"Go to hell with your sugar painting money!" Nianli said, reaching out to snatch his abacus, "I just mixed new rouge, and the serious thing to do is to paint a phoenix makeup for mother!" As Nianli spoke, she took out an exquisite rouge box from her arms. The lid of the box was inlaid with several sparkling gems, reflecting colorful light in the sun.
As the two were arguing, Pan'er ran over like a cheerful little bird, clutching a brocade box. Her pigtails were tied with bright red silk, which fluttered in the air as she ran, like dancing flames. "Uncle! Aunt! Come and see the gifts I prepared for Grandpa and Grandma!" Pan'er's voice was clear and melodious, filled with childlike innocence and joy.
The brocade box opened, revealing a distorted painting of two lifelike elderly people with wings. Next to it, written in childish handwriting, were the words "Grandpa and Grandma, fly high." Si Yan stroked his chin, examining the painting carefully, and said, "Pan'er's painting...is similar in style to Dad's sugar paintings." His words were a hint of teasing, yet filled with love for Pan'er.
"Go away!" Nianli reached out and tapped Siyan lightly, "Put away your broken abacus quickly, mother is here!" As she spoke, she stuffed the abacus back to Siyan.
Su Jinli walked out slowly, supported by Aunt Zhang. She was wearing a lotus skirt embroidered by Jiang Yan himself. Every stitch and thread of the skirt was filled with Jiang Yan's deep affection for her. The lotus pattern on the skirt was lifelike, as if telling the love and sweetness between them. However, she only had an ordinary silver hairpin in her hair, which made her look particularly simple and elegant. "What are you arguing about?" Su Jinli raised her eyebrows slightly, and her eyes glanced sharply at the abacus hidden behind Si Yan. She pretended to be angry and said, "If you mention silver again today, I will smash your abacus!" There was a bit of majesty in her tone, but there was also a hint of smile.
Si Yan hurriedly stuffed the abacus into the housekeeper's arms, with a smile on his face, and said, "Mom, I'm just afraid of wronging you..." His eyes were full of flattery, like a child who had done something wrong.
"Feeling wronged?" Su Jinli smiled softly, her thoughts drifting back to the overturned teacup at her coming-of-age banquet fifty years ago. That was the beginning of her courageous struggle against fate, and also the starting point of her relationship with Jiang Yan. "With you all around, I've never felt wronged in my life." Su Jinli's eyes were filled with happiness and satisfaction. She knew that her family's companionship and love were her most precious treasure.
Secrets of Sugar Painting: The Duplicity of an Old Couple
Jiang Yan carefully returned to the retirement villa with the sugar painting in his arms. Like a child with a secret, he sneaked into the inner room, intending to hide the precious sugar painting in a dresser drawer as a surprise for Su Jinli. However, just as he opened the drawer and before he could put the sugar painting inside, Su Jinli suddenly walked in and bumped into him.
"What are you hiding?" Su Jinli stood at the doorway, hands on her hips, her eyes sharp as she caught the small speck of sugar on his sleeve. Though inconspicuous, it was a clear clue to Su Jinli's perception of Jiang Yan's unusual behavior.
Jiang Yan was startled by this sudden questioning. He hurriedly hid the sugar painting behind him and stammered, "Nothing... nothing." A trace of panic flashed across his face, but his eyes revealed a hint of nervousness and anticipation.
"Nothing?" Su Jinli raised the corners of her mouth slightly, with a hint of teasing. She took a step forward and gently pulled out the cotton handkerchief wrapped in the sugar painting from Jiang Yan's arms. "It's been fifty years, and you're still learning the same tricks as before?" Her eyes were full of tenderness and pampering, as if they were back in their youth, those days full of laughter and playfulness.
The sugar phoenix shimmered charmingly in the sunlight, its tail feathers still in the same five-pronged shape as before, as if time had never passed. Jiang Yan scratched his head, a shy smile on his face, and said like a child who had done something wrong, "Thinking... thinking that today is our golden wedding anniversary..." His voice was a little low, but it was filled with deep love for Su Jinli.
Su Jinli looked at the sugar painting before her, her thoughts instantly drawn back to that sunny afternoon fifty years ago. The scene of them vying for the sugar painting at the sugar painting stall was vivid in her mind, as if it had happened yesterday. She suddenly smiled and said, "You're already this old, and you're still doing these fancy things." Though her voice expressed disdain, her eyes were filled with tenderness. She carefully took the sugar painting and gently hung it on the tassel at the head of the bed. "But... at least the tail didn't turn out to be an earthworm." Her words were a touch of teasing, yet also filled with love and tolerance for Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan walked forward, gently hugged Su Jinli, rested his chin gently on the top of her head, and whispered, "I was afraid you would snatch it away, so I drew it crooked on purpose." His voice was low and gentle, as if he was telling a romantic love story.
"Bah!" Su Jinli's cheeks flushed slightly. Although she complained, she did not push him away. "I think your cooking skills are not good enough." Her eyes were full of smiles. At this moment, she seemed to have turned back into the youthful girl, immersed in this sweet atmosphere with Jiang Yan.
The two smiled at each other. Sunlight streamed through the window, scattering onto the sugar painting on the bedside table and onto their graying hair. Fifty years had passed, like this sugar painting, its sweetness tinged with the richness of time. Every memory, like the sweetness of the sugar painting, was deeply etched in their hearts, becoming the most precious treasure of their lives.
Grandchildren making trouble: The little brats' great help
As night fell, the banquet officially began. The hall of the Retirement Villa was ablaze with lights, and friends and family gathered together, laughter and joy echoing in every corner. Everyone gathered around the table, savoring delicious food and celebrating Jiang Yan and Su Jinli's golden wedding anniversary.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
