted the tabletop, "When Nian'an learns to write, he can write on it."

Song Yushuang touched the tabletop, which was smooth without a single burr. "Your craftsmanship is really good. It's even stronger than the ones I buy in the city."

At dinner time, the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of pumpkin porridge and the meaty aroma of braised pork.

Nian An sat on a small stool next to the small desk and scooped the porridge with a spoon. Although some of it still spilled, he was much more skilled than before.

Fu Yuanshan picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his bowl: "Nian'an, eat more meat, grow strong, and then you will have the strength to study."

Nian An raised the spoon and put the braised pork into Fu Yuanshan's mouth: "Uncle, eat."

Fu Yuanshan smiled and opened his mouth to catch it, his heart warmed. Song Yushuang looked at this scene, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Our Nian'an is becoming more and more sensible and knows how to care for others."

At night, Nian An lay on his small bed, holding straw grasshoppers and bamboo dragonflies in his arms, and soon fell asleep.

Song Yushuang sat under the oil lamp, sewing a new cotton-padded jacket for Nian An, while Jiang Jianhua was sewing shoe soles next to her. Yun Tangyin leaned against the head of the bed and watched them busying themselves. The room was warm and cozy.

"When Nian'an grows up a little bit, let him go to school," Yun Tangyin said softly, "so that he can become a learned man in the future."

Song Yushuang nodded: "Yes, our Nian An is smart and will definitely learn well. I will make him a new schoolbag when the time comes."

Jiang Jianhua smiled and said, "I'll make him a pair of new cloth shoes so he can wear them to school and climb higher and higher."

The moonlight from outside the window poured into the room, illuminating the needlework on the table and the smiles on the faces of the three people.

The halo of the oil lamp cast shadows of fine stitches on the window paper. Song Yu pinched the silver needle with her fingertips and finished embroidering the last piece of tiger tail fur.

She moved the cotton-padded jacket closer to the lamp. On the light blue fabric, the tiger's eyebrows and eyes became more energetic, and even its beard exuded a sense of cleverness.

"Look at this tiger," she turned to Yun Tangyin and said, "When Nian An puts it on, he'll definitely look even more majestic than the fat dolls in the New Year pictures."