Fu Yuanshan heard Yun Tangyin's exclamation and the tips of his ears turned red, but he didn't stop wielding the bamboo knife in his hand: "I practiced when I was weaving a cradle the other day, it's just something I did to fool around."
The bamboo strips danced in his palm, and in the blink of an eye, another curled bamboo leaf was added, just enough to support the plum blossom's stem.
Just as Yun Tangyin was about to speak, Yu Xia came out carrying a wooden basin to air out the quilts, the covers of which were brand new peony red: "Wow, Yuanshan's craftsmanship is good enough to open a shop!"
She looked at the bamboo frame again and again, then suddenly clapped her hands, "Let Yinyin add a couple of strokes of gold powder later, it'll look pretty good."
“No need to draw.” Fu Yuanshan wove a little magpie onto the bamboo frame, its tail held high. “It’s fine as is, just like Acheng’s personality, unassuming.”
Fu Yucheng returned from the well carrying a bucket of water. Upon hearing this, he suddenly laughed: "Second Brother, are you praising me or insulting me?"
He poured water into the vat, splashing it onto his trouser legs. "I think this bamboo frame is more valuable than a military medal. I'll have to ask a carpenter to make a glass cover for it tomorrow."
“No need to be so precious.” Song Yushuang came in, her feet wet with dew, clutching a handful of freshly picked winter plum blossoms. “Stick them in the cracks of the bamboo frame; they’ll smell nice and look beautiful.”
The pale yellow petals falling on the emerald green bamboo strips are more elegant than any decoration.
Jiang Jianhua, supporting his back, was sunbathing under the eaves when he suddenly said while looking at the bamboo frame, "Yuanshan, you can weave a small bamboo basket to hang on it. It'll be perfect for putting Acheng's certificate of merit."
She called into the house, "Yinyin, bring the certificate so your second brother can take your measurements."
As soon as Yun Tangyin got the certificate, Fu Yuanshan took out a soft ruler and started measuring. He drew a crooked frame on the paper with the bamboo ruler: "Two fingers wider and four fingers higher than a cigarette box. It's not hard to weave."
“I know there’s a grove of purple bamboo on the back hill.” Fu Yucheng glanced at the sickle on the wall. “I’ll go cut a few this afternoon.”
"You rest." Fu Yuanshan stuffed the measuring tape into his pocket. "Your back is just getting better, I'll go."
He stuffed a cornbread into the bamboo basket, saying, "I'll also pick some winter bamboo shoots to stew meat for Mom tonight."
The afternoon sun shone through the window lattice, casting checkered shadows on the kang table.
Yun Tangyin was mending the chafing marks on Fu Yucheng's military trousers at the knees, while Jiang Jianhua sat opposite him embroidering tiger-head shoes, the needle tip pricking tiny holes in the fabric.
"Do you think Yuanshan would have been even more capable than Acheng if he had joined the army back then?"
Jiang Jianhua suddenly sighed, "Back in his days in the cultural troupe, he played the flute better than anyone else, but later..."
"It turned out fine later." Yun Tangyin sewed the patch into the shape of a bamboo leaf. "Look at the bamboo ware he makes, everyone in the village praises it. The other day, Aunt Li even came to ask if he could make a bamboo horse for her grandson."
Jiang Jianhua suddenly burst out laughing: "That's right, the bamboo horses he weaves look good, and the kids are fighting over them. Last time, Erzhuzi from the village entrance wore his pants torn in his fight over a bamboo horse."
As the two were chatting and laughing, they saw Fu Yuanshan return carrying a bundle of purple bamboo, his trouser legs covered in mud, and a handful of wild chili peppers in his hand: "The bamboo shoots on the back mountain are just sprouting. I dug up a few small ones, enough to stew a pot."
He placed the purple bamboo in the yard, saying, "This bamboo is old; it will be sturdy when woven."
Fu Yucheng quickly took the bundle of purple bamboo, his fingertips touching the cool bamboo joints: "Second brother, how did you get your hand cut?"
"It's nothing serious, just scratches from bamboo shavings." Fu Yuanshan walked towards the kitchen. "I'll go boil some water and soak the bamboo to soften it."
The aroma of mugwort soon filled the kitchen as Yu Xia sprinkled herbs into the pot: "This is specially for treating bamboo splinters. Wash your hands after soaking the bamboo to avoid getting splinters."
She added a piece of pine firewood to the fire. "Your second brother is always like this. He doesn't care about himself when he works. Last time he was weaving a bamboo mat, he cut his hand badly with the bamboo-splitting knife, but he still insisted on finishing the weaving."
At dinner time, the aroma of stewed winter bamboo shoots and pork filled the courtyard.
Just as Fu Yuanshan finished soaking the purple bamboo, Song Yushuang pulled him to the table: "Eat first, the bamboo will be better after soaking overnight."
She put a piece of meat in his bowl, saying, "Eat more, you've been running so far this afternoon."
Fu Yucheng ladled a spoonful of soup into his bowl: "Second brother, how about we open a bamboo ware shop for you next spring? We'll call it 'Fu Family Bamboo Workshop,' and you'll be the manager."
Fu Yuanshan's chopsticks paused in mid-air: "What are you messing around with? My skills are not up to par."
"Why can't you post it?" Jiang Jianhua stuffed a bamboo shoot into his bowl. "Last time, Director Wang from the supply and marketing cooperative came to collect bamboo baskets. He said they were better than the ones in the county town, and he offered a higher price."
Song Yushuang suddenly made a decision: "It's settled then! Let Yuanshan take two apprentices and open a bamboo ware shop, so that it can be a family heirloom for the children in the future."
She added another spoonful of soup to Fu Yucheng's bowl, saying, "You can focus on your work in the army; we'll take care of things at home."
Regardless of what Fu Yuanshan was thinking, Yun Tangyin had guessed Song Yushuang's meaning...
Once the store is opened, it will be a legitimate way for Fu Yuanshan to separate from the family business, taking the pregnant Jiang Jianhua with him.
Yun Tangyin didn't say anything and just ate her food with her head down.
Jiang Jianhua clearly understood, and didn't say a word.
At night, Fu Yuanshan was weaving baskets under the lamp, the purple bamboo strips spinning rapidly between his fingers.
Fu Yucheng, holding an oil lamp, leaned closer and noticed the meander pattern woven along the edge of the bamboo basket: "Where did you learn this pattern?"
As Fu Yucheng spoke, he suddenly pulled out a red booklet from his pocket, with gold lettering on the cover: "This is a veteran's certificate that I asked someone to get for you. Although you didn't officially enlist, you did contribute to the army during your time in the cultural troupe."
He shoved it into Fu Yuanshan's hand, saying, "Take it."
Fu Yuanshan held the red booklet in his hand, his fingertips tracing the gold-embossed characters, and suddenly walked towards the kitchen: "I'll boil some water and soak your feet."
The flames in the stove illuminated his profile, and whether it was the firelight or something else, his eyes shone brightly.
Looking at the purple bamboo basket drying in the yard, Yun Tangyin suddenly said to Fu Yucheng, "Look, this rack of military medals has brought the hearts of the whole family together."
Fu Yucheng hugged her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head: "We were already together, but this frame makes it easier for us to see each other."
Moonlight streamed through the window onto the bamboo frame, the gold edges of the medals gleaming softly in the night. The winter plum blossoms were in full bloom through the bamboo crevices, their fragrance mingling with the scent of bamboo, filling the entire courtyard.
Fu Yuanshan hummed a tune from his old performing arts troupe in the kitchen. His clear, flute-like voice was more beautiful than any other music.
The next morning, when the purple bamboo basket was hung on the bamboo frame, the whole village came to watch the excitement.
Aunt Li touched the plum blossoms on the bamboo frame and clicked her tongue, saying, "It's a pity that Yuanshan's craftsmanship isn't used to opening a shop in the county town!"
Erzhuzi's mother grabbed Fu Yuanshan's arm and said, "Make a bamboo horse for my Zhuzi, and I'll trade you two pounds of brown sugar!"
Fu Yucheng stood in the crowd, watching Fu Yuanshan being surrounded by villagers asking him all sorts of questions, his smile brighter than a military medal.
Yun Tangyin quietly tugged at his sleeve: "Look, this matter is settled."
Fu Yucheng nodded, unable to describe his feelings, only a simple sense that...
If Fu Yuanshan were to separate from the family and move out, it would seem like a good thing for me.
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