Jiang Jianhua sat to the side embroidering a handkerchief. Listening to the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, she couldn't help but laugh and said, "You teach so carefully, and Nian'an is learning so diligently. Maybe before long he will be able to recognize all the flowers and plants in the yard."
Song Yushuang nodded with a smile: "Yes, this child is smart and can remember some of what he is taught, but he is not fluent in speech yet, which makes him anxious and he always has to gesture."
As they were talking, Nian'an suddenly pointed to the sunflowers in the corner of the yard and mumbled something.
Song Yushuang and Jiang Jianhua smiled with delight. Song Yushuang quickly said, "Yes, it's a sunflower. When it bears seeds in the fall, Grandma will fry some for you."
As noon approached, the sun gradually warmed up. Song Yushuang carried Nian'an to the shade of a tree to cool off, and then took a palm-leaf fan from inside the house to gently fan Nian'an.
Jiang Jianhua then got up and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
She had just finished washing the rice when she heard Zhou Desheng's wife's voice from outside the courtyard: "Are you home? I'll bring Nian'an some freshly steamed pumpkin cakes."
Jiang Jianhua hurriedly went out to greet them, took a cloth bag, and said with a smile, "You're too kind, you always bring us food."
Zhou Desheng's wife waved her hand: "We're all neighbors, why be so polite? Nian'an likes sweets, so I added a lot of brown sugar to these pumpkin cakes. Let him try them."
Jiang Jianhua placed the pumpkin cakes on the stone table. As soon as he took one out, Nian'an stretched out her little hand to eat it.
Song Yushuang quickly took it, broke off a small piece, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it to him: "Eat slowly, don't choke."
Nian'an chewed on the pumpkin pancake, her eyes lighting up. After finishing, she reached out for more, which made everyone laugh.
Looking at Nian'an, Zhou Desheng's wife smiled and said, "This child is so well-behaved, unlike our two children, who always make a fuss at mealtimes."
At lunchtime, Fu Yuanshan returned from the fields carrying a bunch of fresh grapes. They were wild grapes from the back hill, small but purple.
“I saw them in the field and picked them for Nian’an to try.” Fu Yuanshan put the grapes on the table. “They’re a bit sour, but we’ll soak them in sugar water for a while and they’ll be sweeter when we eat them.”
Song Yushuang quickly found a porcelain bowl, put the grapes in, added some white sugar and warm water: "Marinate them like this for half an hour, and the sweet and sour taste will be just right. Nian'an will definitely love them."
In the afternoon, Fu Yucheng returned from town, carrying large and small bags of things.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Nian'an ran towards him, calling out "Tangtang".
Fu Yucheng chuckled and squatted down, taking out a string of candied hawthorns from his pocket and handing it to Nian'an: "Take this, I just bought it, it's still covered in sugar frosting."
Nian'an took the candied hawthorn, took a careful bite, and squinted her eyes because of the sweetness. She didn't forget to offer Song Yushuang a bite: "Grandma, have some."
Song Yushuang felt a warmth in her heart, took a small bite, and the sweetness slid down her throat, warming her heart.
Fu Yucheng then handed the colored threads he had bought to Song Yushuang: "The colored threads you requested come in red, yellow, and green. They have all the colors you need. They will definitely look beautiful when you make a purse."
Song Yushuang took the colorful thread and said with a smile, "Great! These colors are so bright. I'm going to make a purse embroidered with a tiger for Nian'an to bless him with peace and safety."
He also took out a piece of floral fabric from his bag and handed it to Jiang Jianhua: "Second sister-in-law, this fabric is new from town. The pattern is beautiful. It will definitely be suitable to make a little jacket for Nian'an."
Jiang Jianhua took the cloth, touched it, and said with a smile, "This cloth is really soft. I'll make it for Nian'an tomorrow."
As evening fell, Song Yushuang sat under the eaves making purses, while Jiang Jianhua cut floral fabric beside her, preparing to make a little jacket for Nian'an.
Yun Tangyin leaned back in her rocking chair, watching Nian'an and Fu Yuanshan play on the little wooden horse in the yard. Nian'an sat on the wooden horse, and Fu Yuanshan gently pushed it from behind. Laughter filled the entire yard.
"Look at those two, grandfather and grandson, having so much fun," Yun Tangyin said with a smile. "Nian'an is such a lucky child, with so many people loving him."
At dinner, Fu Yucheng made mashed potatoes, which Nian An loves, and also stewed a pot of chicken soup to nourish Yun Tangyin.
Everyone sat around the table, eating and chatting. Nian'an sat in Song Yushuang's lap, holding a small purse in her hand, occasionally putting a mouthful of mashed potatoes into her mouth, her little face full of happiness.
Jiang Jianhua picked up a piece of chicken and gave it to Song Yushuang: "Eat more to nourish your body. You've worked hard taking care of Nian'an every day."
Song Yushuang smiled and accepted the food, saying, "You should eat more too. You're tired from making this and that for us every day."
At night, after Nian'an fell asleep, Song Yushuang sat under the oil lamp and continued making purses.
Yun Tangyin leaned against the headboard, looking at her, and said with a smile, "Mom, is your purse almost finished? It looks really beautiful."
Song Yushuang nodded, her needle and thread moving without stopping: "Almost done, just two more stitches and it'll be finished. Look at the tiger's eyes, adding black thread will make it even more majestic."
She looked up at the window. The moonlight shone on the locust tree in the yard, casting swaying shadows. "The weather will be nice tomorrow. Let's take all of Nian'an's little clothes out to air them, and then sweep the yard. It'll look nice and clean."
Yun Tangyin smiled and agreed, "Okay, I'll help out tomorrow too. It's not comfortable to just lie around all the time."
Song Yushuang stopped her needlework and looked at Yun Tangyin: "Don't overwork yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, just rest. Jianhua and I are here."
Yun Tangyin nodded, her heart filled with warmth.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Song Yushuang got up to sweep the yard, while Jiang Jianhua took out Nian'an's little clothes and hung them on the bamboo rack to dry.
Yun Tangyin also got up and helped Song Yushuang wipe the table and arrange the chairs.
After Nian'an woke up, she saw everyone busy in the courtyard and joined in the work. Although she was just randomly drawing on the ground with a small broom, she did it quite well, which made everyone laugh.
Around noon, Aunt Zhang came over carrying a basket of fresh green vegetables: "These are green vegetables I picked from the garden. They're just ripe. I brought some for you."
Looking at the clothes drying in the yard, she smiled and said, "Nian'an has so many clothes. Did you make them all by hand? They're even prettier than the ones you buy in the city."
Song Yushuang nodded with a smile: "Yes, we made them all. Clothes we make ourselves are comfortable to wear and we feel at ease with them."
At lunchtime, Fu Yucheng made a vegetable and tofu soup and also stir-fried a plate of eggs, all of which Nian'an liked to eat.
Everyone sat around the table, eating and chatting. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating everyone's faces, filling the room with warmth and happiness.
Looking at everything before her, Song Yushuang was filled with joy. She knew that these ordinary yet warm days would remain forever in this small courtyard, just like the old locust tree in the yard.
After lunch, the sunlight softened, and Song Yushuang sat on a rocking chair under the eaves with Nian'an in her arms, waving a newly embroidered tiger purse in front of Nian'an.
"Nian'an, look, isn't the sachet Grandma made for you pretty? You can wear it from now on to protect Nian'an and keep her safe and sound."
Nian'an reached out her little hand, grabbed the purse, gently bit it, and then looked up at Song Yushuang.
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