Before Erzhuzi could finish speaking, Fu Yuanshan suddenly put down the bamboo strips he was holding: "Director Wang, I can definitely finish these lanterns within five days. However..."
He glanced at Jiang Jianhua and said, "I'd like to ask you something through this job."
Director Wang said with a smile, "Master Fu, just say the word, as long as it's within my power."
"I know a family moved out of the house on the east side of the military family compound, and it's empty now. Could you rent it to me?"
Fu Yuanshan tapped his fingers lightly on the bamboo frame. "I want to move there with Jianhua so we can focus on bamboo weaving and make it easier for the children to learn the craft."
Jiang Jianhua looked up abruptly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which was then filled with warmth.
Just as Fu Yucheng was about to speak, Yun Tangyin quietly tugged at his sleeve.
Director Wang slapped his thigh and said, "What a coincidence! That building is the property of the supply and marketing cooperative. I'll approve a long-term lease for you, five yuan a month. How about that?"
Fu Yuanshan stood up: "Thank you, Director Wang! I'll pack my things right away and try to move over within three days."
After Director Wang left, Song Yushuang came out of the house, holding a wooden box in her hands: "I knew you had this in mind."
She opened the box, inside were several bolts of blue cloth and a stack of loose change. “This is what your father saved up for me back then. He originally intended to use it to help you get married, but we didn’t end up using it. I’ve kept it all for you. Now it’s just the right amount of money to move.”
This was left to Fu Yuanshan by his biological father.
Song Yushuang has kept it all these years.
Fu Yuanshan gripped the wooden box, his fingertips tracing the rough wood grain: "Mom, I didn't mean to separate the family..."
“I understand.” Song Yushuang slipped a key into his hand. “I’ve been to that house. It has a small yard, perfect for planting the wintersweet you mentioned. Jianhua is pregnant, so it’s good for her to have a quieter place.”
Jiang Jianhua's eyes reddened: "Mom, we'll come back often."
"Silly child, this is what family is all about." Song Yushuang smiled and wiped her face. "I'll have Acheng call a car to take the valuables over first."
Fu Yucheng came out: "Second brother, I'll go right away. By the way, I'll transplant that wintersweet tree in the yard there, and it will bloom in the spring."
Yun Tangyin followed, carrying a ceramic jar: "This contains some pickled vegetables that I made, good with rice. And this new quilt is for you to make your beds."
On the day of the move, Erzhuzi and Zhou Ming arrived earlier than anyone else.
Erzhuzi carried a bamboo cabinet, while Zhou Ming, leaning on his crutch, helped carry the bundle: "Master Fu, my mother said that after you move in, she will come to cook for you every day."
Fu Yuanshan smiled and waved his hand: "No need to trouble yourself, Jianhua and I can handle it."
He handed each of the two children a bamboo pen holder, saying, "These are a thank-you gift; they'll be useful when they learn to write."
Upon arriving at the new house, Fu Yuanshan first placed the potted wintersweet on the windowsill, and then set up the half-finished lantern frame in the yard.
Jiang Jianhua suddenly said, "I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a piece of floral fabric to make a curtain for the window."
“I’ll go with you.” Fu Yuanshan picked up his coat. “We can also buy a new pot while we’re at it. We’ll cook dumplings for dinner tonight, consider it a warm-up pot.”
No sooner had the two left than Fu Yucheng arrived with a carpenter: "Second brother said he wants to build a bamboo shed in the yard so that we can still do weaving on rainy days."
He directed the carpenter to take measurements, saying, "Let's build a wider workbench so that four children can learn the craft together."
Yun Tangyin hung a New Year picture on the wall: "I embroidered these red candles. They'll be lit tonight for good luck."
She watched Fu Yucheng's busy figure and said, "Look at Second Brother, he speaks with confidence now."
After hammering in the last nail, Fu Yucheng said, "He should have done this a long time ago. Back in the cultural troupe, he always said he wanted to have his own little courtyard where he could play the flute and do his craft."
Fu Yuanshan and Jiang Jianhua returned in the evening.
Jiang Jianhua was holding a red cloth bag in his hands. When he opened it, he found a brand new set of pots, pans and utensils.
Fu Yuanshan carried a bamboo cradle with the words "May you live a long and healthy life" woven on it.
“This is woven for Niannian.” He placed the cradle on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). “It’s lighter than the wooden ones, so it’ll be easier for you to use.”
Jiang Jianhua touched the pattern on the cradle and laughed: "You still say you don't know how to care for people."
Just then, Erzhuzi ran in holding a string of firecrackers: "Master Fu, my dad asked me to deliver these. He said we have to set off firecrackers when we move!"
As the firecrackers crackled and popped, Fu Yuanshan suddenly grabbed Jiang Jianhua's hand and pulled him out of the courtyard.
Under the moonlight, he pulled a bamboo ring from his pocket, wrapped with a red string: "I didn't give you a proper betrothal gift back then, so this..."
Jiang Jianhua covered her mouth, tears falling onto the ring and reflecting a shimmering light: "I like it, I like it more than gold or silver."
Fu Yucheng stood at the door and looked around. Suddenly, he said to Yun Tangyin, "Tomorrow I'll get a sign that says 'Fu Family Bamboo Workshop' and hang it at the door."
The next morning, Zhou Ming arrived with his mother. Zhou's mother held a cloth bag in her hands: "Master Fu, these are the shoe soles I sewed overnight, for Miss Jianhua."
She glanced into the yard and said, "I want to learn from Jianhua how to make shoe soles with bamboo strips so that I can supplement our household income."
Jiang Jianhua smiled and pulled her to sit down: "I'll teach you now, starting with simple patterns."
Erzhuzi carried in a bundle of bamboo: "Master Fu, my father said this is the strongest nan bamboo from the back mountain, and he wants you to weave the best lanterns."
He pointed to the wall and said, "I also posted a notice at the village entrance saying that the Fu family bamboo workshop is recruiting apprentices and will provide meals!"
Fu Yuanshan watched the busy figures in the courtyard, then suddenly picked up a bamboo knife and began carving on a new bamboo strip.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the bamboo shed, casting dappled shadows on his face.
Jiang Jianhua leaned closer to look and saw the four characters "Self-reliance" carved on the bamboo strip. The strokes were strong and vigorous, just like his current state of mind.
"Once it's dry, hang it in the center of the main room." Fu Yuanshan held her hand. "Jianhua, our future life will be like this bamboo strip. We have to carve it out ourselves, stroke by stroke, to make it solid."
Jiang Jianhua leaned on his shoulder, listening to the laughter and chatter of Erzhuzi and Zhou Ming in the courtyard, as well as the lingering sound of firecrackers in the distance. Suddenly, she felt the baby in her belly kick her.
She smiled and said, "Niannian also said, 'Okay.'"
On the branches of the wintersweet outside the courtyard, the remnants of firecrackers that hadn't burned out last night still clung, shimmering with a golden-red light in the morning glow.
When the wind blows, the lantern frames on the bamboo shed sway gently, like countless butterflies fluttering their wings as if about to take flight.
Just then, Erzhuzi's shouts came from outside the courtyard: "Master Fu! Officer Liu has sent someone to deliver the award certificate!"
When Fu Yuanshan went outside to take a look, he found a gold-embossed certificate that read "Master of Folk Craftsmanship".
Erzhuzi held up the certificate and stuck it on the wall, while Zhou Ming handed him nails: "Master Fu, this needs to be pasted next to the bamboo strip to be more noticeable."
Jiang Jianhua smiled and slipped a piece of brown sugar into their hands: "I'll steam brown sugar buns for you at noon as a celebration."
When Fu Yucheng and Yun Tangyin came in carrying a wooden box, they stumbled upon this lively scene.
Yun Tangyin opened the box: "Inside are a music box and a few books. Second brother, don't you love playing the flute? There are new sheet music in this."
Fu Yucheng glanced into the yard: "Is the bamboo shed set up? I found a blackboard, and it'll be perfect for teaching the children to read when I hang it in the shed."
Fu Yuanshan touched the blackboard and laughed: "So you've turned our bamboo workshop into a school?"
“They should learn both a trade and writing.” Fu Yucheng handed him a pen. “At their age, they should be studying hard.”
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