Chapter 186 Cuju
Thousands of lights.
Some people returned home from the wind and snow, and the coldness seemed to be dispelled when they saw their wives and children waiting for them at home; some people looked at the rice fields at home, and shed tears at the heavy snow flying in the sky outside; some people laughed around the fire, and the crackling sound from the fire from time to time made the children eagerly ask their parents to take out the roasted chestnuts so that they could share them together.
They were all imagining what the coming year would be like.
In Ganquan Palace, Fusu woke up early and rubbed his eyes, only to find that he and Ziying had slept in his grandmother's bed all night.
Ziying wrapped himself up in a ball and was still sleeping soundly.
Fusu patted his face and felt a little more awake. He climbed out of bed, put on his shoes, lifted the curtain, and saw a black and white ball on the table in the middle. He picked it up curiously.
Soft?!
"Why are you up so early?" Zhao Yuanxi walked in from outside with a smile on his face. Seeing Fusu coming out with only a thin coat on, he carried him into the inner room.
"I can't sleep."
Fusu obediently let Zhao Yuanxi hold him, holding the ball in his hand.
Seeing that he was very interested in the ball, Zhao Yuanxi asked, "Do you like this toy?"
"Toys?" Fusu still looked confused.
"Put on your clothes first."
Zhao Yuanxi found him a new set of clothes and taught him how to change into them.
As for his hair, Zhao Yuanxi deliberately tied it into two buns. Not to mention that if others saw it outside, they would definitely mistake little Fusu for a little girl.
Delicate and cute.
Fusu was unaware of his mother's bad taste and was completely focused on the ball.
Just at this moment, Ziying got up from the bed in a daze. Seeing Zhao Yuanxi there, he subconsciously opened his arms and asked for a hug.
He yawned, and seeing a strange yet familiar sister in the room, he quickly shrank back under the quilt in fear, only sticking out half of his head, looking curiously at the little person in front of him, and called out uncertainly, "Brother?"
"Hmm?" Fusu tilted his head in confusion.
Zhao Yuanxi laughed out loud when he saw this.
Only Fusu was not in the right state of mind, looking at Dayu and Ziying in confusion.
Jang Geum couldn't help laughing and kindly took out the bronze mirror.
Fusu looked at herself in the mirror, her face flushed red, and she hid behind Zhao Yuanxi in embarrassment.
Zhao Yuanxi took a lot of effort to pull him out.
Fusu hesitated and said, "Mother, I am a man and cannot dress like a woman."
Zhao Yuanxi tried to hold back his laughter. Isn’t this the time when children have fun?
If she hadn't had a camera, she would have been able to record Fusu's cute appearance.
Ziying also rolled around on the bed laughing.
Zhao Yuanxi felt a little regretful and said, "Then the grandmother will comb your hair again."
Fusu looked at his mother suspiciously, and was obviously wary of her.
Zhao Yuanxi looked innocent and almost stretched out her hand to swear, before Fusu agreed to give her his hair bun.
Boys over three years old in Qin State often wore their hair in a topknot, while girls wore their hair in a bun or two buns. Only after they turned fifteen would they tie all their hair up into a bun as they wore when they reached adulthood.
Of course, women’s makeup and hairstyles are much more complicated, and they can dress according to their own preferences.
After combing Fusu's hair again, he let out a long sigh of relief, acting like an adult.
Ziying saw that his elder brother had changed back to normal. He circled around Fusu twice, making Fusu feel embarrassed. "Ziying, stop laughing."
Zhao Yuanxi slapped Ziying and said, "Stop making trouble!"
Ziying held his head and pouted in dissatisfaction, "Obviously, the eldest mother is the one who is laughing the happiest."
Zhao Yuanxi touched his nose guiltily and changed the subject, "I've prepared new toys for you. Don't you want to go out and play with them?"
The two little guys looked at her in unison, their eyes full of anticipation.
Zhao Yuanxi took the ball back from Fusu, weighed it a few times under his feet, kicked it, and it hit the door frame and bounced back. "Here, this is how you play it."
"Is this Cuju?" Fusu asked in surprise.
Zhao Yuanxi: "Good vision!"
Cuju has a long history. It was already popular in the vassal states during the Warring States Period, especially in Qi State. Cuju was popular in the Song Dynasty, but it gradually declined after the Yuan Dynasty and was even banned in the Qing Dynasty.
Nowadays, the balls used for Cuju are mostly made of rattan balls, or leather wrapped with hair, and no one has ever seen the one in their hands.
Because its material is made of rubber extracted by Zhao Yuanxi.
After the rubber was made, Zhao Yuanxi wanted to make it into wheels directly, but this required the Mo family to come over, so she asked someone to make this little toy first and let Fusu and Ziying experience it first.
The two children got the toys and couldn't wait to run out to play.
Although Fusu had never played with other people, he was very clear about the basic rules of the game. After introducing the rules to Ziying, he started chasing around in the yard.
Zhao Yuanxi watched them play with great interest and exclaimed, "Isn't this quite lively?"
Since arriving in Xianyang, the two of them, apart from attending classes, have stayed in Ganquan Palace all day reading and practicing calligraphy. Zhao Yuanxi was really worried that they would become old-fashioned one day.
Fortunately, although they are busy studying all day, they still retain the innocence of children.
It’s good for children to enjoy more happiness while they are still young, otherwise it will be so boring when they grow up to be like Ying Zheng.
Zhao Yuanxi hugged the heater and asked, "Have Meng Xi and Yu Jiao arrived yet?"
Jang Geum replied, "Doctor Yu has arrived. Lord Meng sent a message saying there was a problem with the loom and he's taken people to repair it. Only Li has arrived first."
It’s okay if one person comes.
Zhao Yuanxi nodded and said, "Tell them to go to Qiyun Pavilion and wait for me."
Qiyun Hall is the place that Zhao Yuanxi temporarily uses as a chemical laboratory.
Yu Jiao had been recuperating in Yongcheng for a few days and his health had improved a lot, and his spirits had also recovered a lot. When he heard that the Queen Mother had summoned him, he came here without stopping, and met his little brother A Li on the way.
Yu Jiao had been learning the art of Qi Huang since he was a child. He had only heard of the mechanical techniques of the Mohist school, but had no idea how powerful they were.
However, Li's eagerness to learn was enough to impress him. "Little brother Li, are you sure you don't want to learn medicine from me? My medical skills are not the best in the world, but they are first-class in the world."
"Doctor Yu, I really can't learn it!" Li said embarrassedly.
It's okay for him to deal with those wood and stones, but when it comes to asking him to save people, Li feels that he is really powerless.
Yu Jiao's face was filled with regret. What a good person! Why wasn't he his disciple?
Zhao Yuanxi had just come in when she heard Yu Jiao trying to steal her girlfriend. She laughed and said, "Doctor Yu, Ah Li is very useful to me. If you drag him away to learn medicine, I won't have anyone to use."
Yu Jiao and Li hurriedly bowed and saluted.
Yu Jiao smiled awkwardly, "I dare not take away the Queen Mother's love, but I really have a heart for talent."
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