Jiang Jianhua smiled and waved his hand: "Of course I can. I'll dry some more pumpkin slices, which will fit perfectly in your rabbit basket."
Fu Yucheng squatted at the door of the woodshed, whittling bamboo strips, planning to weave a rabbit basket for Xiaolan overnight.
The bamboo strip spun in his hand, quickly shaping it into pointed rabbit ears.
“The bottom of this basket needs to be woven more tightly,” he muttered to himself, “so that the wild dates won’t leak out through the gaps.”
Fu Yuanshan moved a bamboo stool over and sat down: "I'll help you split some thin bamboo strips, perfect for weaving rabbit eyes."
The two men worked together, one shaving the bamboo into strips and the other into thin strands, the bamboo shavings floating like broken silver in the moonlight.
Jiang Jianhua sat under the lamp, rushing to make a tiger bib. Gold thread was used to embroider the tiger's stripes on the red cloth, and a tassel was specially left at the tip of the tail.
"Mother, do you think the tiger stripes are too dense?" She held it up to the oil lamp. "Won't it make it look heavy?"
Song Yushuang put on her reading glasses and looked closely: "Not too dense, not too dense, that's more imposing. Embroider a small plum blossom next to the tiger's paw to add a touch of joy."
Yun Tangyin, who was sewing shoe soles, interjected, "I have a scrap of peacock blue fabric here. Cut out some little stars and stick them on. They'll be sure to catch the eye at night."
Nian'an lay on the table, her little hands gripping a piece of dried pumpkin and munching on it, her eyes fixed on the bib in Jiang Jianhua's hand.
"Yes, Tiger," he mumbled indistinctly, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Jiang Jianhua put down her needlework and pulled him onto her lap: "I'll let you try it on after I finish embroidering this tiger's eyes. Sit still and don't move, or you'll prick your hand with the needle."
Nian'an immediately put her little hands behind her back, like a kitten being held down, only daring to follow the needle and thread with her eyes.
When the rooster crowed for the second time, Fu Yucheng had finally finished weaving the rabbit basket.
The bamboo basket exudes a faint bamboo fragrance, and red ropes are wrapped around the rabbit ears. The words "Xiao Lan" are woven from fine bamboo strips on the bottom of the basket.
"The craftsmanship is getting more and more exquisite," Fu Yuanshan exclaimed, touching the edge of the basket. "It's even better than the bamboo horse I made for Nian'an last year."
Fu Yucheng put the basket inside: "Let Xiaolan try it tomorrow. If she thinks it's too small, I'll make a bigger one."
Just as dawn broke, Aunt Zhang arrived carrying a bamboo basket filled with freshly ground soy milk and fried dough sticks.
“I could tell you were up just by the smell,” she said, placing the basket on the stone table. “I brought some warm food, perfect for fish ball soup.”
Seeing the rabbit basket on the table, her eyes lit up: "This basket is so beautifully woven! Yucheng, could you make one for my little grandson too? I'd like a puppy shape."
Fu Yucheng smiled and agreed: "I'll make it after I'm done with this busy period. I guarantee it will be even more energetic than this one."
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